Associate Director for Creative Operations

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. 

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission—with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact—guides everything we do in University Advancement . Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support. 

This starts with creating a culture of belonging within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals.

University Marketing & Communications has an exciting opening for an Associate Director for Creative Operations. This is a full-time, permanent position.  

The Associate Director for Creative Operations maintains a big-picture overview of creative resources, overseeing project operations and creative production for ~150 annual projects across 20+ programs that support the University’s strategic communication goals.

Working in close partnership with the Executive Creative Director, this position provides analytical process-oriented leadership for a team of creatives. This position leads creative production and project management strategy across all teams responsible for executing creative requests by developing effective processes and schedules, implementing new technology, driving adherence to and usage of existing technology, and synchronizing with various cross-functional partners. The Associate Director manages, develops and supports one direct report, the Production and Traffic Manager, while working with colleagues at all levels of University Marketing & Communications.

What You Will Do:

Creative Operations (40%)

•     Be a strategic partner to the Executive Creative Director, providing end-to-end transparency for all projects flowing through the Creative Team.

•     Partner with the Executive Creative Director and creative leads to craft Creative Team strategy, resourcing, and priorities that support institutional and departmental goals.

•     Use an equitable lens to drive inclusive communication and collaboration practices that reflect and respect the diverse communities represented within and by the University, being open to ongoing learning and feedback.

•     Ensure a “single source of truth” among creative leads and project managers for appropriate workflow, work delegation and follow-through.

•     Drive end-to-end production process and ensure the team stays on track to meet deadlines while setting clear expectations between UMAC cross-functional teams and project stakeholders.

•     Recruit and manage external contractors, negotiate rates, provide onboarding, and process invoices.

•     Gather project insights by collecting feedback from team members, reviewing project and industry reports, analyzing collaboration metrics, and leveraging other relevant data sources.

•     Identify and analyze patterns and trends by conducting team surveys and data analysis to inform strategic decision-making and optimize team efficiency.

•     Provide recommendations to stakeholders based on feedback and analytics, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing corrective actions as needed to enhance overall project success.

•     Track the implementation of new ideas, tools, or techniques to encourage ongoing growth and development within the team.

•     Track and analyze project costs against budget allocations to ensure financial goals are met and to identify potential cost-saving measures.

Training and Mentorship (30%)

•     Manage and mentor a cross-functional Creative Team focused on the execution of creative work and administration of tools that support brand governance.

•     Lead UMAC’s Project Management Advisory Committee and the implementation of processes and best practices.

•     Champion the creative process internally and throughout the organization by educating new UMAC staff and partners on creative procedures and helping inform mutual expectations for each stage of production.

•     Onboard new creative staff in established creative operations and processes and provide project management training for new UMAC staff.

•     Define and uphold roles and responsibilities with internal teams and campus partners.

•     Facilitate opportunities for professional learning and development.

Production Systems Management (30%)

•     Lead efforts to source, assess, socialize, onboard and implement new creative tools, resources and technology to enable high-quality and efficient work.

•     Support in developing and documenting internal processes and training materials to help foster operational best practices.

•     Optimize existing and develop new processes that allow the team to work more efficiently with cross-functional partners and external creative resources (agencies, contractors, etc.).

•     Act as liaison to production-software vendors.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of work experience in a creative production environment managing multidisciplinary project teams.
• Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

What You Bring:

•     Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy environment with many concurrent projects and timelines.

•     Experience leading planning and operational discussions with internal and external partners.

•     Management experience including leading onboarding and/or training for individuals or groups.

•     Enthusiasm and aptitude for learning and adopting emerging technology to improve operational efficiency.

•     Experience leading creatives across multiple disciplines including print, photo, video and digital.

•     The ability and initiative to confidently and diplomatically influence, advise and lead teammates and other colleagues.

•     Proficiency with Microsoft Office software applications.

•     Proficiency with design tools such as Adobe Cloud, file management systems such as SharePoint, and project management tools like Asana. A commitment to learning and implementing equitable, antiracist communication and working practices.

What You Can Expect:

•     Cubicle/open environment that may result in additional or higher levels of noise and visual distractions.

Application Process: 

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law