Director of Design

About the role

Make a difference with us! At Alliance Defending Freedom, we believe God has brought you here for His purpose-to stand for truth and defend the God-given right to live and speak it. Together, we protect religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage and family, and parental rights. Review our Statement of Faith to ensure we're a fit for you.

Locations: Scottsdale, AZ

Team Overview

As the Director of Design, you will report to the Sr. Director of Creative Services and are responsible for setting the creative vision and leading the design team to deliver work consistent with ADF's brand and quality standards. You will provide art and design direction on the ministry's highest-profile projects, lead and develop a team of designers, and work closely with stakeholders and leadership to deliver innovative solutions.

To be successful in this role, you should have a distinguished eye for art and design direction, deep knowledge of design styles, branding, and layout techniques, and proven managerial experience leading creative teams. You should display excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate creative vision, provide design rationales, and communicate clearly with internal stakeholders and senior leaders. Ultimately, you will help ensure that the design team promotes the ADF brand well by delivering high-quality, cohesive work on tight deadlines.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide art and design direction for a wide variety of high-quality print and digital projects, including marketing and case campaigns, advocacy materials, event branding, and more.
• Lead, mentor, and develop designers at all levels, including setting priorities, assigning and managing complex projects, conducting performance reviews, and ensuring all designs align with the ministry's brand identity and objectives
• Set the creative vision and design strategy, bringing a working knowledge of design trends, skills, and industry standards to ideation and planning with stakeholders and leadership.
• Present and defend creative concepts and direction to stakeholders and senior leaders, addressing feedback and guiding the team in adjusting designs as necessary.
• Serve as steward of the ADF brand, ensuring consistency and excellence throughout all creative projects.
• Showcase adaptability and good decision-making skills regarding shifting priorities and team workload.
• Manage team resources and ensure design projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Engage, direct, and manage freelance designers and creative vendors, ensuring their work meets ADF's brand and quality standards and is delivered on time and within budget.
• Inspire fresh and modern design to tell the ADF story beautifully.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of professional design experience, including significant experience providing art and design direction and managing creative teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) sufficient to guide and critique team output.
• Exceptional art and design direction, branding, and strategic thinking with a strong portfolio.
• In-depth knowledge of typography, color, and print production (paper stocks, materials, print formats, etc.).
• Ability to manage multiple projects, team members, and freelancers, continuously evaluate priorities, and work under pressure.
• Excellent leadership, team management, problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) certification preferred.

Pay & Benefits

At Alliance Defending Freedom, we offer competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package to support your well-being and growth. Our benefits include 100% covered medical and dental insurance, medical and dependent care reimbursement, paid disability, long-term care, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan with a 4% company match. We prioritize work-life balance with paid time off and 12 paid holidays each year.

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