Senior Designer

Alliant University is a professional practice University committed to excellence in four areas: Education for Professional Practice, Scholarship, Multicultural and International Competence and Community Engagement. The University provides students with the highest quality of education through excellence and innovation in academic scholarship, applied training and research, and community service, particularly to underserved populations. Through its Mission, the University's goal is to equip students with the competencies they need to provide public benefit and make an impact in their communities by addressing major contemporary social issues. Core competencies of the University's training programs include cultural diversity, which is infused in courses and field placements and is manifest in the diversity of its students, faculty.

Our Mission:
Alliant University prepares students for professional careers of service and leadership, and promotes the discovery and application of knowledge to improve the lives of people in diverse cultures and communities around the world.

Our Vision:
An inclusive world empowered by Alliant alumni.

Our IMPACT Values:

• Inclusion: We value and engage the rich diversity of the Alliant community.
• Mentoring: We provide guidance and create enabling environments for success.
• Passion: We bring enthusiasm, creativity, and authenticity to our work.
• Accountability: We act with integrity and responsibility in all we do.
• Communication: We are responsive, transparent, and respectful in our interactions.
• Teamwork: We collaborate to develop innovative solutions for our community.
  

We are seeking a curious visual storyteller who is motivated by the chance to shape how a brand resonates and creates meaning through thoughtful, compelling design.

The Senior Designer reports to the Vice President, Brand & Content and will be responsible for shaping and elevating the institution’s visual identity across all touchpoints. This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on design execution and creative leadership. While visual design will be the core expertise, this individual will play a key role in content and creative strategy.

They will direct freelance designers, collaborate with external agencies, and lead internal design strategy to ensure the institution’s creative is compelling, cohesive, and forward-thinking. They should not only be a strong visual storyteller but also a brand advocate who understands how design influences perception, engagement, and experience in higher education.

Salary Range: $120,000 - 125,000 annualized, Full-Time, Exempt.

Benefits Plans Include: Medical/Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Voluntary Benefit Plans: Accident, Critical Illness, or Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Legal Plan, Transportation Spending Account, Employee Tuition Waiver.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

• Experience: 5+ years of professional design experience.

• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, brand development, and multi-channel execution.

• Experience in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and familiarity with Canva or similar tools.

• Experience providing design leadership, i.e. to freelancers or agencies.

• Understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.
  

Preferred

• Knowledge of web design principles and CMS platforms.

• Research and experimentation with usage of AI tools in the creative process.

• Motion graphics and/or video editing experience.
  

Duties & Responsibilities: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Creative Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and evolve the institution’s visual design strategy in alignment with brand and marketing objectives

• Inspire the team, as well as internal/external partners, to better understand and appreciate the value of strong design

• Translate institutional priorities into thoughtful, high-impact creative solutions

• Ensure consistency and excellence across all visual communications; and that design enhances brand perception and audience experience from prospective students to alumni and faculty and staff

• Champion and protect the institutional brand across channels and departments; Refine guidelines, templates, and systems

• Contribute to long-term brand development and campaign planning

• Proactively identify creative opportunities for growth and alignment
  

Design Execution

• Conceptualize and produce creative across multiple mediums, including:

o Print (i.e. brochures, flyers, signage)

o Digital (i.e. website, email, social media, digital ads)

o Experiential and event branding (i.e. booths, presentation materials, branded swag)

o Presentation design

o Video/motion graphics

• Apply design thinking beyond traditional graphic design to storytelling, UX, and integrated campaigns.
  

Collaboration

• Direct and provide feedback to freelance designers and contractors

• Manage creative collaboration with external agencies and production vendors

• Review and approve work to ensure alignment with brand and strategic goals

• Partner cross-functionally with marketing, admissions, and academic departments
  

Innovation

• Stay current with emerging design trends, technologies, and best practices

• Explore AI and emerging creative tools to responsibly enhance efficiency, ideation, and production workflows

• Identify new resources and platforms that strengthen creative output

• Conduct design research

• Foster a culture of experimentation and creative curiosity within the team
  

Skills:

• Proven success developing brand visual identity and creative across digital and print mediums

• Highly proficient with design tools i.e. Adobe Creative Cloud and Canva

• Highly effective communication, presentation, and advocacy skills

• Experience managing cross-functional communication and meeting project timelines

• Experience with design research

• Familiar with project management tools (i.e. Monday.com) and organization systems (i.e. Sharepoint, Dropbox)

• Highly motivated, focused, and results oriented

• Knowledge, skills, and abilities to work with people with diverse sexual orientations, racial, ethnic, cultural, academic, and socioeconomic backgrounds as well as those with disabilities
  

Supervisory Responsibility:

Direct Reports: None.

Indirect Reports: Freelance creatives and agencies.

Contact Responsibility:

Internal: This person will work closely with stakeholders across Marketing, Enrollment, Partnership Development, Campus Directors, and more.

External: Directly manages design freelancers/contractors, interacts with vendors, marketing agencies, and partners.

Primary Work Location, Hours & Travel Requirements:

Office Location: Remote.

Work Hours: Standard office hours, with occasional need to work evenings/weekends.

Travel: Occasional; expect to travel several times a year to oversee priority projects and attend in-person team meetings.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to execute those physical activities required to perform the essential functions including, but not limited to, regular sitting and being mobile; continual communicating both in person and on the telephone; regular keyboarding; regular reading of both print and digital material; and all other activities required to perform essential functions.

Background Check Requirements:
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check (including criminal, prior employment and education verification). Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current University employees who apply for the position.

Additional Information:
Anti-Discrimination Policy: Alliant University prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment or retaliation in its educational programs, services and activities, and in employment practices, including but not limited to internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, relationships with outside vendors, use of contractors and consultants, and in its admission or access thereto, on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin or descent, color, creed, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability (including physical, disease, psychiatric or psychological disability), medical condition, pregnancy, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identification or expression, hair style or texture associated with race, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.

Alliant University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to ensuring a high quality of education through the diversity of the University community and the curriculum. Women, people of color, people with disabilities and people from other underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply, as we actively seek to increase diversity at all levels. The University will conduct its programs, services and activities consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and orders.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

Applicants with disabilities and applicants who require assistance completing an application may contact Office of People & Culture (Human Resources) at peopleandculture@alliant.edu or 858-635-4509.

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) requires that we provide you with this Notice at Collection for California Employees and Applicants . This notice is about the collection and use of your personal information. We encourage you to read this notice carefully.

Governing legislation: Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the regulations implementing these statutes, and applicable federal and California law.

Alliant University is a smoke and tobacco free environment.

Company: Alliant University | Job ID: 288021