Title:                         Art Director

Reports to:            Director, Marketing

Job Summary:        The Art Director is responsible for overseeing the design, layout, and production of creative concepts that advance organizational goals. This position provides day-to-day feedback to designers consistent with the creative vision of The Heritage Foundation to ensure a consistent brand experience for target audiences. In coordination with the Director of Marketing, the Art Director develops and maintains brand strategies and visual identity style guidelines for the Heritage family of brands across all media.

Job Duties:

• Design visual concepts and layouts for complex and large-scale print and digital products, including event collateral (invite packages, signage, stage design), books, editorial publications, advertising campaigns, video components and other visual collateral that promote Heritage’s policy research and support organizational goals.
• Provide feedback for designers in the creation of concepts, comps, layouts, and final art for products and campaigns to ensure visuals are brand appropriate. Help ensure professional development of department staff through effective training, mentoring, and feedback.
• Lead discussions to focus and translate organizational needs and ensure most audience- and brand-appropriate approaches are explored for each creative project.
• Contribute strategic and tactical ideas to improve team processes and help develop a team environment that fosters creativity and excellence.
• Find or create appropriate art (photos, illustrations, other graphics) for design projects
• Prepare files for print vendors and/or for digital dissemination.  Review technical aspects of publication designs, outline and confirm specifications for printing, and sign off on vendor proofs and printing specifications. Manage hard proofs for projects with remote designers.
• Work with designers to identify opportunities for special production details.
• Maintain standards of quality, legibility, and aesthetics in all design materials.

Qualifications:

Education:                   Bachelor’s degree, preferably in graphic design or visual communication

Experience:                 6-8 years of experience in graphic design and print production,
in-house agency experience a plus

Communication:         Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Technology:                Macintosh; Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat; knowledge of and interest in emerging technologies and trends

Other Requirements:        

• Understand and support the Heritage mission and vision for America, and the department's goals and objectives.
• Deep understanding of the visual identity of Heritage; able to translate those defined aesthetics into visual solutions that are appropriate for both the brand and audiences across all media.
• High level of proficiency in design, clearly able to articulate design rationale and its role in creative problem solving.
• Thoughtful giver and receiver of constructive critique; ability to objectively process feedback to effectively evolve conversations and designs.
• Highly organized and disciplined, can pace work to meet all agreed-upon deadlines and stay on budget.
• Close attention to design aesthetics and details.

Benefits and Salary:

The Heritage Foundation offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, best-in-class health care, vision, and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement funding, “take what you need” PTO and sick leave, 14 weeks of paid leave for new moms and 6 weeks of paid leave for new dads, among other programs.

The salary range for this role is $83,000 - $93,000 annually. This range is a good faith estimate, and the final salary offered to a selected candidate depends on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, and other qualifications; internal and external market pay for comparable jobs; and level of hire based on aforementioned qualifications.