Inside Higher Ed
Marketing & Communications Creative Manager
Inside Higher Ed, Portland, Oregon, United States, 97204
Marketing & Communications Creative Manager
Portland Community College is the largest post‑secondary institution in Oregon and the 19th largest in the nation, serving approximately 80,000 full‑ and part‑time students. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, five workforce training and education centers, and 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. Our unique role is to make high‑quality education accessible to everyone, creating opportunities for our students and contributing to the economic development of our community. PCC embraces equity and inclusion as a priority and is committed to building a community with a variety of backgrounds, skills, views, and life experiences. The more we value equity and inclusion, the more we will add value to the work we do and how we serve our students and the communities we serve. We also strive to ensure that applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for the hiring process are provided for. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the PCC Talent Acquisition Team at pccjobs@pcc.edu. PCC currently limits employment to individuals residing in Oregon and Washington, and employment offers are contingent upon the ability to establish residence in Oregon or Washington.
What You’ll Do And Who We Are Looking For Under the direction of the Marketing Director, the Creative Manager leads the execution of the College’s visual and communication strategies across digital, print, video, environmental/signage, and social channels. This role ensures creative excellence, accessibility, and brand integrity across all PCC communications. The Creative Manager will partner with the Brand Operations Manager, Public Relations, Internal Communications, and Content Strategist to deliver cohesive campaigns that reflect PCC’s mission and values. They will manage the creative staff responsible for design, copywriting, digital storytelling, and creative video production. This position has conceptual leadership over creative direction of the PCC brand and oversees quality assurance for the creative staff. They will work collaboratively with leaders in Academic and Student Affairs to support a scalable creative environment to ensure that every piece of content produced by the Marketing and Communications division embodies the college’s identity.
Distinguishing Characteristics The creative manager serves as the College’s principal guardian of visual identity and brand storytelling. This position sets the creative direction, defines and enforces design and tone standards, and directs a multi‑disciplinary team that brings ideas to life. The Creative Manager works closely with the Brand Operations Manager and Marketing Director to ensure that the creative process runs smoothly from ideation through launch, aligning message and medium to stated communications goals for maximum impact.
Main Responsibilities
Leadership & Supervision: Lead, supervise, and mentor creative staff (full‑time designers, copywriter, creative video producer, photographers, social media specialist, as well as casual and student staff); set clear goals and expectations; provide regular feedback and coaching on creative work; promote a collaborative, equity‑centered culture focused on inclusive storytelling, student‑centeredness, and brand excellence; hire, train, evaluate performance, and support professional growth of staff as necessary.
Brand Stewardship: Serve as the lead guardian of PCC’s visual identity system, ensuring messaging consistency and accessibility standards; review and approve creative work across all channels for brand, tone, strategic alignment, and inclusive excellence; maintain PCC’s brand and style guide, ensuring alignment across all divisions and vendors.
Creative Strategy and Execution: Translate strategic goals into creative briefs and deliverables; direct the development of campaign concepts, visuals, and copy to engage diverse audiences; oversee end‑to‑end creative production and partner with the Marketing and Communications Brand Leadership Team to align production schedules, budgets, procurement processes, and quality control.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with subject matter experts in PR, Internal Communications, and Academic/Student Affairs to deliver creative solutions to agreed‑upon objectives; partner with the Multimedia Manager for production quality, accessibility compliance, and delivery; participate in Production Syncs and planning meetings to coordinate workload, timelines, and resourcing of creative staff.
Project & Vendor Management: Oversee creative workflows, project timelines, and quality control from concept to completion; select and manage external creative vendors; negotiate scopes, budgets and ensure adherence to PCC standards; collaborate with Brand Operations and Marketing Director on intake management and project prioritization; plan and manage the creative budget, monitor spending, approve purchases, and reallocate funds as needed to meet division priorities.
Scalable Solutions: When projects fall outside of division scope, provide consultation to external departments on creative strategy, recommend approaches, and deliver training/resources for brand‑aligned creative; evaluate the impact of creative works, conduct A/B tests, and refine messaging strategy for continuous improvement; contribute to reporting and feedback loop systems.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing or related field (relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year‑for‑year basis).
Five years progressively responsible, professional experience related to area of assignment, including two years of management‑level supervision of employees (including hiring, assessment, discipline, etc).
Success Criteria
Demonstrated experience leading the creative development process (concept to execution) for campaigns across multiple channels (digital, print, video, outdoor).
Proven ability to manage brand standards, visual identity and creative quality - ensuring consistency across materials and touch‑points.
Strong budget and project‑management competence: overseeing creative budgets, timelines, vendor/contractor relationships and resource allocation.
Why You’ll Love Working Here Education: The PCC district encompasses a 1,500‑square‑mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two‑year degrees, one‑year certificate programs, short‑term training, alternative education, pre‑college courses and life‑long learning. As part of our College community, you’ll enjoy:
A collaborative and inspiring campus community
Opportunities for learning and professional development
Position Grade Management L
Employment Type Full time
Total Rewards Package / What We Offer
Comprehensive benefit package designed to provide employees and their families, including domestic partners, with access to a broad range of benefit options. Includes Health, Dental, and Vision options, Group Life, Long‑term Disability, Long‑term Care, and Auto and Home Insurance programs.
Oregon PERS contribution – PCC fully funds the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/OPSRP) pension and contributes an additional 6% into the employee’s Individual Account Program under PERS/OPSRP.
Tax‑deferred annuity program and a deferred compensation program where employees may save additional pre‑tax dollars for retirement.
PCC provides a tuition waiver for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and dependent children under 24 years of age, as well as partial tuition reimbursement for full‑time employees at other accredited institutions.
Free access to the sports centers / campus gymnasiums, performing arts, and cultural events.
Conference and events rental space – Employees receive 50% off when on‑campus for personal events.
Generous Paid Leave (Pro‑rated by FTE for Part‑Time Employees).
14.67 hours of vacation leave per month
1 day of sick leave per month
12 paid holidays
PCC Winter Break (when College is Closed)
24 hours of personal leave per year
More information on benefits More detailed information on the benefits plans, who is eligible, and how to enroll or make changes can be found at https://pcc.edu/hr/benefits. Please email PCCBenefits@pcc.edu if you have any questions.
How We Determine Initial Salary Placement Minimum $94,209 to range midpoint of $115,404. Placement will generally not exceed the mid‑point, based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.
Background Check Requirement PCC Employment Offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
Visa Sponsorship Portland Community College is not currently able to provide visa (e.g., H1‑B Visa) sponsorship for potential employees.
Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment Portland Community College complies with the Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment law which provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment. You will be given instructions during the application process to claim Veterans' Preference in the recruitment of this position, and to provide the documents required for verification of eligibility. Please do not send your documentation to the hiring manager directly. For verification of eligibility, please submit the following documentation:
Veterans: DD214
Disabled Veterans: DD214 and Letter from the Department of VA
Contact PCC at pccjobs@pcc.edu if you have questions.
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What You’ll Do And Who We Are Looking For Under the direction of the Marketing Director, the Creative Manager leads the execution of the College’s visual and communication strategies across digital, print, video, environmental/signage, and social channels. This role ensures creative excellence, accessibility, and brand integrity across all PCC communications. The Creative Manager will partner with the Brand Operations Manager, Public Relations, Internal Communications, and Content Strategist to deliver cohesive campaigns that reflect PCC’s mission and values. They will manage the creative staff responsible for design, copywriting, digital storytelling, and creative video production. This position has conceptual leadership over creative direction of the PCC brand and oversees quality assurance for the creative staff. They will work collaboratively with leaders in Academic and Student Affairs to support a scalable creative environment to ensure that every piece of content produced by the Marketing and Communications division embodies the college’s identity.
Distinguishing Characteristics The creative manager serves as the College’s principal guardian of visual identity and brand storytelling. This position sets the creative direction, defines and enforces design and tone standards, and directs a multi‑disciplinary team that brings ideas to life. The Creative Manager works closely with the Brand Operations Manager and Marketing Director to ensure that the creative process runs smoothly from ideation through launch, aligning message and medium to stated communications goals for maximum impact.
Main Responsibilities
Leadership & Supervision: Lead, supervise, and mentor creative staff (full‑time designers, copywriter, creative video producer, photographers, social media specialist, as well as casual and student staff); set clear goals and expectations; provide regular feedback and coaching on creative work; promote a collaborative, equity‑centered culture focused on inclusive storytelling, student‑centeredness, and brand excellence; hire, train, evaluate performance, and support professional growth of staff as necessary.
Brand Stewardship: Serve as the lead guardian of PCC’s visual identity system, ensuring messaging consistency and accessibility standards; review and approve creative work across all channels for brand, tone, strategic alignment, and inclusive excellence; maintain PCC’s brand and style guide, ensuring alignment across all divisions and vendors.
Creative Strategy and Execution: Translate strategic goals into creative briefs and deliverables; direct the development of campaign concepts, visuals, and copy to engage diverse audiences; oversee end‑to‑end creative production and partner with the Marketing and Communications Brand Leadership Team to align production schedules, budgets, procurement processes, and quality control.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Coordinate with subject matter experts in PR, Internal Communications, and Academic/Student Affairs to deliver creative solutions to agreed‑upon objectives; partner with the Multimedia Manager for production quality, accessibility compliance, and delivery; participate in Production Syncs and planning meetings to coordinate workload, timelines, and resourcing of creative staff.
Project & Vendor Management: Oversee creative workflows, project timelines, and quality control from concept to completion; select and manage external creative vendors; negotiate scopes, budgets and ensure adherence to PCC standards; collaborate with Brand Operations and Marketing Director on intake management and project prioritization; plan and manage the creative budget, monitor spending, approve purchases, and reallocate funds as needed to meet division priorities.
Scalable Solutions: When projects fall outside of division scope, provide consultation to external departments on creative strategy, recommend approaches, and deliver training/resources for brand‑aligned creative; evaluate the impact of creative works, conduct A/B tests, and refine messaging strategy for continuous improvement; contribute to reporting and feedback loop systems.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing or related field (relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year‑for‑year basis).
Five years progressively responsible, professional experience related to area of assignment, including two years of management‑level supervision of employees (including hiring, assessment, discipline, etc).
Success Criteria
Demonstrated experience leading the creative development process (concept to execution) for campaigns across multiple channels (digital, print, video, outdoor).
Proven ability to manage brand standards, visual identity and creative quality - ensuring consistency across materials and touch‑points.
Strong budget and project‑management competence: overseeing creative budgets, timelines, vendor/contractor relationships and resource allocation.
Why You’ll Love Working Here Education: The PCC district encompasses a 1,500‑square‑mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two‑year degrees, one‑year certificate programs, short‑term training, alternative education, pre‑college courses and life‑long learning. As part of our College community, you’ll enjoy:
A collaborative and inspiring campus community
Opportunities for learning and professional development
Position Grade Management L
Employment Type Full time
Total Rewards Package / What We Offer
Comprehensive benefit package designed to provide employees and their families, including domestic partners, with access to a broad range of benefit options. Includes Health, Dental, and Vision options, Group Life, Long‑term Disability, Long‑term Care, and Auto and Home Insurance programs.
Oregon PERS contribution – PCC fully funds the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/OPSRP) pension and contributes an additional 6% into the employee’s Individual Account Program under PERS/OPSRP.
Tax‑deferred annuity program and a deferred compensation program where employees may save additional pre‑tax dollars for retirement.
PCC provides a tuition waiver for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and dependent children under 24 years of age, as well as partial tuition reimbursement for full‑time employees at other accredited institutions.
Free access to the sports centers / campus gymnasiums, performing arts, and cultural events.
Conference and events rental space – Employees receive 50% off when on‑campus for personal events.
Generous Paid Leave (Pro‑rated by FTE for Part‑Time Employees).
14.67 hours of vacation leave per month
1 day of sick leave per month
12 paid holidays
PCC Winter Break (when College is Closed)
24 hours of personal leave per year
More information on benefits More detailed information on the benefits plans, who is eligible, and how to enroll or make changes can be found at https://pcc.edu/hr/benefits. Please email PCCBenefits@pcc.edu if you have any questions.
How We Determine Initial Salary Placement Minimum $94,209 to range midpoint of $115,404. Placement will generally not exceed the mid‑point, based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.
Background Check Requirement PCC Employment Offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.
Visa Sponsorship Portland Community College is not currently able to provide visa (e.g., H1‑B Visa) sponsorship for potential employees.
Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment Portland Community College complies with the Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment law which provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment. You will be given instructions during the application process to claim Veterans' Preference in the recruitment of this position, and to provide the documents required for verification of eligibility. Please do not send your documentation to the hiring manager directly. For verification of eligibility, please submit the following documentation:
Veterans: DD214
Disabled Veterans: DD214 and Letter from the Department of VA
Contact PCC at pccjobs@pcc.edu if you have questions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr