OVERVIEW OF MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA
Meals on Wheels America is the leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation. Powered by a dedicated volunteer workforce, this network delivers a comprehensive solution that begins with a meal and is proven to enable independence and well-being through the additional benefits of tailored nutrition, social connection, safety and much more. By providing funding, programming, education, research and advocacy, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.
POSITION SUMMARY
Meals on Wheels America is hiring a Creative Director (CD) to champion the visual design direction of the brand and oversee the production and execution of marketing campaigns, initiatives and deliverables across platforms such as video, digital, social, print and experiential. Reporting to the Vice President, Marketing, the CD will build and expand internal and external brand and editorial standards, ensuring consistent, strategic and high-quality audience experiences on various platforms. This is a unique opportunity to extend the reach, power and impact of an iconic brand, recently named a Fast Company “Brands That Matters”, representing a network that serves seniors in every part of our country.
A competitive candidate will have a deep understanding of brand strategy, contemporary visual culture, and a drive to do mission-driven work. In addition, they will possess strong leadership and communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and an interest in developing and managing the growth of a small, growing team. They will nimbly direct and translate ideas into world-class campaigns, stories, and experiences.
This is an Arlington, VA based, flexible hybrid working role. There is no weekly in-office requirement, however the ability to visit the office as needed is required.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Brand Management
- Extend and evolve brand and editorial guidelines and expression to digital, video and social media platforms to ensure consistent creative quality and creative discipline in the organization’s outward-facing materials and content.
- Uphold brand guidelines and clearly communicate/educate them to wider team and organization as needed; with Brand Manager/Graphic Designer, address and resolve issues with cross departmental Brand Issues team.
- Create plans and strategies to drive greater brand adoption among Meals on Wheels America members and actively cultivate and steward existing brand adopters to become enthusiastic brand ambassadors.
- Campaigns, Initiatives, Pushes, and other projects/deliverables
- Based on the annual Marketing calendar, create multiplatform content for campaigns and initiatives, sometimes in partnership with external agencies and partners.
- Create assets for business partners to support programmatic, fundraising and membership goals.
- With wider team, develop digital platforms and content; support ongoing growth and development of digital properties and partner with other colleagues to test and learn about new digital products as appropriate.
Ways of Working
- Manage, mentor, and champion creative department staff.
- Set priorities and oversee the execution and development of creative assets across team.
- With Marketing Specialist (Project Manager), refine work request/intake process, investigate project management/workflow tools to help streamline how work flows through department.
- With Brand Manager/Graphic Designer, continue to grow and evolve Digital Asset Management System (DAM – Brandfolder) to serve as asset repository and portal for staff and partners.
- Hire and manage creative and production vendors and freelancers and manage projects and timelines with them.
Storytelling
- In partnership with Senior Director, Brand Management, set storytelling plan for year to create content that moves strategic goals forward.
- Plan, direct and execute content capture shoots in partnership with local providers to produce compelling multiplatform content to advance awareness, support and relevance of the organization, ensuring proper releases and permissions are secured.
- Continue to evolve and build bank of third party video and photos for use across multiple platforms to augment content captured from shoots.
- Produce written, video and photo deliverables of stories for use across platforms with assistance from freelancers and agencies as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design or related field, plus 10+ years of experience in design, agency, or in-house environment, or equivalent combination of experience and education.
- Demonstrated interest in brand strategy and design in a mission-driven context.
- Experience working with brand(s) that have both national and local expressions.
- A minimum of 3 years successfully managing or leading creative teams.
- Strong project management, prioritization, organizational and time management skills.
- A track record of making sound judgments about competing priorities and deadlines and comfortable managing time and resources.
- A team player and people person who builds strong relationships and has the skills to resolve conflict while still maintaining important and effective relationships.
- Excellent oral and written presentation skills.
- Proficiency in all appropriate creative software (full suite of Adobe Creative Cloud), competency working in Microsoft Office Suite, and G suite products.
- Track record of working effectively across multiple differences (race, gender, age, language, orientation, urban/rural, etc.).
- Ability to give and receive feedback well.
