Careers at Virginia Tech

The Creative Services Manager at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering a range of digital and print materials that effectively convey the significance and reach of our institution's land-grant mission. These materials are essential for connecting with stakeholders at Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station (VAES) and Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), fostering support and advocacy for our programs, as well as our college's alumni.

The Creative Services Manager will focus on developing products that align with a digital-first model where information is put online in a visually engaging way and then repurposed for print materials. Both mediums must be able to stand on their own as engaging and impactful creations.

The Creative Services Manager manages all digital and print creative services projects from conception to completion and ensures a consistently fresh and distinctive visual identity within brand standards. Responsibilities include developing designs for both mediums that include but are not limited to newsletters, magazines, ads, fliers, brochures, signage, marketing materials, graphics, and infographics, as well as photos and videos.

The manager will report to the Director of Communications and Marketing and is part of the college’s advancement team. The manager will work in a collaborative team environment where they are expected to bring new and creative ideas to the table that help tell the story of the college.

The manager must be a strategic and conceptual thinker with the ability to remain current on new technologies, industry trends, and consumer insights to inform and drive creative vision.

The manager is also expected to exercise top quality professional judgment in a demanding, high-volume environment, and must be able to provide solutions that align with objectives and deliver projects on time and within budget.

The manager will help develop a series of designs that adhere to the new Virginia Cooperative Extension brand and create templates that others can use that fall within standards. They will work with other departments and units across the university to ensure they are complying with brand standards.

The manager is expected to oversee creative workflow, tools, and processes and suggest improvements to optimize efficiency and work quality. They must be able to communicate and work well with clients to deliver impactful, quality designs.

• Master’s degree in design or related field -or- a combination of bachelor’s degree and extensive, applicable experience will be considered.
• Experience and expertise in both print and digital design.
• Expertise with Adobe Creative Suite software including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat.
• Extensive print and digital design portfolio that demonstrates creativity and innovation.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully managing an aggressive schedule of print and digital communications.
• Experience working within a brand.
• Significant experience in layout for digital and print with proven graphic design skills.
• Extensive knowledge of printing, prepress, and the graphic arts.
• Experience creating unique, aesthetic elements that can translate across different media as well as the ability to create icons, logos, and vector art elements.
• Deep knowledge of design, typography, color theory, composition, user experience, and experience design in all work.
• Ability to move seamlessly between multiple projects with competing deadlines.

• Experience in Adobe After Effects.
• Experience working with content management systems.
• Experience shooting and editing video.
• Experience in photography and studio lighting.
• Experience creating templates in Canvas.
• Experience in higher education.
• Familiarity with Virginia Tech brand, Virginia Tech style guide, and AP Style.

Regular

$55,500 - $62,000; commensurate with experience.

May 13, 2024

Applicants will be required to submit three examples of past design work or a work portfolio.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.