Overview
The Associate Art Director plays a pivotal role in leading conceptual development and executing creative deliverables for the Postern Design team. This role is a dynamic blend of high-level strategy, team mentorship, and direct execution. You will help oversee a collaborative team of designers, print specialists, and production assistants, ensuring our visual output is elevated, brand-consistent, and meticulously executed across multiple channels (print, digital, social, video, and animation).
The ideal candidate has strong agency experience, an exceptional multi-platform design portfolio, and the verbal confidence to pitch and justify creative concepts to both internal teams and clients.
Provide a link to your online portfolio when submitting your resume. Candidates without an online portfolio will not be considered.
Hybrid Office:
This position is full-time. Our office is a hybrid workplace at which we work 3 days in the office at our Frederick, Maryland location and 2 days remotely. However, during the first 6 month onboarding phase full-time in the office is required.
Responsibilities
- Proven ability to conceive design solutions for brands across a wide range of industries
- Balance innovative, outside-the-box creative thinking with client business objectives, ensuring a brand's vision comes to life seamlessly across the customer's entire experience
- Lead and participate in client pitches and presentations, confidently articulating the "why" behind the creative. Translate complex marketing strategies into compelling visual narratives and justify design choices directly to stakeholders
- Give clear direction, support, and feedback to senior, intermediate, and junior design team members. Help delegate and guide core creative services disciplines (design, digital design, animation, production)
- Build and maintain strong rapport with clients and vendors. Confidently present, articulate, and justify creative concepts and design directions to external groups
- Conduct peer reviews, maintain exceptionally high standards of quality, and ensure all creative deliverables are error-free before they are released
- Partner closely with the Creative Director, Communications Team and clients to translate strategic briefs into actionable, impactful visual campaigns. Assist in evaluating project scope, timelines, and resource allocation
- Actively participate in creating a space for creativity, ideation, collaboration, fun, and learning. Attend and network at industry, community, and business events to promote the visibility of Postern in the region
Requirements
- 4+ years of relevant graphic design experience strictly within an agency environment, with proven experience mentoring, leading, or directing other designers
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or equivalent professional work experience
- A diverse portfolio of distinctive and exceptional branding, print, digital, and hybrid campaign work that demonstrates holistic brand thinking and deep attention to detail, including print publications
- Expert knowledge of the latest Mac OS, Adobe Creative Suite (specifically InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects), Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Business Suite.
- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills; an astute listener capable of transforming client feedback and criticism into immediate project improvements
- Strong self-starter with the ability to work independently, manage multiple varied assignments simultaneously, and consistently hit demanding deadlines under budget
- Takes initiative, anticipates creative bottlenecks or design problems, and proactively presents well-researched, thought-out solutions. Commitment to professional growth, visual innovation, and digital trends
- Experience mentoring or leading other graphic designers and production specialists to creative and professional excellence
- Experience with strategic brainstorming, campaign development, creative brief development and creative execution
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
- Proven aptitude for quick creative thinking with acute attention to detail within demanding deadlines
Benefits
- CareFirst Healthcare, dental and vision plans with employer paying half the monthly premium
- Healthcare Savings Account with an employer contribution match
- Fidelity Retirement Account with Employer Match
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- Professional Development Support
Pay: $78,000.00 - $87,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- print design: 4 years (Required)
- brand design: 4 years (Required)
- client presentation: 3 years (Required)
- Adobe Creative Suite: 4 years (Required)
- publication design: 3 years (Required)
- agency: 2 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Frederick, MD 21701 (Required)
Work Location: In person
