Director, Design

Risepoint is an education technology company that provides world-class support and trusted expertise to more than 100 universities and colleges. We primarily work with regional universities, helping them develop and grow their high-ROI, workforce-focused online degree programs in critical areas such as nursing, teaching, business, and public service. Risepoint is dedicated to increasing access to affordable education so that more students, especially working adults, can improve their careers and meet employer and community needs.

The in-house Creative Design team delivers creative and production support for print and digital marketing materials, including brochures, infographics, paid media, and event collateral. Skilled across a range of design disciplines—integrated campaigns, print, illustration, animation, and more—the team ensures every project is visually engaging, brand-aligned, and built to perform across channels.

Job Summary

The Design Director will provide strategic and hands-on leadership to an internal team of seven designers, guiding creative development across performance, brand, campaign, and partner-facing initiatives. This role is responsible for elevating design quality, championing a cohesive visual identity, and advancing scalable design systems while mentoring the team and ensuring timely, aligned execution in a high-volume, fast-paced environment. The Design Director will also help identify, pilot, and integrate AI-driven tools to expand creative variety and increase throughput and efficiency.

The Design Director will collaborate cross-functionally with Brand Strategy, Content, Creative Operations, and Digital Experience teams to ensure all work meets strategic objectives, performance standards, and brand guidelines. This role will also partner closely with stakeholders to translate business goals into clear creative direction, leverage insights to inform design decisions, and continuously refine processes and tools that improve efficiency, consistency, and impact.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Creative Direction & Oversight

• Provide ongoing review and strategic feedback on design deliverables across all stages of the marketing funnel.
• Lead structured design critiques, offering clear, actionable guidance and mentorship to elevate creative quality and encourage craft growth.
• Concept, direct, and when needed develop high-impact design systems and campaign creative that can flex across channels and formats.
• Ensure all creative outputs are aligned with partner brand platforms, adhere to visual identity standards, and reflect differentiated, audience-first positioning.
• Provide hands-on design support on key initiatives and high-visibility deliverables as needed.
• Set and uphold clear quality standards for the design team, ensuring consistency, usability, and accessibility across all touchpoints.
• Partner with strategy, content, and performance teams to continuously refine creative based on insights, testing, and performance data.
• Champion innovative tools and methodologies (including AI-enabled workflows) that expand creative possibilities and improve speed to market.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Director of Brand Strategy to translate brand positioning, messaging frameworks, and partner objectives into compelling, cohesive visual storytelling.
• Partner with the Digital Experience (DX) team to ensure designs are optimized for performance across digital platforms, incorporating UX best practices and considerations for SEO/AEO.
• Work in lockstep with the Senior Director of Creative Operations and Project Managers to align on resourcing, capacity planning, and prioritization so projects are staffed appropriately and delivered on time.
• Establish and maintain transparent, efficient workflows between Brand, Content, Media, and broader Marketing stakeholders to streamline collaboration and reduce friction.
• Collaborate with performance marketing and analytics teams to interpret insights and testing results, using data to inform creative iterations and future concepts.
• Represent the design function in cross-functional planning forums, helping to shape briefs, timelines, and go-to-market plans so creative is integrated early and effectively.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Provide day-to-day leadership, mentorship, and coaching for the design team; help resolve creative roadblocks and address individual skill gaps.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and clear, respectful communication within the team and with cross-functional partners.
• Create intentional space for shared learning, constructive feedback, and continuous improvement in both craft and process.
• Proactively surface team needs, risks, and resourcing issues to the VP of Brand & Creative and the Sr. Director of Creative Operartions, along with recommended solutions or trade-offs.
• Champion an inclusive, supportive environment where designers feel empowered to bring forward ideas, experiment, and take smart creative risks.
• Support hiring, onboarding, and performance management activities to build and retain a high-performing design team.

Strategic Problem Solving

• Bring a solutions-oriented mindset to complex creative challenges, balancing speed, quality, and strategic alignment to business goals.
• Keep the team focused on delivering work that is brand-consistent, conversion-minded, and grounded in audience insights.
• Identify process improvements and opportunities to streamline creative workflows, reducing friction and increasing throughput.
• Use performance data, testing results, and stakeholder feedback to diagnose issues and inform iterative creative refinements.
• Anticipate potential risks or blockers and propose clear options and trade-offs to keep initiatives moving forward.

Additional Position Responsibilities

• Perform in accordance with Risepoint Policies
• Perform other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, Art & Design, or a related creative field.

5+ years in Demonstrated professional experience in graphic and/or digital design, ideally within an integrated marketing department.

5+ years of Team/Individual Management

Creative direction and design leadership for in-house teams (coaching, feedback, and quality oversight)

Deep understanding of design fundamentals, brand systems, and scalable design frameworks

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign); familiarity with Figma and motion tools (e.g., After Effects)

Familiarity with AI-powered design and content tools (e.g., Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, ChatGPT) to expand creative variety and increase efficiency

Ability to translate business and marketing objectives into clear creative strategies and briefs

Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with brand, content, media, and performance teams to align creative with campaign and audience goals

Strong organization skills, attention to detail, and ability to uphold high standards across a large volume of work

Proficient in Microsoft 365 (PowerPoint, Word, Excel), SharePoint, and Teams

Design operations and workflow management; familiarity with Workfront or similar project management platforms

Advanced prioritization, task, and time management skills; ability to juggle competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

Strong verbal and written communication skills, including ability to present and defend creative work to senior stakeholders

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to interpret performance data to refine creative decisions

Demonstrated agility, curiosity, and openness to innovation; proactive in identifying opportunities to improve process and output

Risepoint is an equal opportunity employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an equitable environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal laws.

Risepoint is an equal-opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.