Brand & Design Lead

Req No: 2025-18707
Category: Research/Project
Type: Full-Time Contract
Salary: $26.44 - $31.25
Close Date:

Overview
This position has been budgeted for $26.44 - $31.25 per hour depending on expereince and is non-negotiable.

First review of candidates will take place Monday, April 28, 2025.

San Diego State University (SDSU) is a premier public research university renowned for its commitment to preparing leaders for the future and serving as a global hub for innovation. With a strong emphasis on academic excellence and cutting-edge research, SDSU fosters a culture of discovery and collaboration that addresses the challenges of a rapidly changing world. The university is dedicated to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to succeed in the workforce of today and tomorrow. Through innovative programs, global engagement, and a focus on diversity and inclusion, SDSU continues to shape the next generation of leaders while driving economic and social progress both locally and globally.

SDSU Career Services is an award-winning, nationally recognized leader in career development and industry relations, setting new standards for excellence for university career centers. By prioritizing student employment outcomes and earnings as its key success metric, the department is reshaping the role of career services in higher education and challenging traditional approaches. Through bold regional and statewide initiatives, SDSU Career Services drives workforce development, fosters strong industry partnerships, and serves as a catalyst for economic mobility. The department cultivates a culture of innovation, empowering its staff to push boundaries, embrace new possibilities, and develop transformative strategies that ensure student success. With a relentless focus on student achievement and dynamic industry engagement, SDSU Career Services remains at the forefront of redefining career readiness and workforce impact.

The purpose of this position is to serve as a lead over the strategy, deployment, and assessment of brand and design activities of the department of Career Services and to influence its artistic direction, including themes and materials. This role helps expand the brand of SDSU Career Services through new mediums and technologies to engage audiences that include students, alumni, industry stakeholders, community influencers, potential donors/funders, and the public. This position will oversee all creative activities for Career Services campaigns, events, and programming. This position will to integrate new technological advancements in design that includes Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Spatial Computing, and emerging technologies.


Responsibilities
Creative Project Management: 25%

• Provides overall artistic direction to create comprehensive brand and design strategies for campaigns, events, programs, activities, and more to align with SDSU's brand standards, central communications (Strategic Communications: StratComm), division (Digital Marketing & Creative Services), and industry priorities and cycles to promote SDSU and Career Services as a leader in workforce and economic development and talent acquisition.
• Lead the design process from concept to execution, ensuring a high standard of visual excellence in all branding and marketing materials.
• Position key leaders and subject matter experts as thought leaders in the industry by developing thought leadership campaigns; identifying speaking opportunities, contributing articles to industry publications, and participating in relevant industry forums and conferences.
• Ensure that presentation materials are accessible and sensitive to diverse audiences, considering factors like readability, language, and inclusivity.
• In alignment with SDSU StratComm procedures and protocols, collaborate with staff, writers, editors, reporters, and subject matter experts to create compelling and informative content for marketing campaigns, articles/media, speeches, presentations, and all forms of departmental communications.

Multimedia, Content Design, & Branding: 50%

• Conceptualize, produce, and manipulate engaging multimedia content, including graphics, photography, videos, and interactive elements, to support marketing initiatives that integrate social media, website, online, in-person, print, video, and all appropriate modes of content dissemination.
• Lead design and marketing initiatives to create compelling and relevant content that educates, entertains, and engages the organization's target audience. Support and coordinate content calendars, blog posts, articles, videos, and social media posts that align with the organization's brand voice and values.
• Explore ways to leverage innovative and emerging technologies that include Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) or spatial computing, and other technological modes and tools to support content creation and audience engagement.
• Create and market compelling brand stories that resonate with target audiences and differentiate the organization from competitors. Utilize design techniques to support storytelling across various communication channels to humanize the brand, evoke emotion, and inspire action.
• Collaborate with Career Management and Industry Relations teams to develop engagement and business development materials, such as presentations, dashboards, and service collateral, aligned with brand messaging and design standards.
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify consumer insights, competitive trends, and opportunities for brand differentiation and growth.
• Stay updated on digital marketing trends and technologies, leveraging innovative approaches such as influencer partnerships, user-generated content, and personalized marketing tactics to enhance brand visibility and resonance.
• Design creative engagement campaigns that target specific industries, entities, and influencers.
• Lead the design strategy for branded events such as program launches, industry conferences, fundraising events, or workshops that align with the organization's brand identity and messaging. Ensure that all event materials, from signage to presentations, reflect the brand's visual identity consistently.
• Monitor and analyze key performance metrics related to stakeholder engagement, including website traffic, social media engagement, and campaign effectiveness, to optimize marketing efforts and drive ROI.

Events and Special Projects - 15%

• Develop event concepts, timelines, and budgets while managing logistics, vendor relationships, sponsorships, and contracts.
• Organize and design branded events such as program launches, industry conferences, or workshops that align with the organization's brand identity and messaging. Ensure that all event materials, from signage to presentations, reflect the brand's visual identity consistently.
• Host social events targeted at key stakeholders, students, alumni, and industry influencers. Design promotional materials that reflect the organization's branding and messaging.
• Identify opportunities for the organization to sponsor or participate in external events relevant to its target audience. Coordinate sponsorship activations, booths, and presentations with campus partners, ensuring that the brand is represented and promoted at these events.
• Collaborate with external event planners, vendors, or venues to execute larger-scale events or conferences. Coordinate logistics, and ensure that all event elements align with the organization's brand standards and objectives.

Other Duties and Responsibilities as Assigned 10%


Qualifications
Knowledge & Abilities

• Demonstrates proficiency in multimedia software and digital communication platforms, with a strong working knowledge of social media marketing tools such as Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Snapchat, and emerging digital channels.
• Skilled in leveraging AI-driven platforms for design, communication, and content planning, including emerging Generative AI (GenAI) technologies.
• Possesses foundational knowledge of graphic design, branding, and video editing tools, including but not limited to Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro), and similar platforms.
• Ability to develop, execute, and adapt marketing campaigns across multiple digital formats to engage industry partners, employers, and workforce audiences.
• Maintains a strong interest in staying current with digital communication trends, multimedia innovations, and AI-enhanced marketing strategies.
• Capable of producing creative and impactful content across a variety of mediums, including static graphics, short-form video, and interactive digital materials.
• Applies strategic thinking to the use of multimedia and digital tools in workforce and industry relations, ensuring content aligns with departmental goals and audience engagement strategies.

Minimum Education & Experience

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices or programs.
  
• 3-years of progressively responsible experience in an office or administrative environment.

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in design, marketing and communications.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience collaborating with external partners, including regional community organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development offices, SBDCs, and campus stakeholders.
• Experience in apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program development.
• Experience working with community colleges or certification programs.
• Experience in healthcare or public sector workforce development.
• Experience in videography.
• Experience integrating AI, spatial computing, VR/AR into applicable applications to engage stakeholders

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual's qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.

To apply, visit https://careers-sdsurf.icims.com/jobs/18707/brand-%26-design-lead/job?in_iframe=1









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