Creative Manager

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Creative Manager will be responsible for overseeing all visual content (digital, interactive, print) in marketing including many aspects of the corporate brand. The roles also includes working with marketing leadership on the company’s overall go-to-market messages and positioning as well as closely with digital content writers to create cohesive, consistent, creative content across digital channels.

This position involves supervising and providing strategic creative direction to additional design and multimedia staff in marketing, but still involves tactical execution of conceptual and production-related design projects for the company’s global marketing team.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create and direct modern visual content that solves marketing communications problems and drives overall marketing goals. 
• Maintain, and evolve, the Protolabs Brand Book and guidelines to ensure brand uniformity and consistency across all mediums. 
• Be the brand ambassador—and brand police, at times. 
• Supervise and direct design staff on visual branding, design projects, interactive webpages, illustration, and video/photography efforts. 
• Guide process for creative asset production, review, and ongoing management within digital asset management (DAM) system. 
• Collaborate very closely with writing and digital teams to ensure final creative is not only designed to high standards, but message and copy are cohesive and on point strategically. 
• Lead regular creative brainstorming sessions to continue pushing brand and design to new levels. 
• Establish the most effective way to get messages across in digital media using color, type, illustration, animation, photography, video, and various print and layout techniques. 
• Work cross-functionally with nearly every team (marketing, sales, product management, HR) and collaborate daily with other members of the marketing team on various projects requiring graphic design elements. 
• Collaborate with global counterparts in Europe (including Amsterdam-based Hubs) and Japan to have global brand consistency and uniformity across regions. 
• Work with external creative agencies on projects that drive fresh ideas for the brand or aid in capacity relief. 
• Work with external photography, videography, and sound teams to create and build multimedia library. 
• Work with external print vendors to create direct mail, facility signage, event booths, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 10 years of graphic design experience, including both digital/interactive and print. 
• Four-year visual arts, design, or related degree required. 
• Experience with developing, implementing, and managing corporate brands. 
• Ability to think conceptually and present ideas to others in a concise and clear manner in order to get feedback and determine the best creative direction based on communication needs, business objectives, and intended customer personas. 
• Well-versed in Adobe Creative Suite including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. 
• Knowledge of video production and programs such as Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premier. 
• Understanding of web user experience, site usability requirements, and website accessibility issues. 
• BONUS POINTS: Experience working in an online CMS and with web developers on interactive projects, including basic familiarity with HTML and CSS. 
• BONUS POINTS: Previous experience with a B2B, preferably manufacturing or engineering, company/client 
• BONUS POINT: Knowledge of AP Style Guide