Creative Services Director - Asian Art Museum (San Francisco, CA)
THE OPPORTUNITY
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the Asian Art Museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian art, boasting more than 18,000 inspiring artworks ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. Dynamic special exhibitions, cultural celebrations, and public programs for all ages provide rich art experiences that unlock the past and spark questions about the future.
Currently, we are seeking a Creative Services Director to join our team. This is an exceptional opportunity to join an organization that values creativity, teamwork, collaboration, and inclusion and where you will be surrounded by a diverse, talented, and enthusiastic group of colleagues.
The Creative Services Director reports to the Director of Marketing and Communications and is a part of the Experience Division under the Deputy Director and Chief Experience Officer. This position will oversee a team of Creative Services Team Members.
This key role requires a strong understanding of brand impact by generating compelling, memorable visual and verbal storytelling while focusing on driving brand recognition. Working with an objectives-driven, problem-solving approach, the Creative Services Director blends exceptional creativity with an ability to ensure that all materials produced reflect a high standard of market engagement, design principles, brand precision, and technical standards.
Position Summary
The Creative Services Director manages and executes the museum’s brand identity, integrating visual design and verbal facility with the museum’s audience engagement strategies. The Creative Services Director is responsible for creating and executing innovative campaigns and guiding the evolution of the brand to keep it relevant while protecting its connection to the museum’s mission. This critical role also serves as the primary designer for all museum brand collateral, and duties encompass providing strategic creative direction and overseeing the production of print and electronic materials such as advertising campaigns, fundraising collateral, educational materials, and Asian, the museum’s membership magazine. The successful candidate will ensure that all materials adhere to the museum’s brand guidelines; reflect high standards of creativity; and support the museum’s artistic vision and business goals.
The position regularly engages with team members, vendors, visitors, volunteers, members, and colleagues in a personable and respectful manner.
Essential Functions
Serves as the chief steward of the museum’s brand.
Collaborates with management and the executive team to provide input into the overall creative direction of the museum’s brand.
Conceives of, designs, and produces a wide range of impactful visuals and effective campaigns across various platforms, including digital and traditional advertising, web pages, environmental signage, the museum's membership magazine, brochures, posters, presentations, invitations, and educational materials.
Brings ideas to the table and ensures that approved ideas are brought to life through compelling visuals and storytelling.
Regularly conducts cross-departmental audits to ensure brand guidelines are being met and develop templates to facilitate adherence from various stakeholders.
Works with internal partners from other departments to understand project requirements, audience objectives, and deadlines to create materials that balance information with brand guidelines and media constraints. Additionally, this role proactively seeks opportunities to propose new projects that align with institutional priorities.
Facilitates creative brainstorms and workshops; energetically seeks inspiration in the museum's exhibitions, collections, and programs; creates campaigns in response to business needs and market analyses.
Establishes and maintains standards of creative excellence and timeliness, working collaboratively with all stakeholders to achieve goals.
Leads and manages the team and workflow of the Creative Services department.
Supervises the writing, editing, and accuracy of copy for various materials including Asian magazine, marketing and fundraising materials, website content and other general museum materials.
Serves as traffic manager for Creative Services projects, opening and assigning jobs, developing, and managing budgets and timelines.
Establishes and nurtures strong working relationships with museum team members, colleagues from other institutions, consultants, and vendors.
Performs other related duties as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in graphic design, user interface design, or advertising in an agency or in-house environment, with two (2) years of supervisory experience. A combination of education and experience will be considered.
Must have previous experience in managing a brand’s visual identity, as well as producing marketing and communications assets.
Must have previous experience concepting and art-directing photo and video shoots and arranging for necessary design assets (e.g. custom illustrations); should be able to balance design and typography with copy and understand the importance of messaging hierarchy.
Advanced level design skills with the ability to conceptualize creative solutions that solve project objectives.
Strong understanding of design principles, techniques, and technologies; a strong visual sense and a solid understanding of the creative processes involved in creating high quality online and offline materials.
Ability to understand and internalize a brand and translate it into materials; develop creative approaches and partnerships; optimize projects to budgets, constraints, and resources; see the big picture while paying impeccable attention to detail.
Excellent project management, organizational, task prioritization, time management, meeting facilitation, decision making, and analytical skills; strong problem solving, relationship building, and client management skills.
Ability to prioritize and multitask within a deadline-driven environment.
Outstanding written and oral communications skills.
Ability to provide art direction for digital brand materials, including ads and trailers.
Knowledge of both Mac and PC platforms and current graphic design, photo editing, and video editing software. Motivation to learn new design tools and technologies as they become available.
Proven track record with leading and managing a department or team, mentoring team members, setting priorities for team members, directing workflow, and evaluating the work of others.
Experience with working with outside vendors such as design agencies, copywriters, illustrators, photographers, and designers; including demonstrated understanding of processes and skills to be supervised.
Self-motivated and goal-oriented team player with the presence to inspire and coalesce varying points of view, sound judgment, a positive attitude, and the ability to respond well to critical feedback.
Sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural differences and communicating with culturally diverse audiences.
Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational, and reporting skills.
Ability to work collaboratively and professionally with museum team members across all department levels and establish and maintain effective relationships with external contacts including designers, photographers, printers, and vendors.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as necessary.
Familiarity with Asian art and culture highly desirable.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Standard museum and office environment.
Computer, tablet, and phone use.
Compensation
The Asian Art Museum is committed to practicing salary transparency. The minimum salary for this position is $90,000 and the maximum salary is $112,000. Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. Many factors are taken into consideration when setting starting pay including education, experience, the external labor market, and internal equity. This opportunity includes a generous benefits package, including but not limited to:
Fully covered medical, dental and vision insurance for employee
12 paid holidays (2024)
15 days of vacation starting
12 days of sick leave
Group retirement plan starting after one year of employment
OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION COMMITMENTS
At the Asian Art Museum, we are dedicated to ideating, building, and holding ourselves accountable for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion in everything we do. We strive to foster a culture of respect, belonging and inclusivity for all employees.
Our mission is to celebrate, preserve, and promote Asian and Asian American art and cultures for local and global audiences. We provide a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas, inviting collaboration, and fueling imagination to deepen understanding and empathy among people of all backgrounds.
Diversity of thought and experience is essential to our mission, and we are committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Apply online at https://about.asianart.org/careers/. Ensuring a smooth and enjoyable candidate experience is critical for us. Application materials will be screened in relation to the criteria described. Candidates deemed to be the most highly qualified will be invited to participate in the interview process. Our interview process tends to take about 4 weeks to complete but may fluctuate depending on the role. Appointment is subject to completion of a thorough background check process.
The Asian Art Museum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories (arrest and criminal histories) consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law.
