Creative Manager Hybrid

For nearly 40 years, nonprofit AccessLex Institute® has been partnering with our member institutions – the nearly 200 state-affiliated and nonprofit ABA-approved law schools – to meet the ever-changing needs and challenges of law students and the legal education community we serve. From providing free resources for every step of the law school journey to maximizing the value and affordability of a law degree through research and policy advocacy, we exist to increase access and further the success of aspiring lawyers from admission to law school to admission to the bar. Helix Bar Review is our latest service in pursuit of our nonprofit mission – empowering the next generation of lawyers.

AccessLex combines mission-driven work with long-term financial strength. Backed by nearly $1 billion in net assets that funds a $40+ million annual operating budget, we’re built to advance our mission for the long haul, and we accomplish this by investing in the resources, programs, and personnel that ensure sustained growth and furtherance of our organizational goals. Learn more at AccessLex.org and HelixBarReview.org.

This is a hybrid position based out of our Corporate office in West Chester, PA. Incumbent will report to our Corporate office on Thursdays. Salary range is $95,000-105,000. A link to your design portfolio must be provided for consideration, if unable to upload please email [email protected].

Job Summary: The Creative Manager is the driving force behind all things creative, a conceptual thinker who is willing to challenge the status quo and stay up-to-date with current trends. The Creative Manager will lead the process of conceptualization, design, and development of creative content for all marketing initiatives – from concept to completion. This role is responsible for creating and maintaining a strong visual presence across all platforms along with the management of photography, imagery, and external design vendors. The Creative Manager is responsible for ensuring brand consistency across both AccessLex Institute and Helix Bar Review as well as continuously elevating and evolving the brands. This individual must be comfortable leading/art directing co-workers, freelancers, agencies, and working with internal teams, and should also be willing to roll up their sleeves, step in and do the work themselves. This role manages a direct report, the Graphic Designer, and reports to the Director of Strategy and Advertising. The Creative Manager also works closely with the Marketing Project Manager to assist with functional areas in the Marketing and Communications team while managing the brand for the Company.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Leads, plans, and implements brand strategies, overall concepts, and creative work for all branding and communications, including marketing collateral, advertising, web, digital, video, social media, and retail.
• Innovates the latest in visual solutions and presents ideas to Marketing and Communications team members.
• Evolves the visual language of brands and continues to hone in on the brand systems to create styles that become iconic, fresh, and current.
• Produces approved concepts to ensure alignment with the vision and brand consistency, directing photography, illustration, and video as needed.
• Manages the brands by following brand guidelines and keeping them current, and working to ensure all deliverables meet the highest quality standards.
• Exudes leadership by managing the Graphic Designer, external designers, and creative vendors and setting expectations with both internal and external clients.
• Reviews internal and external work ensuring that all work conforms to brand guidelines and standards.
• Manages a high volume of projects with the ability to pivot and adjust when needed.
• Stays ahead of trends and advanced design technology, like AI, to ensure the creative team is equipped and utilizing the latest technologies.
• Contributes to the overall success of the Company by performing other duties as assigned.

Candidate Requirements:

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). To succeed in the Creative Manager position, candidates should possess the following KSAs:
  • REQUIRED

• • Expert across Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) and Figma;
  • Excellent ability to understand graphic needs and effectively lead and convey design solutions or ideas to team members and/or agencies and vendors;
  • Excels at creating multiple comprehensives for conceptualization;
  • Thorough understanding of design fundamentals across all forms of media, collateral, and digital;
  • Strategic design thinker and problem solver who is receptive to feedback;
  • Experienced at managing multiple projects in a high volume, deadline-driven environment;
  • Extremely detail-oriented, organized, and self-motivated;
  • Keen design aesthetic and demonstrated ability to deliver clear, compelling, on-brand designs;
  • Proven branding experience, ideally at consumer service/product level; and
  • Thrives on collaborating in a cross-functional team working to lead the design of client solutions.
• • PREFERRED
    • Extensive experience with PowerPoint;
    • Background in UX.
• • BACKGROUND EXPERIENCES. The following are required unless otherwise noted:
    • Bachelor’s degree (Graphic Design/Visual Arts/User Experience);
    • 8+ years’ experience as a creative leader with an emphasis on brand design;
    • Experience across the full palette of brand expression: digital, print, motion, retail, packaging, campaigns, and events;
    • Experience developing and managing holistic consumer-facing brand system in an integrated environment;
    • Experience leading creative work and managing creative teams and/or agencies;
    • Experience working in cross-functional teams;
    • Experience working in a research driven environment; and
    • Proven success in prioritizing work and meeting established deadlines.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time, exempt hybrid position located in the Company’s West Chester office; the incumbent is expected to be present and accessible for at least 40 hours per week, subject to approved leave time, travel and other absences as described in the Employee Handbook or as otherwise agreed by the Company. The Company’s standard hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:15 am to 5:00 pm.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: AccessLex Institute provides equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law.