Southern Methodist University is hiring: Associate A.D, Creative Services (HR ti

Job Description - Associate A.D, Creative Services (HR title: Assoc Dir Creative Marketing) (ATH00000446)

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Associate A.D. for Creative Services will oversee SMU Athletics' Digital and Creative Media department and serve as the lead creative strategist.

This leader will drive the unit’s overall creative vision, elevate storytelling across platforms, and ensure projects are executed with precision and speed. Reporting to the Senior Associate A.D. for Brand Advancement and Strategic Communications, this role will partner closely in shaping and advancing SMU’s digital brand presence across all 17 sport programs.

Essential Functions

• Oversee and manage the staff that comprises the areas of creative video, photography, social media, graphic design and brand management for SMU’s 17-sport athletics program, with direction from the Senior Associate A.D. for Brand Advancement and Strategic Communications.
• Contribute to the overall vision and goals of SMU Athletics by shaping the digital strategy, to include the development and execution of storytelling, brand-building and fan-engagement content for distribution across the department’s social and digital channels.
• Create and deliver on video and content production calendars, accessible by multiple stakeholders, working with internal staff and outside vendors.
• Apply strategic methods to constructing annual budget that combine fiscally-responsible decisions with long-term vision for investment in equipment to stay at the forefront of emerging media and content production.
• Establish methods of planning communications and rhythm of meetings to produce the most robust content stream to effectively tell the story and elevate the brand of SMU Athletics.
• Work closely with the Marketing and PR staff to develop strategic messaging and unique methods for engaging fans, media and prospective student-athletes.
• Maintain regular communication and planning schedules with the ticket office, Mustang Club, development and marketing staffs to support ticket sales, attendance and fundraising initiatives and identify new revenue-generating opportunities.
• Lead and contribute to sport-specific content planning meetings, and guide digital and creative staff in managing those relationships with sport programs to integrate into the program’s social strategy and vision.
• Ensure consistency in brand guidelines and messaging related to content and posting.
• Position requires regular evening and weekend work.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree is required. Master’s preferred.

A minimum of seven years of work experience creating and distributing creative content across digital and social media platforms is required. A minimum of one year of supervisory/management experience is also required. Experience in collegiate athletics is preferred, but not required.

Experience executing digital content and creative strategies to align with audience behaviors, goals, and key messages to drive audience engagement is key.

The ideal candidate will have assumed progressive creative services roles leading a team, including working with leadership to set goals, develop a plan of action and supervise implementation of that omnichannel plan.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to think creatively, develop innovative solutions to problems, as well as identify and source creative deliverables. Must also have strong organizational, planning, and time management skills, with ability to prioritize planning, manage timelines, and budgets.

Candidate must demonstrate a strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite software, specifically Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and After Effects, as well as Microsoft Office.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Sit for long periods of time
• Carry/lift 25-50 lbs.
• Stand
• Exposure to excessive noise

Deadline to Apply

The position is open until filled.

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by December 1, 2025.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of healthand related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMUand, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.