Design and Visual Media Supervisor

Central Washington University is recruiting a design and visual media supervisor to join our campus events publicity office in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they work with student designers in a creative agency environment at the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $50,328-$67,716 plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

The Publicity Center offers a full slate of creative services to promote campus events, programs and departments while providing real world experience to student employees through hands-on skill development, professional mentoring and portfolio development in an agency environment. Our student-focused CWU Hype team invites students to experience campus life through a variety of student-focused "Hype" platforms including publications, social media, and street team opportunities. The Publicity Center and CWU Hype engage, inform, and help build connections that cultivate belonging and promote an inclusive campus environment. This position is a great opportunity for someone interested in a highly collaborative, dynamic environment who wants to share their passion for design.

www.cwu.edu/publicity

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

The Design and Visual Media Supervisor designs and produces a variety of projects for print and digital communication purposes, and trains and supervises student staff in the development of visual communication materials to promote campus events, programs, services and departments. This position works with the Publicity Center professional staff team and University Relations office to support university brand guidelines and design standards, and provides consultation and recommendations to clients, groups and departments regarding design and visual media projects. All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

Graphic Design / Visual Media:
- Works with student staff from concept to finished piece and final distribution, including communication with clients and vendors. Develops print and digital design including publications, posters, signs, presentations, displays, graphic marks, videos, and a variety of promotional materials for campus groups and departments.
- Works with supervisor and professional staff team to develop graphic elements for consistent messaging and branding for department and clients
- Utilizes design methods and tools most appropriate for projects, whether through computer generated or analog formats

Design and Visual Media Program Coordination:
- Presents and explains effective use of design and visual media services to clients; offers ideas and information on techniques and production considerations
- Ensures timely completion of projects within established budgets
- Communicates regularly with clients
- Collaborates with staff for effective project planning and implementation
- Consults with University Relations regarding brand guidelines
- Researches current trends and practices in design field
- Researches and recommends relevant equipment and software, subscriptions, memberships and conferences
- Contributes information and assists in preparation of reports and presentations

Supervisor Duties:
- Actively engages in recruitment and hiring of part-time new student employees;
- Clearly defines performance expectations, ensures accountability, and provides ongoing informal feedback, coaching, and mentoring of 8-10 student employees;
- Conducts formal performance evaluations;
- Ensures employees have necessary resources;
- Oversees and directs the work of staff; serves as mentor, coach and leader, and resolves complaints or issues;
- Facilitates workshops, trainings and/or field trips for student professional development, knowledge and experience
- Develops and fosters supportive working relationships, motivation and engagement;
- Communicates information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community;
- Takes corrective action in a timely manner;
- Recognizes and rewards employees for good performance;
- Schedules employee work hours/shifts; monitors hours worked; approves payable time and absence requests;
- Adjusts leadership style as needed to achieve results;
- Recognizes value of and promotes diverse workforce. Values and encourages diverse perspectives, creativity and teamwork
- Attends department and program meetings
- Collaborates and communicates with CWU academic departments on opportunities for design/visual media students and internships
- Serves on department and university workgroups and committees

- Perform other duties as assigned

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Apple computers
• Demonstrated excellence in print, publication and digital design
• Experience in pre-press production
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to effectively manage multiple assignments and deadlines
• Experience supervising or leading staff
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Adobe Premiere and After Effects software
• Experience with digital photography and editing
• Experience with web design and publishing
• Experience designing for social media platforms
• Experience working with diverse groups and individuals
• Experience mentoring or working with students
• Demonstrated participation in programs designed to promote inclusion
• A record of promoting inclusivity in the work environment
  

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position is based on the range 48 of the Washington State Classification Listing, which has a minimum annual salary of $50,328 and maximum annual salary of $67,716. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pm (1 hour lunch)

Working Conditions: Work is performed in busy, open office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer work station for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel may be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.