ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY JOB DESCRIPTION
APPROVED POSITION INFORMATION
(to be completed by HR)
Effective: April 1, 2015
Title
Manager, Creative Services
Essential Function: Sedentary Work
Range
JCC
3
67284
Description: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force
frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary
work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position, the role in the
university, and the supervisor’s title.* (This section is used for advertisement of the
position.)
Reporting to the Executive Director, Marketing and Communications, the Director, Creative
Services, is charged with determining the best ways for the University of Nevada, Reno to
represent its brand messages in writing and visually across traditional and digital media. The
position is very much a people-oriented job, involving development of high-level concepts and
copy for design projects. The position involves working with internal and external clients,
pitching concepts, and understanding client needs. At times, it is required that the individual
develop copywriting and visual designs, and at other times, the Creative Director is responsible
for recruiting and managing third party design firms as well as internal design resources. The
position is responsible for all creative operations for a specific group of accounts to include staff
supervision and work production. The position directs the activities of subordinates to maintain
the agency’s standards of creative excellence, timeliness, and profitability, while achieving the
clients’ goals. The individual resolves functional conflicts through consultation with departmental
function heads.
* Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job
(percentage first with heading and then bulleted information). If line of progression,
define for each range as above.
50% - Creativity and Project Management
 Plans, develops, and defends budget recommendations, work goals, measurements,
and training requirements necessary to provide both profitable and quality service to
clients
 Insures the timely development and execution of plan, campaigns, and projects to
assure earnings, growth, and profit goals are achieved
 Provides detailed information and cost estimates to assure accurate data on which to
plan and develop functional objectives and budgets leading to stable and profitable
accounts
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Manager, Creative Services
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Oversees creative consultations with account teams to assure appropriate creative
strategies, adequacy/accuracy of input, schedules, budgets, production support,
necessary reviews, and client presentations
Participates in the new business efforts as directed
Develops copywriting and visual designs
Recruits and manages third party design firms as well as internal design resources
Develops high-level concepts and copy for design projects
Works with internal and external clients, pitching concepts, and understanding client
needs
Resolves functional conflicts through consultation with departmental function heads
Supports other departmental directors as requested and as resources permit
Maintains external professional relationships to assure the ongoing availability of
specialized expertise, gifted freelancers, and reputable studios/producers when their
services are required
35% - Supervision and Operations Management
 Manages creative operations for a specific group of accounts to include staff supervision
and work production
 Provides leadership/motivation and conveys the vision and values of the creative
services team to staff
 Cooperates with account service directors to resolve differences which may lead to
discord in the office
 Trains and supervises assigned staff of writers, artists, and production and traffic
personnel; oversees their execution of all creative efforts to insure they are on strategy,
on budget, and on schedule
 Directs the activities of subordinates to maintain the agency’s standards of creative
excellence, timeliness, and profitability, while achieving the clients’ goals
 Keeps the account team leaders aware of the use of outside services and materials to
work within assigned budgets and provide stewardship of the University’s hard-won
marketing dollars
 Recommend staffing and compensation changes
 Assures the staff adheres to established agency policy/procedures, with special
emphasis on best practices with regard to the purchase of outside services
15% - Brand Management
 Determines the best ways for the University of Nevada, Reno to represent its brand
messages in writing and visually across traditional and digital media
3. Describe the types of decisions the position(s) makes independently as part of the core
responsibilities. Provide examples. If a line of progression, describe the decisions made
at the highest level.
The Director is expected to make day-to-day decisions without direct supervision on
management of multiple projects simultaneously which includes overseeing development and
implementation of communications and delivery systems, brand management for the university,
print and web design, and graphic design of web sites. Decisions occur when booking vendors,
in the detailed planning and assignment of projects, as well as when communicating, assisting,
and negotiating with campus customers. The Director collaborates with the Marketing
Operations Director on overall assignment of projects to staff but does not supervise any direct
reports. The work performed by the position has a direct and significant impact on the
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Manager, Creative Services
achievement of department and University goals. The unit seeks to advance the University’s
objectives with integrated communication solutions and effective brand management. The unit
will only be capable of fulfilling its responsibilities if the duties of the Director are accomplished
in a timely manner with a high level of accuracy, personal enterprise, and creativity. Decisions
and performance by the position affect budgets, deadlines and relationships with University
constituents and outside vendors.
4. Describe the types of problems, issues, action, communications this position typically
takes to the supervisor for resolution and/or consultation. Provide examples. If a line of
progression, describe the supervisory consultation at the highest level.
Decisions must be consistent with department goals and the University’s priorities relating to
branding and overall web management outlined by the Executive Director. Any changes to the
overall mission or goals of the unit must be discussed with the Executive Director as well as
apprising him/her on a regular basis of projects and variations outside of standards and
customer issues. The Executive Director has final approval on exceptions needed to marketing
or web creation for unusual circumstances.
5. Select the applicable competencies required to successfully perform the job. The
selected competencies will be evaluated within the Administrative Faculty evaluation as
Competencies for Success.
Competency
Required
Adaptability
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Analytical Thinking
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Communication
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Diversity and Inclusion
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Financial Responsibilities
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Human Resource Responsibilities
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Leadership
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Program/Project/Functional Knowledge
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Resource Responsibilities
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Serving Constituents
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Teamwork
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Other (specify)
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Manager, Creative Services
6. Minimum requirements of the position. Example provided.
If Line of Progression, minimum requirements must be defined for each range.
Education
Experience
Bachelor’s Degree
Four years of related professional experience
Master’s Degree
Two years of related professional experience
Relevant Experience: In communications/marketing/fine arts or related field or
equivalent marketing design and management experience and/or working with
large-scale web sites, e-marketing, and advertising
Certification and Licensure: None
Schedule or Travel Requirements: None
Optional Addendum: Describe the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successful
performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Interactive communications and delivery systems, processes, and user interface design
as well as industry best practices
 Layouts, graphic fundamentals, typography and limitations of the web;
 Experience design, brand development, interactive commerce and creative process
 Print and web design capabilities to work in both media for integrated campaigns
 Brand identity and management
Skills:
 Strong expertise in computer software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign; HTML,
CSS, JS, and standards-based web design video editing
 Strong analytical and decision making skills
 Effective verbal and written communication
 Supervision and training of employees to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling
work assignments
 Manage multiple projects from concept through completion
 Leadership
Ability to:
 Lead projects from concept to completion
 Apply best practices in user interface and interactive design, including image
optimization and site mapping
 Execute duties and assignments as directed in compliance with University guidelines
and objectives
 Facilitate and promote University initiatives and values throughout the function
 Storyboard or translate ideas to designers and develop innovative motion graphics
solutions
 Lead creative sessions for project kick-offs
 Develop creative programs and design concepts that meet the communications
objectives of the University and that advance its brand strategy
 Establish creative direction for the entire line of University services and programs
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Manager, Creative Services
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Supervise and inspire the creative team of vendor partners; generate multiple concepts
for a campaign or project
Work with the account team, strategy team, and other copywriters to develop concepts
and present to management
Work with internal teams to generate ideas for pitching and proposals
Provide quality control over concepts and projects
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