Art Director, University Communications at University of Virginia
Company: The Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Job Type: Full-Time (Exempt, Hybrid – Minimum 3 Days In-Office)
Salary: $70,000 – $82,000 annually
About University Communications
The Office of University Communications at the University of Virginia (UVA) is dedicated to telling the remarkable and evolving story of the institution. The team of writers, designers, strategists, photographers, and communicators works to promote and strengthen UVA’s brand while showcasing excellence in higher education across the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.
The Creative Team operates like a small in-house agency, delivering branding, digital and print design, advertising, editorial, environmental graphics, social media, photography, and video projects that elevate the UVA brand.
Job Overview
The University of Virginia seeks an Art Director to join University Communications. Reporting to the Associate Creative Director, this role translates strategy into compelling, on-brand visual design across digital and print platforms. The Art Director will collaborate across departments to ensure excellence in creative execution while upholding UVA’s brand standards.
This position requires strong conceptual thinking, advanced design expertise, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Apply design strategy to support University-wide communications and marketing initiatives.
- Create visual content for marketing campaigns, news, digital platforms, social media, licensing, and website redesigns.
- Collaborate with photographers, video producers, writers, and digital specialists to deliver integrated campaigns.
- Develop and uphold graphic standards, brand guidelines, and institutional design systems.
- Translate complex ideas into accessible, engaging visual concepts.
- Present design concepts to leadership and cross-departmental stakeholders.
- Participate in creative briefings, reviews, and production tracking.
- Ensure high visual standards, accessibility considerations, and brand consistency across projects.
Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- 5+ years of professional experience in graphic and conceptual design for print, digital, and mobile platforms.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Figma.
- Strong understanding of typography, layout, color theory, and brand systems.
- Experience producing digital and print marketing materials aligned with established brand identities.
- Knowledge of pre-press and printing processes.
- Ability to manage multiple projects in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with content management systems such as Drupal.
- Responsive web and mobile design expertise.
- Basic animation skills using Adobe After Effects.
- User experience (UX/UI) design experience.
- Editorial design and higher education branding experience.
- Familiarity with digital accessibility standards.
Compensation & Benefits
- Anticipated salary range: $70,000 – $82,000, commensurate with experience.
- Comprehensive benefits package.
- Hybrid work model with at least three in-office days per week.
- Opportunity to contribute to a nationally recognized higher education institution.
How to Apply
Apply through the official University job board below and search for Job ID R0080697:
Required Materials: Cover letter, resume, and portfolio (attachment or digital link).