Apply on Employer Site

Columbia University · 1 month ago

Assistant Director, Digital Designer

Manhattanville, NY

Full-time

Onsite

Entry, Mid Level

$68K/yr - $80K/yr

2+ years exp

Columbia University is a prestigious institution dedicated to developing leaders and innovators. The Assistant Director, Digital Designer will design and produce digital-first visuals and multimedia assets to enhance storytelling across various platforms, collaborating closely with the Marketing and Communications team to uphold the school's brand and engage audiences effectively.

EducationHigher EducationMedicalTrainingUniversities

Responsibilities

Designs, produces, and optimizes creative assets across digital channels, including web banners, infographics, social media graphics, motion graphics, short-form videos, email headers, GIFs, digital signage, presentation templates, and paid media ads, to enhance engagement, strengthen brand consistency, and support marketing and storytelling initiatives

Develops visual identities and lockups for major School events, campaigns, and internal initiatives

Applies the CBS brand identity into cohesive, accessible, and visually compelling digital experiences

Stays current on design and platform trends (social, UX/UI, responsive, accessibility, and motion design) to inform creative execution and ensure CBS visuals remain contemporary and impactful

Ensures all assets meet accessibility (ADA/WCAG) and responsive design standards

Upholds and evolves the School’s visual identity across digital and print applications, ensuring design consistency and brand integrity

Provides design guidance to internal partners and external vendors on CBS brand guidelines, design standards, and best practices

At the direction of Marketing and Communications leadership, develops scalable templates, design systems, and reusable visual assets for use across departments

Proposes design updates for CBS website, newsletters, presentations, and social platforms that reflect a unified brand narrative

Collaborates with the Marketing and Communications team to design creative elements that enhance storytelling and campaign execution

Participates in brainstorming and concept development sessions, contributing innovative visual design ideas aligned with institutional goals

Translate research and other technical content into beautiful, compelling, easy-to-understand visuals

Works with cross-functional teams (Development & Alumni Relations, Executive Education, Admissions, and others) to understand objectives and translate them into compelling visual solutions

Presents creative concepts and design iterations to stakeholders; incorporates feedback to achieve desired outcomes

Manages multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring high-quality deliverables and timely completion

Maintains an organized digital asset library, ensuring accessibility and version control of design files

Supports the preparation of vendor files and liaises with printers or external production partners when needed

Contributes to the ongoing refinement of workflows and creative processes to improve efficiency and collaboration within the team

Qualification

Adobe Creative SuiteDigital Asset DesignResponsive Design PrinciplesProject ManagementCollaboration SkillsHTML5/CSS KnowledgeFigma FamiliarityCanva FamiliarityHigher Education ExperienceCommunication SkillsTime Management

Required

Bachelor's Degree and 2-4 years of related experience in digital, multimedia, or graphic design

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro) and familiarity with Figma, Canva, or other collaborative design tools

Demonstrated ability to design and produce digital assets (web graphics, social visuals, motion graphics, and event lockups) that align with institutional branding

Solid understanding of layout, typography, color theory, and accessibility standards for digital design

Strong project-management and time-management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines

Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with openness to feedback and a commitment to maintaining brand consistency across channels

Portfolio demonstrating creative range, visual problem-solving, and brand-driven design solutions