Position Title: Creative & Branding Associate

Location: Washington, DC, United States

Department: Creative Branding

Description:

Job Description

The Sr. Specialist, Creative & Branding is a graphic designer on ACC's Creative and Branding team within Marketing & Communications, responsible for original design and design production across print, digital, presentation, video, and display formats. The role requires a high level of proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud on the Macintosh platform, strong knowledge of brand and visual identity systems, and the ability to adapt creative concepts across channels under the day-to-day direction of the Team Leader, Creative and Branding.

Key deliverables and objectives:

• Original, on-brand design across print and digital formats, including collateral systems, publications, ad campaigns, email and web graphics, social media assets, presentations, exhibits, motion graphics, and short-form video

• Projects delivered on time, within budget, and to the creative and business objectives set for each assignment

• Accurate, up-to-date creative asset management (photography, fonts, software, art materials) so the team can work efficiently

• Organized, current project files and archives on shared servers per department standards

This is an individual-contributor design role with no direct reports and no departmental budget ownership. The individual is accountable for delivering individual projects within their assigned budgets and for recommending cost-saving or efficiency solutions, in partnership with the Creative and Branding Production Manager, but does not hold budget authority.

Responsibilities

The Sr. Specialist, Creative & Branding exercises creative and technical judgment in executing design work and recommending cost or production solutions, but works within brand guidelines and accepts project assignments from the Team Leader — direction on priorities and scope comes from above, while execution and problem-solving on individual projects is largely self-directed. The role requires regular judgment calls around production feasibility, budget, and postal/printing regulations. Primary interactions are with the Team Leader and Creative and Branding team (assignment and collaboration), the Production Manager (budget and production feasibility), and marketing/communications teams and other business lines across the College (gathering input and ensuring projects reflect their needs).

• Create original, on-brand graphic design and production for print, digital, presentation, display, motion, and video projects

• Partner with marketing and communications teams to ensure projects reflect the expertise and input of relevant business lines across the College

• Manage assigned projects to ensure on-time delivery that meets creative and business objectives

• Work with the Creative and Branding Production Manager to keep projects within budget and compliant with postal regulations; recommend solutions that improve creative results and/or reduce costs

• Adapt campaign concepts across print and digital channels, including publications, collateral, web and email graphics, social media assets, presentations, motion graphics, and short-form video

• Maintain creative asset files and resources, including stock and assignment photography, fonts, software and updates, and art materials

• Manage individual project workload through the team's web-based job tracking system

• Organize project files per department standards and keep shared-server project archives current for team access

• Demonstrate ongoing personal and professional commitment to collaborating with the marketing and communications team, supporting members and business areas, and fostering creative excellence

Success measures:

• On-time delivery rate for assigned projects

• Turnaround time on standard design requests

• Positive feedback/re-engagement from marketing & communications partners on creative quality

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Design, Graphic Design, Digital Design, or a related field

• Minimum of 5+ years of professional graphic design experience

• High proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud on the Macintosh platform, including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, with demonstrated ability to move efficiently between print and digital production workflows

• Demonstrated digital design experience creating responsive campaign assets for web, email, social media, presentations, and other screen-based formats, with strong understanding of hierarchy, readability, accessibility, image optimization, and channel-specific requirements

• Proficiency in video editing using Adobe Premiere Pro, with working knowledge of Adobe After Effects or comparable motion graphics tools; ability to edit short-form video, select and trim footage, work with audio, add titles and captions, apply basic color correction, and export files for multiple digital platforms

• Strong print design and production knowledge, including publication and collateral layout, typography, prepress, bleeds, color modes, image resolution, packaging files, proof review, and preparation of accurate press-ready artwork

• A technically and creatively strong portfolio demonstrating effective print and digital design, campaign adaptation across multiple formats, video or motion work, and a solid understanding of communication design and typography principles

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to interpret creative briefs, ask thoughtful questions, present design rationale, and give and receive constructive feedback within a collaborative team

• Ability to work independently in a high-volume, fast-paced environment; manage multiple deadlines; maintain organized files; learn new tools and techniques; and consistently deliver accurate, on-brand work within budget and schedule

• Experience developing integrated campaigns that extend a core creative concept across print, web, email, social media, presentation, motion, and video formats

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro and working proficiency in Adobe After Effects, including motion graphics, animated typography, captions, audio editing, and platform-specific video exports

• Experience with photography, including image selection, art direction, basic studio or event photography, use of Canon cameras, and professional retouching and color correction in Photoshop

• Working knowledge of digital accessibility practices, including readable typography, color contrast, captioning, and designing assets that support accessible web, email, social, and presentation experiences

• Experience in the creative services or communications department of a large association, corporation, design studio, or advertising agency

Salary Range: 75,000-80,000