Position Overview:
The University of Memphis is seeking a visionary Senior Director, Creative to lead the creative expression of the university’s brand across all channels and audiences. This role is responsible for shaping, protecting and elevating the University of Memphis brand while translating our strategy into compelling storytelling, design, video and experiences that drive enrollment, reputation, and engagement.
The Senior Director, Creative serves as the senior creative leader for the organization, guiding concept development, visual identity, messaging execution and creative quality across campaigns, digital platforms, video, experiential events, and integrated marketing initiatives. The role balances big idea thinking and leadership with hands-on creative direction to ensure work is strategically grounded and creatively unmatched.
Responsibilities- Brand and Creative Leadership
- Act as the university’s chief of creative, ensuring all creative work aligns with brand strategy, visual identity and voice
- Lead the creative vision for major brand initiatives including the existing Memphis Is campaign and future brand platforms
- Translate strategy (Ascend/Successful Outcomes) into compelling creative narratives
- Set creative standards and ensure consistency across colleges, departments, athletics, external partners, etc.
- Campaign and Concept Development
- Lead concepting and creative direction for integrated marketing campaigns
- Partner closely with brand strategy, comms, digital and events teams to develop cohesive and multichannel executions
- Ensure creative is data and insight driven, audience focused with defined measures
- Team Leadership and Development
- Lead, mentor and inspire a multidisciplinary team
- Foster a collaborative and high-performing culture rooted in both innovation and empowerment as well as accountability
- Set clear creative briefs, workflows, and processes that balance creativity with efficiency
- Support professional development and growth of existing creative team members
- Design, Video and Storytelling Oversight
- Oversee design, photography, video, motion and storytelling standards across creative platforms
- Provide creative direction for brand videos, digital content, social storytelling, environmental design, and experiential activations
- Cross-Campus and External Collaboration
- Serve as a strategic creative counselor to campus partners and stakeholders offering leadership vs just production
- Manage and direct external agencies, freelancers and production partners as needed
- Collaborate with Athletics to ensure brand alignment while supporting high visibility initiatives
- Innovation and Creative Excellence
- Stay current on trends in higher education marketing, design, storytelling and digital experiences
- Introduce new creative approaches and formats as well as tools that elevate the brand and improve creative efficiency
- Balance innovation with preserving and protecting brand health
- Bachelor's degree
- 8-10 years of creative leadership experience including managing teams
- Proven experience leading brand and integrated campaigns
- Strong portfolio demonstrating concept-driven work across multiple channels
- Experience collaborating with senior leaders and diverse stakeholders
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- 8–10 years of creative leadership experience, including managing teams
- Proven experience leading brand and integrated campaigns
- Strong portfolio demonstrating concept-driven work across multiple channels
- Experience collaborating with senior leaders and diverse stakeholders
What We Do
The University of Memphis is a public research university in Memphis, Tennessee, committed to academic excellence and community engagement. Driven by a philosophy of 'doing,' the institution leverages a diverse workforce of faculty and staff to foster a dynamic learning environment. The university provides a comprehensive range of educational opportunities and maintains a strong commitment to equal employment and institutional equity.
