Associate Creative Director

Location

Oakland, CA | United States

Job description

About XQ Institute

XQ Institute is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to rethinking the high school experience so that every student graduates ready to succeed in life. We work in communities throughout the country, with individual schools and entire school systems, to help them dream big about what high school could be, turn their innovative ideas into action, and create more rigorous and equitable schools. We share what’s working with other schools and districts, so they can tailor new models to the needs of their own students and communities. We know that seeing is believing, so we meet people where they are to share the importance and possibility of change through listening, learning, and storytelling. And our open-source tools, based on research and design thinking, empower people to take up the challenge of transforming their high schools with a unifying goal: unlocking the American promise of a high-quality education for everyone.

The Role

As the Associate Creative Director at XQ, you will play a pivotal role in bringing our creative vision to life. Reporting directly to the Head of Creative, you will collaborate with leadership and a dynamic team of designers, writers, and education changemakers. Together, we will conceptualize and produce visually stunning and compelling content that seamlessly aligns with our brand identity across a wide range of mediums.

To excel in this role, we're seeking a candidate with a wealth of experience, an unwavering attention to detail, and a fervent passion for pushing creative boundaries across all mediums. Join us in shaping and executing our creative vision, and be part of a team that's dedicated to rethinking high school.

(Applications without a portfolio URL will not be considered.)

Key Responsibilities

Collaborate closely with the Head of Creative and Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to translate concepts into exceptional visual designs spanning print, digital, and video media.

• Work in partnership with both our internal team and external vendors to define strategies, brainstorm ideas, and execute creative projects.
• Take charge of the entire creative process, from concept inception to final execution, guaranteeing that all projects meet the highest standards, adhere to deadlines, and stay within budget constraints.
• Ensure the XQ brand and its values shine through in everything we produce.
• Apply a diverse range of creative styles and techniques to bring projects to life effectively.
• Source and curate photos, illustrations, and videos to illuminate the storytelling of the XQ initiatives, products, and school insights.
• Supervise and provide guidance to external agencies and freelance contributors.
• Engage in hands-on design work as necessary to support the team.
• Develop mood boards and storyboards for new initiatives, contributing to the overall design direction.
• Maintain a consistent visual identity and style across all deliverables.
• Effectively present and communicate creative concepts, incorporating relevant feedback to ensure successful project outcomes.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field. A Master's degree is considered a plus.
• Demonstrated experience of at least 7 years in a leadership role as an Art/Creative Director or similar position.
• A robust and diverse portfolio that showcases creative projects spanning various mediums, including web, video, and print.
• Exceptional leadership, management, and communication skills.
• In-depth knowledge of design principles, visual communication, and current creative trends.
• Exceptional leadership and management skills.
• Outstanding communication and presentation abilities.
• Profound knowledge of design principles, visual communication, and current creative trends.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Proven ability to handle medium to large-scale projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Innate curiosity about the world, staying attuned to popular culture, trends, brands, and technologies, and understanding their impact on both business and culture.

• Must be based in Oakland or the greater Bay Area, as this position reports to our Oakland office.

XQ Mindsets: 

Ours is a world defined by uncertainty, a society in flux, a state of unprecedented upheavals. While we don’t anticipate any quick fixes, we can anchor ourselves to what we see emerging. That’s why we have established a set of collective XQ Mindsets to ground us.

• 100% accountability: This doesn't mean you have 100% ownership. It doesn't mean you are responsible for every last thing that needs to be done. It means choosing to take responsibility for our collective success and impact.
• Maker mindset: We build stuff. We won’t always get it right the first time—in fact, we rarely will. But by quickly making and testing our work, we can learn what works and what doesn’t.
• We are the ones we’ve been waiting for: Critique is not enough. It is on us to create the solutions—no matter where we sit in the organization. We are a well-resourced organization filled with brilliant people. No one else is coming to our rescue.
• Opportunity knocks: We are ready, willing, and able to take on anything that is thrown our way. Pivots are a natural part of our approach, so let’s embrace them so that we can experience them joyfully.
• Stand on the shoulders of giants: We honor those who came before us, who aren’t seated at our tables, and build on others’ and our own earlier work with respect and reverence.

Benefits

Discover XQ's exceptional benefits package, designed with you in mind:

• Immediate eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage from day one.
• Generous 401k matching and vesting to secure your financial future.
• Enjoy the flexibility of paid time off (PTO) and a convenient lunch stipend.
• Elevate your work experience with Apple products.
• Embrace the joys of parenthood with paid parental leave.
• Compensation Range: $175,000 - $210,000

Join us and experience the difference with XQ's competitive benefits package. Your well-being is our priority.

To Apply

Please apply online. In your cover letter, please address why your skills, interests, and experience align with the requirements for this role.

XQ is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace. At XQ, promoting, celebrating, and supporting diversity is a core value. Individuals are considered without regard to race, gender, age, sexual orientation, sexual expression, religion, color, veteran status, disability, marital status, or ancestry.

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