Associate Creative Director, Harvard Innovation Labs

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Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Communications and Marketing of Harvard Innovation Labs (HIL) and in partnership with other members of our full-service marketing and communications team, the Associate Director will lead the art direction and design projects that successfully communicate the HIL brand and offerings across a variety of platforms, impact stories of HIL ventures, as well as telling the story of “innovation at Harvard”.

The Associate Director will apply a well-tuned design vision, contemporary expertise in visual branding across platforms and use cases, and high-quality design skills to drive the mission and goals of the HIL. This role is a leader in creating accessible, inclusive, and welcoming design collateral for informational and marketing needs across all three labs and tailored to diverse stakeholders including: prospective Harvard students, student and alumni members, faculty, staff, and the greater innovation community in Boston and beyond. In addition to supporting the HIL brand, the position also serves as an advisor to student and alumni teams on visual brand identity development and pitch deck design.

The mission of the HIL is to foster an innovation ecosystem across Harvard University that inspires, connects, and advances entrepreneurial leaders and innovators through its three labs: the Student i-lab for student-led ventures; Alumni Launch Lab for alumni-led ventures; and the Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab for biotech and life sciences startups founded by Harvard students, alumni, faculty, and postdoctoral students. It is important that our community, our brand, and our editorial output reflect our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, and we look for candidates who share those values. Visit innovationlabs.harvard.edu for more information.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Creative Strategy and Direction

• Oversees creative strategy and art direction to support HIL marketing and communications needs across digital, print, and environmental platforms.

• Integrates AI into workflows to streamline design and marketing processes and outputs.

• Creates compelling creative concepts, visual communications, promotional launches, and campaigns for use on social media, digital and physical signage, new website, email campaigns, and print collateral.

• Assists Director with budgeting for merchandise, printing, and event production.

• Oversees creative direction of physical signage and other space improvements in collaboration with Director and key stakeholders.

• Serves as lead advocate/steward of Harvard Innovation Labs’ brand identity across platforms.

• Develops and maintains up-to-date brand guidelines and briefs colleagues and external vendors on usage and alignment.

Design Execution and Collaboration

• Leads projects to conceptualize, design, and oversee production of digital and print assets used to promote the Harvard Innovation Labs, including digital ads, social media assets, website assets, email newsletter templates, data visualization, brochures, digital and printed event promotions, branded presentation decks, merchandise, and other marketing materials.

• Leads the comprehensive visual brand development for Harvard's President's Innovation Challenge, overseeing motion graphics, event visuals, marketing materials, and cross-platform production.

• Oversees integrated marketing campaigns, including reviewing and advising on social media, video production, and email marketing assets.

• Oversees merchandise design strategy including branded merchandise such as apparel, totes, lanyards, business cards, and gift boxes.

• Identifies opportunities for website enhancements and assist with website content edits.

• Creates templates, original graphics, treated photos, and other creative visuals for social media in partnership with communications manager.

• Storyboards and creates innovative, brand-appropriate motion-graphics and video content for various uses.

• Edits photos for digital and print collateral.

Relationship, Staff, and Stakeholder Management

• Advises Harvard founders on visual brand identity development and pitch deck design.

• Manages relationships with external vendors including printers, photographers, videographers, and event production staff.

• Hires, manages, and mentors design interns from Harvard Graduate School of Design.

• Build trust and collaboration by being present on-site and engaging directly with colleagues and various constituents.

• This role is responsible for other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

• 5+ years of graphic arts, digital content production, publications experience

• Demonstrated leadership in project design and management

• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere, InDesign), Figma, and other digital design tools

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

The ideal candidate will be:

• Dedicated to the principles of accessible design and committed to innovative, inclusive design work across all platforms.

• Working knowledge of AI tools that streamline processes and templatize team output.

• Comfortable adhering to visual identity systems and serving as a brand advocate.

• Familiar with Canva and other tools to easily create and share templates and designs across teams.

• Deadline-driven with proven project management skills.

• Organized and proactive, have excellent attention to detail, and work both quickly and creatively.

• Creative, a team player, and a self-starter.

• Experienced in animation (a plus)

• Experienced in video editing and the creation of short-form video content (a plus)

• Experienced in event photography and portraiture (a plus)

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information:
  • This is a hybrid position which we consider to be a combination of remote and onsite work at our Boston, MA based campus. HBS expects all staff to be onsite a minimum of 3 days per week and departments provide onsite coverage Monday - Friday. Specific hours and days onsite will be determined by business needs and are subject to change with appropriate advanced notice.
  • We may conduct candidate interviews virtually (phone and/or via Zoom) and/or in-person for this role.
  • As part of the final interview process, selected finalists will be assigned a take-home project to demonstrate relevant skills and competencies.
  • A cover letter and creative portfolio must be submitted to be considered for this opportunity. Your portfolio should showcase brand identity systems, multi-platform campaign work (social, email, print, signage), presentation deck design, and motion graphics or video if available. Work that reflects accessible, inclusive design is a plus.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.