University at Albany
Art Director, Advancement Communications - Major Gifts
University at Albany, Albany, New York, United States
University at Albany Job Posting: Art Director, Advancement Communications – Major Gifts
Art Director, Advancement Communications – Major Gifts
Established in 1844 and designated a University Center of the State University of New York in 1962, the University at Albany’s broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research, and public service engages a diverse student body of more than 17,000 students in nine schools and colleges across three campuses.
Located in Albany, New York, New York State’s capital, the University is convenient to Boston, New York City, and the Adirondacks.
Job Description Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement Communications, but operating with high autonomy, the Art Director (AD) for advancement communications provides high‑level creative communications leadership and project management within the Division for Advancement to support its strategic fundraising initiatives across six departments, including the UAlbany annual fund, alumni association, university events, donor relations, major gifts, and planned giving.
As the primary creative professional, the AD develops, manages, extends and implements creative solutions across multiple platforms, including print, video, photography, social media, web, interactive media, and events. With the insights of a marketer, the skills of a graphic designer, and instincts of an editor, the AD is at heart a master storyteller who turns complex information into strong creative concepts and takes a wide range of projects from comprehensive branding systems and fundraising campaigns to online interactive features and videos and elevates them to their ultimate creative expression.
The AD is fanatical in their eye for detail and the ability to deliver impactful creative solutions across a wide variety of media platforms for a diverse audience.
Primary Responsibilities
Provides art direction and project management for six units under University Advancement
Conceptualizes, plans, designs, and produces a wide range of specialized graphic and/or illustrative material including print, environmental and digital.
Consults directly with departmental partners to define their needs and objectives and generates creative graphic concepts/solutions to meet them.
Acts as the chief design liaison in University Advancement to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with the University brand standards.
Designs work within a variety of formats and mediums (from single sheet to large multi‑page documents to video and social media graphics).
Selects typographical format and design, plans the effective use of color, tone, aesthetic composition and maintains a superior design standard.
Quality control: checks final artwork and printing specifications, checks proofs at appropriate stages, assures web‑based design works falls within accessibility best practices.
Manages inspection of proofs for accuracy and adherence to appropriate production standards and suggests improvements as needed.
Maintains an archive of assets and completed projects.
UAlbany Magazine: Creative Director
Leads across‑departmental editorial team to create print, web, digital and social media content for UAlbany Magazine.
Provides editorial guidance to Editor in Chief.
Manages the photography and artwork assets to elevate the issue’s themes.
Devises and translates creative solutions around editorial content across print, digital and social media.
Manages freelance photographers, illustrators, motion‑graphic designers and videographers.
Supervises and/or art‑directs photo and video shoots, both studio and on‑location.
Translates audience/reader insights into creative content solutions.
Project Manager: Coordination of Services
Serves as primary liaison with design and branding agencies.
Identifies, selects, and oversees third‑party vendors for additional design, printing and publication services.
Manages requests for proposals and invitations for bids in accordance with University and state procurement processes.
Identifies and recommends contractors, such as design agencies, printers, service bureaus, sign companies, illustrators, videographers and photographers.
Keeps abreast of trends in the communication arts, the printing and paper industry as well as emerging storytelling and publishing technologies.
Actively pursues professional development by attending conferences, reading periodicals, monitoring pertinent industry forums and websites.
Stays fluent in popular culture and social media trends.
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
Reports to: Senior Director, Advancement Communications
Collaborative relationships: As Creative Director of the UAlbany Magazine, this position manages cross‑unit relationships with positions across two divisions and the six units within Advancement.
Supervises the following positions: N/A
Job Requirements
Thrives as a highly organized self‑starter who can successfully manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
Possesses exceptional interpersonal skills and is highly collaborative and collegial.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, within our campus community.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by the US Department of Education or an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
Seven (7+) years experience as a creative director, art director or senior graphic designer or equivalent demonstrated professional experience.
Expert in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe XD, Acrobat Pro and Bridge.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated experience designing for print magazines and related digital extensions.
Experience in video production, specifically skilled in videography.
Possesses a portfolio that demonstrates exceptional design in an array of media from print and magazine design, environmental graphics, and digital and can articulate how the design met the strategic objectives.
Master’s degree in graphic design, illustrative arts, or similar from a college or university accredited by the US Department of Education or an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
Experience in higher education highly desired.
Typical office environment.
Additional Information This is a promotional opportunity for current UAlbany employees.
Eligibility for Consideration
You must be employed at the University at Albany campus.
You must be in a State‑funded UUP professional position (MC employees are not eligible).
You must have a permanent, term, or probationary appointment. Only temporary employees employed by UAlbany for three or more consecutive years can be considered eligible.
Professional Rank and Salary Grade Associate Director of Community Relations, SL4, $80,000 – $85,000.
Special Note Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, please note that UAlbany is not an E‑Verify employer.
Clery Act Disclosure The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. The University at Albany’s Annual Security Report is available in portable document format (PDF) by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml
NYS Labor Law Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity, as defined by the Law, is permitted to rely on, orally or in writing seek, request, or require in any form that an applicant for employment provide his or her current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation, and for the purpose of verifying information, may such requests be made. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
EO/AA/IRCA/ADA Employer The University at Albany is an Equal Opportunity/AA/IRCA/ADA employer.
Applicants must submit the following documents
Resume
Cover letter stating all the required minimum qualifications and any of the applicable preferred qualifications
List of 3 professional references with e‑mail addresses and telephone numbers
Submit a portfolio with 3–4 published samples of art direction/graphic design (i.e., brochures, magazine tear sheets or PDFs, screenshots of social media posts). Word documents will not be accepted.
Two or more samples of submitted original digital content (videos, motion graphics or interactive content)
Note After submitting your resume, the subsequent pages give you instructions for uploading additional documents (i.e., cover letter etc.).
Returning Applicants Login to your UAlbany Careers Account to check your completed application.
Closing Date for receipt of applications January 29, 2026
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Established in 1844 and designated a University Center of the State University of New York in 1962, the University at Albany’s broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research, and public service engages a diverse student body of more than 17,000 students in nine schools and colleges across three campuses.
Located in Albany, New York, New York State’s capital, the University is convenient to Boston, New York City, and the Adirondacks.
Job Description Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement Communications, but operating with high autonomy, the Art Director (AD) for advancement communications provides high‑level creative communications leadership and project management within the Division for Advancement to support its strategic fundraising initiatives across six departments, including the UAlbany annual fund, alumni association, university events, donor relations, major gifts, and planned giving.
As the primary creative professional, the AD develops, manages, extends and implements creative solutions across multiple platforms, including print, video, photography, social media, web, interactive media, and events. With the insights of a marketer, the skills of a graphic designer, and instincts of an editor, the AD is at heart a master storyteller who turns complex information into strong creative concepts and takes a wide range of projects from comprehensive branding systems and fundraising campaigns to online interactive features and videos and elevates them to their ultimate creative expression.
The AD is fanatical in their eye for detail and the ability to deliver impactful creative solutions across a wide variety of media platforms for a diverse audience.
Primary Responsibilities
Provides art direction and project management for six units under University Advancement
Conceptualizes, plans, designs, and produces a wide range of specialized graphic and/or illustrative material including print, environmental and digital.
Consults directly with departmental partners to define their needs and objectives and generates creative graphic concepts/solutions to meet them.
Acts as the chief design liaison in University Advancement to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with the University brand standards.
Designs work within a variety of formats and mediums (from single sheet to large multi‑page documents to video and social media graphics).
Selects typographical format and design, plans the effective use of color, tone, aesthetic composition and maintains a superior design standard.
Quality control: checks final artwork and printing specifications, checks proofs at appropriate stages, assures web‑based design works falls within accessibility best practices.
Manages inspection of proofs for accuracy and adherence to appropriate production standards and suggests improvements as needed.
Maintains an archive of assets and completed projects.
UAlbany Magazine: Creative Director
Leads across‑departmental editorial team to create print, web, digital and social media content for UAlbany Magazine.
Provides editorial guidance to Editor in Chief.
Manages the photography and artwork assets to elevate the issue’s themes.
Devises and translates creative solutions around editorial content across print, digital and social media.
Manages freelance photographers, illustrators, motion‑graphic designers and videographers.
Supervises and/or art‑directs photo and video shoots, both studio and on‑location.
Translates audience/reader insights into creative content solutions.
Project Manager: Coordination of Services
Serves as primary liaison with design and branding agencies.
Identifies, selects, and oversees third‑party vendors for additional design, printing and publication services.
Manages requests for proposals and invitations for bids in accordance with University and state procurement processes.
Identifies and recommends contractors, such as design agencies, printers, service bureaus, sign companies, illustrators, videographers and photographers.
Keeps abreast of trends in the communication arts, the printing and paper industry as well as emerging storytelling and publishing technologies.
Actively pursues professional development by attending conferences, reading periodicals, monitoring pertinent industry forums and websites.
Stays fluent in popular culture and social media trends.
Functional and Supervisory Relationships
Reports to: Senior Director, Advancement Communications
Collaborative relationships: As Creative Director of the UAlbany Magazine, this position manages cross‑unit relationships with positions across two divisions and the six units within Advancement.
Supervises the following positions: N/A
Job Requirements
Thrives as a highly organized self‑starter who can successfully manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
Possesses exceptional interpersonal skills and is highly collaborative and collegial.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, within our campus community.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by the US Department of Education or an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
Seven (7+) years experience as a creative director, art director or senior graphic designer or equivalent demonstrated professional experience.
Expert in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe XD, Acrobat Pro and Bridge.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated experience designing for print magazines and related digital extensions.
Experience in video production, specifically skilled in videography.
Possesses a portfolio that demonstrates exceptional design in an array of media from print and magazine design, environmental graphics, and digital and can articulate how the design met the strategic objectives.
Master’s degree in graphic design, illustrative arts, or similar from a college or university accredited by the US Department of Education or an internationally recognized accrediting organization.
Experience in higher education highly desired.
Typical office environment.
Additional Information This is a promotional opportunity for current UAlbany employees.
Eligibility for Consideration
You must be employed at the University at Albany campus.
You must be in a State‑funded UUP professional position (MC employees are not eligible).
You must have a permanent, term, or probationary appointment. Only temporary employees employed by UAlbany for three or more consecutive years can be considered eligible.
Professional Rank and Salary Grade Associate Director of Community Relations, SL4, $80,000 – $85,000.
Special Note Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, please note that UAlbany is not an E‑Verify employer.
Clery Act Disclosure The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. The University at Albany’s Annual Security Report is available in portable document format (PDF) by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml
NYS Labor Law Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity, as defined by the Law, is permitted to rely on, orally or in writing seek, request, or require in any form that an applicant for employment provide his or her current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation, and for the purpose of verifying information, may such requests be made. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.
EO/AA/IRCA/ADA Employer The University at Albany is an Equal Opportunity/AA/IRCA/ADA employer.
Applicants must submit the following documents
Resume
Cover letter stating all the required minimum qualifications and any of the applicable preferred qualifications
List of 3 professional references with e‑mail addresses and telephone numbers
Submit a portfolio with 3–4 published samples of art direction/graphic design (i.e., brochures, magazine tear sheets or PDFs, screenshots of social media posts). Word documents will not be accepted.
Two or more samples of submitted original digital content (videos, motion graphics or interactive content)
Note After submitting your resume, the subsequent pages give you instructions for uploading additional documents (i.e., cover letter etc.).
Returning Applicants Login to your UAlbany Careers Account to check your completed application.
Closing Date for receipt of applications January 29, 2026
#J-18808-Ljbffr