Creative Director Expat

Why the American University of Iraq—Baghdad?

Opening its doors in January 2021, the new American University of Iraq—Baghdad (AUIB) began as a dream of influential individuals in Iraqi and United States business, industry and government who wanted to see a world-class institution of higher learning established in the city, reminiscent of the days when Baghdad was an educational mecca and the flourishing capital of the Muslim world. With a great library, palatial college buildings and student centers, state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and athletic facilities, AUIB is a beautiful campus that will soon attract students, faculty, and staff from throughout the world. We invite you to join us in this exciting new venture.

This position will report to the Chief Communications Officer.

Position Summary:

The Creative Director at AUIB (American University in Iraq, Baghdad) plays a pivotal role in shaping the university’s visual identity and ensuring that all creative outputs align with its goals and mission. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong leadership skills and a keen eye for design. The Creative Director collaborates closely with the MARCOM Director and leads a team of designers and creative professionals to develop innovative and impactful marketing campaigns and initiatives.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Creative Strategy:
   • Collaborate with the MARCOM Director to define and implement the creative strategy for AUIB, ensuring alignment with the university’s goals and mission.
   • Lead the development of creative concepts and design directions for marketing campaigns and initiatives.
2. Visual Branding:
   • Further refine and maintain AUIB’s visual brand identity, including logo usage, color schemes, typography, and design guidelines.
   • Ensure consistent application of the brand across all communication materials.
3. Team Leadership:
   • Lead and manage a team of designers and creative professionals, providing guidance, setting creative standards, and conducting performance evaluations.
   • Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment within the team.
4. Art Direction:
   • Provide art direction and creative oversight for design projects, ensuring high-quality and visually compelling outcomes.
   • Review and approve design concepts and deliverables.
5. Content Creation:
   • Collaborate with the marketing and communication team to develop creative content, including graphics, images, videos, infographics, and other visual assets.
   • Ensure that visual content aligns with messaging and branding guidelines.
6. Campaign Development:
   • Lead the visual development of marketing campaigns, ensuring that creative elements effectively convey campaign messages and objectives.
   • Collaborate with campaign managers, internal clients, and content creators to integrate design into campaigns.
7. Creative Project Management:
   • Oversee the project management of creative initiatives, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
   • Ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget; collect and interpret metrics.
8. External Vendor Management:
   • Collaborate with external vendors, agencies, and freelancers when necessary for design and creative projects.
   • Ensure vendor deliverables align with AUIB’s branding and quality standards.
   • Collaborate with external printshops and be responsible for the printout quality.
9. Innovation and Trends:
   • Stay updated on design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in the creative field.
   • Introduce innovative design concepts and techniques to enhance AUIB’s visual presence.

This role requires a combination of strategic thinking, creative vision, leadership abilities, and project management skills to drive the university’s visual branding and messaging efforts and ensure excellence in all creative endeavors.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business administration, or a related field; a master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of eight years of strategic marketing and/or communications experience in the higher education sector, with a proven track record in managing comprehensive global marketing and communications campaigns.
• Strong understanding of trends, dynamics, and requirements in international education markets.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to drive and inspire a team.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Proficient in digital marketing strategies, SEO, data analytics, and CRM software.
• Ability to work flexibly and travel internationally as needed.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.

The ideal candidate must have:

• Strong communication style and compelling, diverse portfolio, particularly in marketing, communications, and recruitment in the higher education field.
• Ability to function with a high degree of independence and to act very collaboratively in the development and execution of marketing and communications strategies.
• Strong competency with standard software applications and the ability to learn new software.
• Excellent planning, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and creatively, thoroughly, and confidentially; work independently under pressure.
• Strong project management skills.

Application Procedure:

To be considered for any role at the American University of Iraq—Baghdad (AUIB), applicants are required to submit the following documents:

• Cover letter: This should detail how your skills and experience align with the specific requirements of the position you are applying for.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae: Please provide an up-to-date resume or CV.
• Identification: A valid national ID or passport is required for the application process.

* Please note that applications missing any of these components will not be considered.

Shortlisted candidates:

If you are shortlisted for an interview, you will need to provide additional documentation:

• Educational transcripts and certifications must be translated into English.
• References: You must provide contact details for three references. These individuals should be those who have either worked with you or supervised your work.

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