Teacher Retirement System of Texas
Location:
4655 Mueller Boulevard Austin, Texas, 78723 United States
Creative Design Program Manager
Requisition ID: req1280 Employment Type: Unclassified Regular Full-Time (URF)
Division: Communications Compensation: 98,214.00 - 122,768.00, Annual Salary
Location: Bravo Job Closing: October 12th at 5:00 pm, CST
WHO WE ARE:
Service, Respect, and Connection are core to the individual and collective TRS experience. We know that great service rests on a foundation of relationships that connect us all to an empowering and rewarding career. At TRS, we're inspired by our community who bring authenticity and commitment to our mission to improve the retirement security of public education employees and retirees throughout Texas.
As a group of achievers, we tap collaboration and innovation to raise the bar in performance, administering and counseling pensions and healthcare benefits to ensure certainty for the future of our members. We invite you to join us, where both personal and career growth are respected and where you can make a difference in our members' lives every day.
The Creative Design Program Manager - Member Communications position is responsible for leading TRS's visual and digital design strategy to enhance member engagement across all communication channels. The incumbent will design and manage creative assets ranging from print materials and presentations to digital tools and member portals, ensuring brand consistency and accessibility. This position will proactively work with the Creative Director, Digital Communications Program Manager, IT staff, and executive leadership to deliver intuitive, human-centered experiences.
This position will be required to report to work onsite at least four days per week or more based on business need.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Visual Communications & Brand Experience
• Serves as TRS' lead visual designer and brand expert, producing high-quality creative assets across all mediums.
• Designs and produces comprehensive member communications including enrollment materials, pension statements, retirement planning guides, and benefits explanations.
• Creates digital assets and designs user interfaces for websites, email campaigns, social media, member portals, and mobile applications.
• Develops infographics and data visualizations that make complex healthcare costs, retirement projections, and pension calculations understandable.
• Produces photography and video content for member education, from healthcare tutorials to retirement planning webinars.
• Designs executive-level presentations and materials for Board of Trustees meetings, ensuring data is visually compelling and accessible.
• Creates and maintains templates for PowerPoint presentations, reports, forms, newsletters, and recurring communications.
• Manages brand consistency across all touchpoints-from member cards to retirement certificates to social media posts.
• Ensures all materials meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2) and regulatory requirements (HIPAA, state guidelines) determine project requirements, and achieve final product goals.
• Makes recommendations to improve messaging, visuals and digital delivery.
• Reviews creative work with staff and/or management to receive and provide feedback on direction, and to ensure work is aligned with communications objectives.
• Develops and maintains production schedules for all visual and digital design deliverables.
Digital Experience Design & Strategy
• Leads User Interface (UI) strategy and design initiatives for member-facing digital platforms including website interactives, retirement calculators, and benefit selection tools.
• Conducts user research across member segments-new teachers choosing their first healthcare plans, mid-career educators planning retirement, retirees managing their pension benefits.
• Creates comprehensive user journeys mapping critical moments: healthcare enrollment, life events, retirement transitions.
• Develops wireframes, prototypes, and interactive designs that simplify complex decisions like comparing healthcare plans or understanding pension options.
• Partners with Digital Communications Program Manager to ensure seamless integration between design vision and technical implementation.
• Champions human-centered design principles in an environment with complex constraints.
• Builds and maintains brand guidelines, design systems, and component libraries ensuring consistency across digital products.
• Performs usability testing on critical member tools and iterates based on real-world feedback.
• Collaborates with IT to optimize user interfaces and improve member self-service capabilities.
Creative Program Management & Workflow Optimization
• Manages creative project pipeline balancing urgent communications and long-term initiatives.
• Coordinates with Pension Services, Health, Executive Office, and all TRS divisions to prioritize member communication needs.
• Develops production schedules aligned with critical deadlines: healthcare open enrollment, retirement application periods, Board meetings.
• Establishes and maintains creative workflows ensuring accuracy for sensitive healthcare and pension information.
• Manages relationships with creative vendors, print vendors, photographers, and videographers.
• Oversees quality assurance reviews for all visual and digital deliverables.
• Tracks project metrics and reports on creative impact on member engagement and understanding.
• Maintains digital asset management system and creative resource library.
• Develops and manages budgets for creative projects, vendor contracts, and design resources.
Strategic Creative Leadership
• Partners with Creative Director and Chief Communications Officer to evolve TRS visual identity and member experience strategy.
• Serves as creative consultant and brand advisor to all TRS departments and leadership.
• Presents creative strategies and member experience improvements to executive leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Researches emerging trends in healthcare communications, retirement planning tools, and government UI/UX.
• Develops creative briefs and provides art direction for agency-wide campaigns.
• Mentors team members and builds creative capacity across the organization.
• Facilitates design thinking workshops to solve complex member challenges.
• Advocates for member-centered design in all agency initiatives.
• Stays current with design tools, technologies, and best practices, especially in healthcare and financial services.
Performs related work as assigned.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING:
Required Education
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in design, communications, public relations, user experience design, digital media, journalism or a closely related field.
• High school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time experience in creative design, journalism, public relations, communications, UI/UX design, video production or related experience may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Required Experience
• Six (6) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in graphic design, visual communications, creative services, digital design (including web, email, and social media), or related experience.
• Two (2) years of full-time experience in UI/UX design, including user research, wireframing, and prototyping.
• Experience may be concurrent.
• A master's degree or doctoral degree in a closely related field may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in creative services within complex organizations
• Two (2) years of full-time experience using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) at an advanced level
• Two (2) years of full-time experience in photography and/or video production for organizational communications.
• Two (2) years of experience managing creative projects or coordinating design initiatives.
• Experience in government, education, financial services, or healthcare sectors
• Demonstrated expertise in creating accessible designs for populations including older users
• Experience with design systems and component library development at enterprise scale
• Knowledge of HTML/CSS and basic front-end development concepts
• Experience managing creative vendors, agencies, and production partners
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies in creative environments
• Certification in UI/UX design, project management (PMP), or accessibility (CPACC)
• Experience with motion graphics and animation for digital communications
• Demonstrated commitment to public service and improving lives through design
Knowledge of:
• Advanced graphic design principles, typography, color theory, and their application to clear communications.
• User interaction design, user experience research, and information architecture.
• Digital design best practices including responsive design, mobile-first approaches, and accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2).
• Photography and videography techniques for educational and promotional content.
• Print production processes, specifications, and vendor management for high-volume member mailings.
• Web design principles, email marketing best practices, and social media content strategies.
• Data visualization and infographic design for complex information.
• Brand development, governance, and implementation across large organizations.
• Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop at expert level; Premiere, After Effects at working level).
• Modern UX/UI tools (Figma, Sketch, XD, or similar) and prototyping platforms.
• Content management systems, digital asset management, and creative workflow tools.
• Project management methodologies and creative operations optimization.
• State agency requirements for communications and stakeholder reporting.
Skills in:
• Creating visual designs that work seamlessly across print, digital, and environmental applications.
• Developing advanced data visualizations and infographics.
• Translating complex information into clear visual communications.
• Conducting user research.
• Creating intuitive interfaces for complex tasks.
• Presenting creative solutions to varied audiences to Board of Trustees.
• Writing and visual storytelling that connects with people.
• Collaborating effectively with technical teams, vendors, and executive stakeholders.
• Maintaining attention to detail while managing high-volume production.
• Integrating AI into the design process to enhance creativity, improve productivity, and deliver data-informed design solutions.
• Providing constructive creative direction.
• Project management and problem solving skills.
• Written, verbal, and visual communication.
• Effectively prioritizing, managing, and coordinating multiple tasks and resources.
Ability to:
• Balance high-volume production needs with strategic design initiatives.
• Maintain empathy and clarity when designing.
• Lead through influence, building consensus across departments without direct authority.
• Think systematically about design challenges.
• Bridge the gap between creative vision and technical/regulatory reality.
• Cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with team members and internal customers throughout TRS.
• Work effectively under pressure and on tight deadlines.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes: Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( https://www.trs.texas.gov/files/trs-military-crosswalk.xlsx ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at careers@trs.texas.gov with questions or for additional information.
To view all job vacancies, visit www.trs.texas.gov/careers or www.trs.csod.com/careersite.
For more information, visit www.trs.texas.gov.
4655 Mueller Boulevard Austin, Texas, 78723 United States
Creative Design Program Manager
Requisition ID: req1280 Employment Type: Unclassified Regular Full-Time (URF)
Division: Communications Compensation: 98,214.00 - 122,768.00, Annual Salary
Location: Bravo Job Closing: October 12th at 5:00 pm, CST
WHO WE ARE:
Service, Respect, and Connection are core to the individual and collective TRS experience. We know that great service rests on a foundation of relationships that connect us all to an empowering and rewarding career. At TRS, we're inspired by our community who bring authenticity and commitment to our mission to improve the retirement security of public education employees and retirees throughout Texas.
As a group of achievers, we tap collaboration and innovation to raise the bar in performance, administering and counseling pensions and healthcare benefits to ensure certainty for the future of our members. We invite you to join us, where both personal and career growth are respected and where you can make a difference in our members' lives every day.
The Creative Design Program Manager - Member Communications position is responsible for leading TRS's visual and digital design strategy to enhance member engagement across all communication channels. The incumbent will design and manage creative assets ranging from print materials and presentations to digital tools and member portals, ensuring brand consistency and accessibility. This position will proactively work with the Creative Director, Digital Communications Program Manager, IT staff, and executive leadership to deliver intuitive, human-centered experiences.
This position will be required to report to work onsite at least four days per week or more based on business need.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
Visual Communications & Brand Experience
• Serves as TRS' lead visual designer and brand expert, producing high-quality creative assets across all mediums.
• Designs and produces comprehensive member communications including enrollment materials, pension statements, retirement planning guides, and benefits explanations.
• Creates digital assets and designs user interfaces for websites, email campaigns, social media, member portals, and mobile applications.
• Develops infographics and data visualizations that make complex healthcare costs, retirement projections, and pension calculations understandable.
• Produces photography and video content for member education, from healthcare tutorials to retirement planning webinars.
• Designs executive-level presentations and materials for Board of Trustees meetings, ensuring data is visually compelling and accessible.
• Creates and maintains templates for PowerPoint presentations, reports, forms, newsletters, and recurring communications.
• Manages brand consistency across all touchpoints-from member cards to retirement certificates to social media posts.
• Ensures all materials meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2) and regulatory requirements (HIPAA, state guidelines) determine project requirements, and achieve final product goals.
• Makes recommendations to improve messaging, visuals and digital delivery.
• Reviews creative work with staff and/or management to receive and provide feedback on direction, and to ensure work is aligned with communications objectives.
• Develops and maintains production schedules for all visual and digital design deliverables.
Digital Experience Design & Strategy
• Leads User Interface (UI) strategy and design initiatives for member-facing digital platforms including website interactives, retirement calculators, and benefit selection tools.
• Conducts user research across member segments-new teachers choosing their first healthcare plans, mid-career educators planning retirement, retirees managing their pension benefits.
• Creates comprehensive user journeys mapping critical moments: healthcare enrollment, life events, retirement transitions.
• Develops wireframes, prototypes, and interactive designs that simplify complex decisions like comparing healthcare plans or understanding pension options.
• Partners with Digital Communications Program Manager to ensure seamless integration between design vision and technical implementation.
• Champions human-centered design principles in an environment with complex constraints.
• Builds and maintains brand guidelines, design systems, and component libraries ensuring consistency across digital products.
• Performs usability testing on critical member tools and iterates based on real-world feedback.
• Collaborates with IT to optimize user interfaces and improve member self-service capabilities.
Creative Program Management & Workflow Optimization
• Manages creative project pipeline balancing urgent communications and long-term initiatives.
• Coordinates with Pension Services, Health, Executive Office, and all TRS divisions to prioritize member communication needs.
• Develops production schedules aligned with critical deadlines: healthcare open enrollment, retirement application periods, Board meetings.
• Establishes and maintains creative workflows ensuring accuracy for sensitive healthcare and pension information.
• Manages relationships with creative vendors, print vendors, photographers, and videographers.
• Oversees quality assurance reviews for all visual and digital deliverables.
• Tracks project metrics and reports on creative impact on member engagement and understanding.
• Maintains digital asset management system and creative resource library.
• Develops and manages budgets for creative projects, vendor contracts, and design resources.
Strategic Creative Leadership
• Partners with Creative Director and Chief Communications Officer to evolve TRS visual identity and member experience strategy.
• Serves as creative consultant and brand advisor to all TRS departments and leadership.
• Presents creative strategies and member experience improvements to executive leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Researches emerging trends in healthcare communications, retirement planning tools, and government UI/UX.
• Develops creative briefs and provides art direction for agency-wide campaigns.
• Mentors team members and builds creative capacity across the organization.
• Facilitates design thinking workshops to solve complex member challenges.
• Advocates for member-centered design in all agency initiatives.
• Stays current with design tools, technologies, and best practices, especially in healthcare and financial services.
Performs related work as assigned.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING:
Required Education
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in design, communications, public relations, user experience design, digital media, journalism or a closely related field.
• High school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time experience in creative design, journalism, public relations, communications, UI/UX design, video production or related experience may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Required Experience
• Six (6) years of full-time directly related, progressively responsible experience in graphic design, visual communications, creative services, digital design (including web, email, and social media), or related experience.
• Two (2) years of full-time experience in UI/UX design, including user research, wireframing, and prototyping.
• Experience may be concurrent.
• A master's degree or doctoral degree in a closely related field may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in creative services within complex organizations
• Two (2) years of full-time experience using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) at an advanced level
• Two (2) years of full-time experience in photography and/or video production for organizational communications.
• Two (2) years of experience managing creative projects or coordinating design initiatives.
• Experience in government, education, financial services, or healthcare sectors
• Demonstrated expertise in creating accessible designs for populations including older users
• Experience with design systems and component library development at enterprise scale
• Knowledge of HTML/CSS and basic front-end development concepts
• Experience managing creative vendors, agencies, and production partners
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies in creative environments
• Certification in UI/UX design, project management (PMP), or accessibility (CPACC)
• Experience with motion graphics and animation for digital communications
• Demonstrated commitment to public service and improving lives through design
Knowledge of:
• Advanced graphic design principles, typography, color theory, and their application to clear communications.
• User interaction design, user experience research, and information architecture.
• Digital design best practices including responsive design, mobile-first approaches, and accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2).
• Photography and videography techniques for educational and promotional content.
• Print production processes, specifications, and vendor management for high-volume member mailings.
• Web design principles, email marketing best practices, and social media content strategies.
• Data visualization and infographic design for complex information.
• Brand development, governance, and implementation across large organizations.
• Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop at expert level; Premiere, After Effects at working level).
• Modern UX/UI tools (Figma, Sketch, XD, or similar) and prototyping platforms.
• Content management systems, digital asset management, and creative workflow tools.
• Project management methodologies and creative operations optimization.
• State agency requirements for communications and stakeholder reporting.
Skills in:
• Creating visual designs that work seamlessly across print, digital, and environmental applications.
• Developing advanced data visualizations and infographics.
• Translating complex information into clear visual communications.
• Conducting user research.
• Creating intuitive interfaces for complex tasks.
• Presenting creative solutions to varied audiences to Board of Trustees.
• Writing and visual storytelling that connects with people.
• Collaborating effectively with technical teams, vendors, and executive stakeholders.
• Maintaining attention to detail while managing high-volume production.
• Integrating AI into the design process to enhance creativity, improve productivity, and deliver data-informed design solutions.
• Providing constructive creative direction.
• Project management and problem solving skills.
• Written, verbal, and visual communication.
• Effectively prioritizing, managing, and coordinating multiple tasks and resources.
Ability to:
• Balance high-volume production needs with strategic design initiatives.
• Maintain empathy and clarity when designing.
• Lead through influence, building consensus across departments without direct authority.
• Think systematically about design challenges.
• Bridge the gap between creative vision and technical/regulatory reality.
• Cultivate and maintain positive working relationships with team members and internal customers throughout TRS.
• Work effectively under pressure and on tight deadlines.
Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes: Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( https://www.trs.texas.gov/files/trs-military-crosswalk.xlsx ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at careers@trs.texas.gov with questions or for additional information.
To view all job vacancies, visit www.trs.texas.gov/careers or www.trs.csod.com/careersite.
For more information, visit www.trs.texas.gov.