Associate Director of Website Design
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business, seeks an Associate Director of Website & Digital Design to join its Communications and Marketing team.
The Associate Director serves as a primary resource for the design, development, enhancement and maintenance of the Darden School’s external websites. Additionally, the designer produces digital collateral for Darden’s online marketing campaigns including email newsletters, landing pages, display advertising and social media. The designer works collaboratively across functions with the goal of providing an online experience that builds the Darden brand and supports the School’s strategic goals and lines of business. The designer serves as a digital design and web development resource throughout the enterprise with a focus on clear and concise brand storytelling.
This position is hybrid in Charlottesville, VA.
Duties and Responsibilities include:
Produces high-quality visual and user interface design for the Darden websites including our primary enterprise site (www.darden.virginia.edu) as well as our thought leadership site Darden Ideas to Action (Ideas.darden.virginia.edu), our Darden Report Online news site (news.darden.virginia.edu), our blogs site (blogs.darden.virginia.edu), the MSBA site (msba.virginia.edu) and our brand identity webpages
Helps maintain custom landing pages for online marketing campaigns by providing updated imagery. Provides feedback on new landing page designs from vendors
Works with development vendors to implement web designs across a variety of CMS and online marketing platforms. Hand-codes and debugs HTML and CSS as needed
Produces creative assets for digital advertising and supports graphics for organic and paid social media campaigns
Strong understanding of UI | UX to enhance online experience at Darden; collaborates with Darden DSI team on technology choices and implementation to ensure a positive user experience compliant with accessibility and other legal requirements
Manages digital signage throughout the Darden Enterprise, both in Charlottesville and Rosslyn, VA
Designs e-newsletters distributed by the Offices of Communication & Marketing and Admission’s teams and creates e-newsletter banners for internal clients throughout the Darden Enterprise
Uses up-to-date knowledge of current web standards to take print-based designs and publications into the digital realm without loss of creative impact or brand identity
Fulfills digital and print design requests from the Darden Enterprise
Assists with training individuals on Marketing Cloud, Drupal websites and Wordpress websites
Supports brand management at Darden by screening and fulfilling logo and other brand asset requests
Photography at Darden events in support of C&M marketing materials
Stays abreast of emerging technologies/industry trends and applies them where appropriate
Education and Professional Experience:
Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience required. Degree in design or related field preferred
Portfolio of design work spanning multiple design projects and mediums, with a focus on digital and screen-based experiences required
Design proficiency in software applications including the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Microsoft Office
Website design proficiency; familiarity with Drupal and Wordpress content management systems preferred; HTML and CSS skill set
Strong knowledge of email marketing design; specific knowledge of Marketing Cloud a plus
Awareness of SEO best practices
Strong understanding of UX | UI best practices
Knowledge of printing and printing production
Knowledge of photography and photo asset management
Animation design (After Effects) skillset preferred
Strong planning and organization skills; ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously and remain cognizant of deadlines and schedules
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills and a desire to work in a collaborative, innovative and team-oriented environment
Occasional evening or weekend work may be necessary.
