Marketing & Communications Creative Manager at InsideHigherEd

Join our Team at Portland Community CollegePortland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and 19th largest in the nation, serving approximately 80,000 full- and part-time students. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, five workforce training and education centers, and 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. Our unique role is to make high-quality education accessible to everyone, creating opportunities for our students and contributing to the economic development of our community. While serving this community, PCC offers employment to individuals residing in the states of Oregon and Washington.Portland Community College embraces equity and inclusion as a priority. We are committed to building a community with a variety of backgrounds, skills, views, and life experiences. The more we value equity and inclusion, the more we will add value to the work we do and how we serve our students, engage with each other, and the Oregon Community that we serve. Creating a culture that honors equity and inclusion is our objective and the smart path forward. We also strive to ensure that applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for the hiring process are provided for. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the PCC Talent Acquisition Team at [email protected] Note: PCC currently limits employment to individuals residing in Oregon and Washington. Employment offers are contingent upon the ability to establish residence in Oregon or Washington.What You'll Do and Who We Are Looking ForUnder the direction of the Marketing Director, the Creative Manager leads the execution of the College’s visual and communication strategies across digital, print, video, environmental/signage, and social channels.This role ensures creative excellence, accessibility, and brand integrity across all PCC communications. The Creative Manager will partner with the Brand Operations Manager, Public Relations, Internal Communications, and Content Strategist to deliver cohesive campaigns that reflect PCC’s mission and values. They will manage the creative staff responsible for design, copywriting, digital storytelling, and creative video production.This position has conceptual leadership over creative direction of the PCC brand and oversees quality assurance for the creative staff. They will work collaboratively with leaders in Academic and Student Affairs to support a scalable creative environment to ensure that every piece of content produced by the Marketing and Communications division embodies the college’s identity.Distinguishing CharacteristicsThe creative manager serves as the College’s principal guardian of visual identity and brand storytelling. This position sets the creative direction, defines and enforces design and tone standards,and directs a multi-disciplinary team that brings ideas to life. The Creative Manager works closely with the Brand Operations Manager and Marketing Director to ensure that the creative process runs smoothly from ideation through launch, aligning message and medium to stated communications goals for maximum impact. Main ResponsibilitiesLeadership & SupervisionLead, supervise, and mentor creative staff (full-time designers, copywriter, creative video producer, photographers, social media specialist, as well as casual and student staff)Set clear goals and expectations; provide regular feedback and coaching on creative work. Promote a collaborative, equity-centered culture focused on inclusive storytelling, student-centeredness, and brand excellence. Hire, train, evaluate performance, and support professional growth of staff as necessaryBrand StewardshipServe as the lead guardian of PCC’s visual identity system, ensuring messaging consistency and accessibility standards.Review and approve creative work across all channels for brand, tone, strategic alignment, and inclusive excellence. Maintain PCC’s brand and style guide, ensuring alignment across all divisions and vendors. Creative Strategy and ExecutionTranslate strategic goals into creative briefs and deliverables.Direct the development of campaign concepts, visuals, and copy to engage diverse audiences. Oversee end-to-end creative production and partner with the Marketing and Communications Brand Leadership Team to align production schedules, budgets, procurement processes, and quality control. Cross-Functional CollaborationCoordinate with subject matter experts in PR, Internal Communications, and Academic/Student Affairs to deliver creative solutions to agreed upon objectives.Partner with the Multimedia Manager for production quality, accessibility compliance, and delivery.Participate in Production Syncs and planning meetings to coordinate workload, timelines, and resourcing of creative staff.Project & Vendor ManagementOversee creative workflows, project timelines, and quality control from concept to completion.Select and manage external creative vendors, negotiate scopes, budgets, and ensure adherence to PCC standards.Collaborate with Brand Operations and Marketing Director on intake management and project prioritization. Plan and manage the creative budget, monitor spending, approve purchases, and reallocate funds as needed to meet division priorities.Scalable SolutionsWhen projects fall outside of division scope, provide consultation to external departments on creative strategy , recommend approaches, and deliver training/resources for brand-aligned creative.Evaluate the impact of creative works, conduct A/B tests, and refine messaging strategy for continuous improvementContribute to reporting and feedback loop systems. Minimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing or related field (relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis). Five years progressively responsible, professional experience related to area of assignment, including two years of management-level supervision of employees (including hiring, assessment, discipline, etc).Success Criteria: (throughout the screening process, you will be evaluated based on your demonstration of the following criteria):- Demonstrated experience leading the creative development process (concept to execution) for campaigns across multiple channels (digital, print, video, outdoor).- Proven ability to manage brand standards, visual identity and creative quality - ensuring consistency across materials and touch-points.- Strong budget and project-management competence: overseeing creative budgets, timelines, vendor/contractor relationships and resource allocation.Why You'll Love Working HereThe PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning. As part of our College community, you’ll enjoy:A collaborative and inspiring campus communityOpportunities for learning and professional developmentPosition GradeManagement LEmployment TypeFull timeTotal Rewards Package / What We OfferComprehensive benefit package designed to provide employees and their families, including domestic partners, with access to a broad range of benefit options. Includes Health, Dental, and Vision options, Group Life, Long-term Disability, Long-term Care, and Auto and Home Insurance programsOregon PERS contribution - PCC currently fully funds the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/OPSRP) pension and contributes an additional 6% into the employee's Individual Account Program under PERS/OPSRPTax deferred annuity program and a deferred compensation program where employees may save additional pre-tax dollars for retirementPCC provides a tuition waiver for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and dependent children under 24 years of age, as well as partial tuition reimbursement for full-time employees at other accredited institutionsFree access to the sport centers / campus gymnasiums, performing arts, and cultural eventsConference and events rental space - Employees receive 50% off when on-campus for personal eventsGenerous Paid Leave (Pro-rated by FTE for Part-Time Employees) reference Management and Confidential Employee Handbook14.67 hours of vacation leave per month1 day of sick leave per month12 paid holidaysPCC Winter Break (when College is Closed)24 hours of personal leave per yearMore detailed information on the benefits plans, who is eligible, and how to enroll or make changes can be found at pcc.edu/hr/benefits. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.How We Determine Initial Salary PlacementMinimum $94,209 to range midpoint of $115,404. Placement will generally not exceed the mid-point, based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public EmploymentPortland Community College complies with the Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment law which provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment. You will be given instructions during the application process to claim Veterans' Preference in the recruitment of this position, and to provide the documents required for verification of eligibility. Please do not send your documentation to the hiring manager directly. For verification of eligibility, please submit the following documentation:Veterans: DD214Disabled Veterans: DD214 and Letter from the Department of VANotice of the Availability of the Annual Security ReportPursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), you may view Portland Community College’s (PCC) most recent Annual Security Report (ASR) on the Department of Public Safety website. The ASR contains current security and safety-related policy disclosure statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information and resources, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains crime statistics for Clery Act crimes which occurred on PCC properties for the last three calendar years. Paper copies of the ASR are available upon request at all Department of Public Safety offices.PCC Employment Offers are Contingent Upon the Successful Completion of a Criminal Background CheckPlease note that Portland Community College is not currently able to provide visa (e.g. H1-B Visa) sponsorship for potential employees.Contact PCC at [email protected] if you have questions