Art Director

PURPOSE: To understand and implement marketing and company-wide graphic design objectives in all materials; to build and maintain the corporate brand; to work with the department on all art and design projects.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Develops and designs printed materials for the San Francisco Opera, which includes comprehensive marketing campaigns, direct mail, brochures, advertisements, posters, and product development.
• Participate in conceptual design meetings across organizational departments.
• Coordinates and produces all printed communications for all SF Opera print advertising (i.e. major brochure production; season brochure(s); season guide; subscriber guides; signage; single ticket/special presentation flyers/event materials; postcards; subscriber fulfillment mailing/stuffers/inserts; flyers and handouts.
• Serves in a key role of brand governance through visual and corporate identity (print/web/broadcast/environmental graphics).
• Manages projects throughout design/review process, and successful production/delivery.
• Design and support digital content and social media creative content across all platforms in support of SF Opera’s goals and policies.
• With Chief Marketing Officer, develops and implements strategies for brand look and feel.
• Supervise Creative Project Manager to ensure efficient and consistent execution of digital and graphics job requests as well as all social and graphic content for the department, and to develop new relationships with vendors such as printers and paper companies and securing aggressive bids and cost-effective printing solutions.
• Manages production photography needs for advertising & marketing content.
• Oversees all freelance graphic designers for San Francisco Opera.
• Participates art direction of the San Francisco Opera program books.
• Responsible for creating, maintaining, enforcing and updating San Francisco Opera Style Guide.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for managing and updating department’s archival portfolio.
• Supervises design interns/coordinators.
• Scans and resizes artwork and photography for print, web, and e-mail projects.
• Creates special programs for Company concerts and ancillary events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Attend some evening and/or weekend performances/events as requested.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design from an accredited college or university (preferred) or equivalent work experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum five (5) years of related work experience, including production of printed materials.

PREREQUISITE SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Professional and highly creative graphic designer evidenced by a diverse portfolio.
• Excellent desktop/web publishing skills using Adobe CS: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Microsoft Word and all support utilities and software.
• Proficient with Macintosh operating systems.
• Excellent concept, design, organization and editorial skills.
• Strategic thinker and communicator with the ability to develop and execute projects from concept through production.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge of writing, editing and proofreading process.
• Demonstrated track record of successful project management.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Must be able to set priorities; coordinate multiple projects simultaneously; meet firm deadlines and tight timeframes.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.
• Exemplary diplomacy, problem-solving and teamwork skills.
• Knowledge of opera / performing arts preferred.
• Must perform the functions of the position in a safe manner.