Senior Design Manager (Art Director)

Risepoint is an education technology company that provides world-class support and trusted expertise to more than 100 universities and colleges. We primarily work with regional universities, helping them develop and grow their high-ROI, workforce-focused online degree programs in critical areas such as nursing, teaching, business, and public service. Risepoint is dedicated to increasing access to affordable education so that more students, especially working adults, can improve their careers and meet employer and community needs.

The Impact You Will Make

The in-house Creative Design team delivers creative and production support for print and digital marketing materials, including brochures, infographics, paid media, and event collateral. Skilled across a range of design disciplines—integrated campaigns, print, illustration, animation, and more—the team ensures every project is visually engaging, brand-aligned, and built to perform across channels.

The Sr. Design Manager (Art Director) is a concept-driven creative leader responsible for translating brand strategy into compelling, insight-led visual storytelling across channels. This role blends strong art direction, hands-on design expertise, and team mentorship to elevate creative quality and drive business impact. Partnering cross-functionally, the Art Director shapes integrated campaigns, champions high craft standards, and mentors emerging talent while ensuring work is strategically aligned, performance-minded, and brand consistent. 

How You Will Bring Our Mission to Life

What You Will Do

Creative Leadership & Concept Development

• Lead the development of compelling, insight-driven creative concepts that translate brand strategy into impactful, audience-first visual storytelling across the full marketing funnel. 
• Guide the execution of integrated campaigns, ensuring cohesive design systems and creative assets that flex seamlessly across channels and formats. 
• Direct and contribute to high-visibility design initiatives, providing hands-on art direction and design expertise when needed. 
• Lead structured creative critiques that elevate craft, strengthen conceptual thinking, and push work from good to exceptional. Ensure all creative outputs align with University Partner brand platforms, visual identity standards, accessibility guidelines, and performance objectives. 
• Partner with Video team to develop storyboards and art  
  direction. 
• Partner with strategy, content, and performance teams to refine creative based on insights, testing, and data-informed iteration. 
• Champion innovative tools, emerging platforms, and  
  AI-enabled workflows to expand creative possibilities and increase speed to market. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Director of Creative  
  and Design Director to translate briefs including brand  
  positioning, messaging frameworks, and business  
  objectives into breakthrough creative. 

• Partner with Digital Experience (DX) to ensure work is optimized for performance across platforms, incorporating UX best practices and SEO/AEO considerations. 

• Work alongside Creative Operations and Project Management to align on scope, priorities, and timelines, ensuring work is delivered efficiently and at a high standard. 

• Build strong relationships across Brand, Content, Media, and Marketing to integrate creative early in the planning  
  process and maintain clarity throughout execution. 

• Represent the design function in planning forums,  
  advocating for strong creative, clear direction,  
  and realistic timelines. 

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide day-to-day leadership and art direction for  
  designers, setting a high creative bar and modeling  
  excellence in craft and conceptual thinking. 
• Mentor and develop other designers, offering actionable feedback, career guidance, and skill-building opportunities to grow creative confidence and capability. 
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and  
  constructive critique that encourages experimentation  
  and smart creative risk-taking. 
• When applicable - support hiring, onboarding, and performance conversations in partnership with senior leadership. 
• Proactively surface risks, resourcing needs, and growth  
  opportunities, offering thoughtful recommendations and trade-offs. 

Strategic & Creative Problem Solving

• Approach complex challenges with a concept-first mindset, balancing speed, quality, and strategic alignment. 
• Ensure work is brand-consistent, conversion-minded, and grounded in audience insight. 
• Identify opportunities to improve creative processes and streamline workflows for greater efficiency and impact. 
• Use performance data and stakeholder feedback to inform optimization and future creative direction. 
• Anticipate obstacles and propose clear paths forward to keep initiatives moving.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

Experience That Matters Most

• Bachelor’s Degree or commensurate experience Graphic Design, Art & Design or related creative field

• 5+ years demonstrated experience in graphic and/or digital design, ideally within an integrated marketing department.

• Creative direction and design leadership for in-house teams (coaching, feedback and quality oversight)
• Deep understanding of design fundamentals, brand systems and scalable design frameworks
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) familiarity with Figma and motion toold (e.g. After Effects)
• Ability to translate business and marketing objectives into compelling creative 
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with brand, content, media, and performance teams to align creative with campaign and audience goals 
• Strong organization skills, attention to detail, and ability to uphold high standards across a large volume of work 
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (PowerPoint, Word, Excel), SharePoint, and Teams 

Experience That’s Great to Have

• Design operations and workflow management; familiarity with Workfront or similar project management platforms 
• Familiarity with AI powered design and content tools (e.g. Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, ChatGPT) to expand creative variety and increase efficiency
• Advanced prioritization, task, and time management skills; ability to juggle competing priorities in a fast-paced environment 

Risepoint is an equal-opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.