Art Director (IVP)
Work Location:
Lisle, IL - Intervarsity Press
Schedule:
Full time
To advance the purpose of InterVarsity Press, the Art Director will be responsible for bringing creative concepts to life through the design, development, and publishing of books and resources. This position manages the creative for book covers and manages graphic designers, a production assistant, and third-party vendor relationships to deliver high-quality results for resources, marketing campaigns and projects. Reporting directly to the Divisional Vice President, SMP, the Art Director will oversee all facets of creative for IVP books and resources. The Art Director will collaborate with leaders across the organization on driving business results from the idea phase to the execution for all creative projects.
Location: Lisle, IL (hybrid/remote work agreement by arrangement; IVP is currently unable to employ remotely in California, Missouri, or outside the United States)
Pay: $75,000-85,000 annually
Supervises Others: Yes
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Personal:
- Be a maturing disciple of Jesus Christ: growing in love for God, God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity and culture, and God's purposes in the world.
Lead Creative Design, Development, and Strategy by:
- Developing and articulating a creative vision that aligns with our brand identity and business objectives.
- Ensuring consistency across all creative assets, maintaining a cohesive and recognizable brand image.
- Creating covers and assets, completing projects alongside the team.
- Designing and art directing the creation of visually stunning materials for book covers, marketing and promotional materials working with In-house team.
- Identifying opportunities to differentiate the IVP brand from competitors through innovative design and messaging.
- Providing clear direction and feedback to internal and external stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of creative projects.
- Mapping out timelines, delegating as needed and ensuring the team completes projects in a timely manner.
- Creating robust project management tracking analysis.
- Managing projects effectively to ensure delivery of projects on time.
- Directing creative presentations with authors, agents, editors, and marketers.
- Reviewing and discussing book proposals with publishing committee.
- Working closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, and operations, to ensure alignment and integration of creative efforts.
Maintain Professional Growth and Development by:
- Staying informed about industry trends and consumer preferences to inform creative decisions and stay ahead of the curve.
- Attending training events and conferences to remain current in the above areas.
Provide Leadership and Supervision by:
- Leading, mentoring, and inspiring the design team to produce high-quality work that exceeds expectations.
- Mentoring the design team in the areas of time and project management.
- Managing team of design professionals including (but not limited to) staff evaluations, performance plans, development plans, recruiting, work assignments and general oversight of all tasks.
- Providing coaching, feedback and mentoring to direct reports.
- Setting day-to-day priorities for the team in its work with other groups and departments as needed.
- Providing subject matter related expertise in guiding the team to maximize their contribution to the organization.
- Conducting hiring and onboarding of new design employees.
- Reviewing and approving work of vendors, providing direction and constant feedback.
- Building an effective team by facilitating strong collaboration and championing the understanding of organizational interdependencies.
- Serving as a member of IVP’s SMP leadership team.
- Completing projects and duties as assigned by the DVP of Sales, Marketing, and Publicity.
Any other duties as required
QUALIFICATIONS
- Affirmation of InterVarsity’s Statement of Faith
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and knowledge of web design tools and platforms.
- Experience leading resource initiatives and campaigns; creative, execution, measurement, and synthesis.
- Experience with digital marketing channels and platforms, including email marketing, social media, advertising, and website design.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate individuals, even when not directly supervising.
- Ability to create a fun, inspirational culture of success and accountability while fostering a shared understanding of goals, objectives, and purpose.
- Exceptional design and branding expertise, with a portfolio showcasing innovative and impactful work.
- Deep understanding of design and marketing principles and strategies.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to effectively convey ideas and feedback.
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task, and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Creative problem-solving abilities and a passion for pushing boundaries and exploring new ideas.
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to work in a diverse team environment
- Flexibility to attend the Urbana Student Missions Conference every six years, Dec. 26-Jan.1, and National Staff Conference every three years (the year after Urbana), approximately Jan. 2-7
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Experience required as described in the section below (dependent on the level of the position posted). Relevant higher education will be taken into account and may reduce the experience required. This role requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as visual arts or visual design. Additional certifications or training in marketing, digital arts, graphic design and branding are a plus.
LEVELS IN JOB FAMILY (POSTING WILL STATE THE RELEVANT LEVEL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE POSTING)
Art Director – Level 10
The Art Director will be repsonsible for all of the above and will typically be someone newly appointed to a senior-level role with limited supervisory experience, typically at least 3 years of experience in design strategy with at least 10+ years of relevant experience in creative roles, preferably in the Christian book publishing industry. At this level, the Art Director may or may not manage individuals, depending on skill or experience level.
Senior Art Director – Level 11
The Senior Art Director will be responsible for all of the above and will require ability to focus on projects of additional scope and complexity, in addition to 3+ years of experience in a role as an Art Director and proven ability to successfully oversee creative processes and strategies for a department.
Creative Director – Level 12
The Creative Director will be Involved In all stages of the publishing process and communicates across all levels and departments and may have broader analysis and management responsibilities. Experience level expected to be at least 12+ years of successful publicity and marketing or reated experience.
External Candidates: Please see visit the Careers Hub at ivpress.com/jobs-and-internships to complete your online application.
For Internal Candidates Only: Please apply through the Jobs Hub on Workday.
Benefits:
We offer a competitive benefits package, including health care and retirement savings with a match. Eligibility is based on employee type and hours worked. Benefits include the following:
403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
403(b) matching contributions
Dental insurance
Employee assistance program
Employee discounts
Flexible work schedule
Flexible spending accounts
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Paid time off
Parental leave
Professional development assistance
Vision insurance
Equal Employment Opportunity:
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA is both an equal opportunity employer and a faith-based religious organization. We conduct hiring without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, marital status, parental status, membership in any labor organization, political ideology, or disability of an otherwise qualified individual. The status of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA as an equal opportunity employer does not prevent the organization from hiring staff based on their religious beliefs so that all staff share the same religious commitment. Pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 702 (42 U.S.C. 2000e 1(a)) InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA has the right to, and does, hire only candidates who agree with InterVarsity’s Statement of Agreement: Purpose and Doctrinal Basis because InterVarsity believes that each and every staff plays a vital role in advancing InterVarsity’s mission and purposes.
