Office of the Illinois Secretary of State
Alexi Giannoulias

Job Title: Deputy Director - Digital Creative and Print
Division: Communications / Administration
Union: N/A
Location: 115 S LaSalle St, Chicago, IL – Cook County
Salary: $95,000 to $115,000 annually – commensurate with experience
Benefits: https://cms.illinois.gov/benefits/stateemployee.html

Overview:

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office is seeking a creative and technically skilled a Deputy Director of Digital Creative and Print to lead the design team in producing products that have a cohesive look and feel across digital platforms and printed materials. This position will include shaping the direction of printed signage, website design, and the social media content on various digital channels as well as developing content using photography/videography for multi-media projects and office initiatives.

The position will build upon and enhance the existing Secretary of State brand, working collaboratively with the Director of External Communication to meet audiences where they are and expand the organization’s digital presence. This role will focus on creating strategies that strengthen brand identity, increase engagement across digital platforms, and align with current communications goals and messaging priorities.

Additionally, this role will be charged with managing, supervising and leading the design team in Springfield and Chicago, managing their workload, spreading out office responsibilities and having sign off on all visual creative.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manager and lead the design team in creating visually cohesive products across digital platforms and printed materials.
• Shape the direction of printed signage, website design, and social media content across various digital channels.
• Develop multimedia content for campaigns and projects, including photography and videography.
• Build upon and enhance the existing Secretary of State brand to ensure consistency and impact.
• Collaborate with the Director of Communication to expand the organization’s digital presence and meet audiences where they are.
• Create strategies that strengthen brand identity, increase engagement, and align with communications goals and messaging priorities.
• Supervise design teams in Springfield and Chicago, managing workloads and delegating responsibilities.
• Provide final approval on all visual creative to maintain quality and brand standards
• Responsible for measuring effectiveness of communications programs, providing oversight and ensuring execution of programs and responsible for overseeing external agency vendors

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Production, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Communications, or a related field or minimum of 8-10 years of experience producing multimedia content, including video shooting/editing, photography, and graphic design.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects), and other relevant tools.
• Strong knowledge of camera equipment, lighting setups, and audio recording techniques.
• Familiarity with social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube).
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in managing, directing and leading a team of professional staff
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Working knowledge of CMS platforms (e.g., Adobe Experience Manager or similar) and content formats is a plus.
• Experience with social scheduling tools and basic analytics reporting is preferred.
• A portfolio or reel showcasing relevant work is required
• Experience working in a governmental agency is preferred.

Additional Information:

• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support news, events, or special content needs
• Perform other duties as assigned

Application Process:

• Please visit https://ilsos.applytojob.gov/apply to apply by completing the online application; you may MUST upload a resume, a cover letter discussing your experience related to this job or other attachments as needed, as well as a portfolio or reel showcasing relevant work.
• Preference will be given to Illinois residents in the hiring and selection process, in accordance with the Illinois Secretary of State Merit Employment Code.
• Questions regarding this posting or Illinois Secretary of State employment practices may be directed to Job Counselors at our Personnel offices in Chicago (312-793-5515) or Springfield (217-782-4783).

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Applicants must be lawfully authorized to work in the United States.
Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital or veteran status, or the presence of a non-job-related medical condition or disability