Senior Manager, Art Director

Job Title 

Job Description

For more than 80 years, Kaplan has been a trailblazer in education and professional advancement. We are a global company at the intersection of education and technology, focused on collaboration, innovation, and creativity to deliver a best-in-class educational experience and make Kaplan a great place to work.

The future of education is here and we are eager to work alongside those who want to make a positive impact and inspire change in the world around them.

The Senior Manager, Art Director position will lead and mentor a team of designers, helping to set the artistic direction for projects and campaigns, and bring the vision to completion. The position must be able to understand business objectives, define creative strategy, coordinate with and supervise multimedia and production designers, and manage relationships with key project stakeholders. The Senior Manager, Art Director will review designers’ work while also conceptualizing and executing branded designs for websites, digital media, social media, video, email, presentations, sales collateral, events, and promotional materials. The role is highly creative, thinks conceptually and strategically, and is able to work effectively, both independently and as part of a team. ​

Key Responsibilities:

• Guide creative direction for projects and campaigns
• Work closely with VP Creative, Design Director and key stakeholders to develop the creative strategy and ensure high-quality output
• Oversee the development and growth of designers, including managing workloads, reviewing work, and training
• Help set and meet team goals 
• Conceptualize, design, present, and deliver artwork and campaign assets that meet strategic business objectives and brand guidelines
• Collaborate with copywriters and designers to develop creative that wows stakeholders and clients
• Ideate and design meaningful user experiences, ensuring that the visual design communicates the desired message and functions successfully for varying technical specifications
• Develop effective ways of communicating a message across print, digital, video, and social media using a variety of methods such as color, type, illustration, photography, animation, and various print and layout techniques
• Maintain proficient knowledge of our brands and products, as well as current trends in technologies and design practices across all media
• Ensure quality of work throughout all phases of a given project
• Juggle multiple projects while effectively managing timelines and expectations 
• Understand project workflow, digital file management, and backup systems      

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, digital design, visual communications, graphic arts or related field
• Minimum 3 years of experience leading a creative team
• Minimum 8 years of experience in crafting and designing campaigns, email, videos, print marketing material, presentations, digital ads, websites, and social media assets, including responsive/mobile
• Strong sense of strategic and conceptual thinking
• Ability to lead and manage a team of designers
• Adobe CC proficiency in Illustrator, lnDesign, Photoshop, After Effects, Acrobat Pro
• Proficiency in HTML, HTML5 and CSS 
• Excellent problem solver
• Detail-oriented with excellent leadership, self-motivation, organization, and communication skills
• Must be good at collaborating across teams and departments in a remote working environment, where video calls are the norm
• Must be committed to constantly improving one’s skills and staying current with industry trends and developments, as well as sharing this knowledge with others
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Working experience with Exact Target a plus
• Familiarity with Asana project management system a plus

Preferred Qualifications:

• A portfolio featuring conceptual work, digital executions, and social experiences

Beyond base salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

- Remote work provides a flexible work/life balance
- Comprehensive Retirement Package automatically enrolled in The Company Contribution Plan (8-10% annual company contribution based on tenure)
- Our Gift of Knowledge Program provides tuition assistance and substantial discounts for our employees and close family members
- Comprehensive health benefits new hire eligibility starts on day 1 of employment
- Generous Paid Time Off includes paid holidays, vacation, personal, sick paid time-off, plus one (1) volunteer day and one (1) diversity and inclusion day to participate and give back to our local communities

We are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment where every employee can thrive. You can learn more about our full benefits package and total rewards philosophy here.

At Kaplan, we believe in attracting, rewarding, and retaining exceptional talent. Our compensation philosophy is designed to be competitive within the market, reflecting the value we place on the skills, experience, and contributions of our employees, while taking into account labor market trends and total rewards.

For full-time positions, Kaplan has three Salary Grades. This position is Salary Grade B: $64,819 to $162,047. The specific compensation offered will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, relevant experience, education, skills, and market data. We are an equal opportunity employer and comply with all applicable federal and state wage laws.

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Diversity & Inclusion Statement:

Kaplan is committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace that values diversity, promotes equity, and integrates inclusivity into all aspects of our operations. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, nationality, or sex. We believe that diversity strengthens our organization, fuels innovation, and improves our ability to serve our students, customers, and communities. Learn more about our culture here.

Kaplan considers qualified applicants for employment even if applicants have an arrest or conviction in their background check records. Kaplan complies with related background check regulations, including but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.  There are various positions where certain convictions may disqualify applicants, such as those positions requiring interaction with minors, financial records, or other sensitive and/or confidential information.