Creative Art Director, Marketing & Communications

The Creative Art Director, Marketing & Communications role at KIPP NYC Public Schools leads the creative execution of regional marketing campaigns while strengthening KIPP NYC’s visual identity and storytelling across channels. You will partner with external agencies, regional teams, and school communities to ensure campaigns reflect the organization’s mission and educational equity goals.

Location and Work Arrangement

New York, NY (hybrid)

This is a full-time role. The position is based in New York City and requires travel to schools.

• Travel cadence is based on leadership team guidance if you are not in a school-based position.
• If you relocate outside a commutable distance or outside the state of NY, employment may be subject to review, which may include separation.
• Please notify HR if you move or have plans to relocate.

Salary and Experience

• Compensation: USD 115,360 - 144,200 per year
• Minimum experience: 5 years
• KIPP NYC salary ranges are standardized based on role level and role function.
• Individual salary decisions consider equity, relevant years of experience, and benchmarking within the same salary band.

Responsibilities

• Lead the evolution and execution of a unified, premium KIPP NYC visual identity across marketing and communications materials.
• Develop and maintain brand guidelines that balance regional consistency with school-level authenticity and flexibility.
• Ensure creative work reflects KIPP NYC’s mission, values, and commitment to educational equity.
• Act as internal creative lead and primary point of contact for external creative and media agency partners.
• Provide strategic creative direction and actionable feedback so agency deliverables align with brand standards and organizational goals.
• Lead creative development for student recruitment, staff recruitment, enrollment, fundraising, and regional awareness campaigns.
• Oversee creation of high-impact, multi-channel marketing assets, including social media campaigns, video storytelling, OOH advertising, transit campaigns, digital advertising, print collateral, and event branding and experiential materials.
• Ensure creative assets are optimized for platform performance, audience engagement, and brand consistency.
• Design scalable grassroots templates and tools to support school-based outreach and recruitment efforts.
• Partner with school communities and regional teams to identify and elevate authentic stories that highlight the excellence, joy, and diversity of KIPP NYC students, families, alumni, and staff.
• Translate organizational priorities and campaign goals into compelling visual narratives and creative concepts.
• Oversee photography, video, and creative production for high-quality campaign execution.
• Manage and organize the regional creative asset library to improve accessibility and effective use of brand materials.
• Ensure creative work demonstrates deep cultural responsiveness and reflects the lived experiences of NYC communities.
• Collaborate with agency and internal partners to develop Spanish-language and multilingual creative that is culturally nuanced and community-centered.
• Apply knowledge of NYC neighborhoods, culture, and audiences to campaign and storytelling efforts.
• Collaborate closely with Recruitment, Talent, Development, Academics, School Leadership, and Regional teams to support organizational priorities through creative strategy.
• Manage timelines, workflows, approvals, and creative project execution across multiple stakeholders.
• Support creative direction and branding for high-profile regional events, campaigns, and internal communications.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of marketing systems, processes, and creative operations.

Requirements

• 5–7 years of experience in art direction, creative leadership, or brand design roles.
• Experience working within a creative agency, mission-driven organization, consumer-facing brand, or high-growth environment.
• Proven experience managing creative campaigns from concept through execution across multiple platforms.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality visual storytelling, campaign execution, and creative leadership.
• Deep understanding of social-first creative, digital marketing trends, and audience engagement strategies.
• Experience developing creative for NYC-based campaigns, including hyperlocal and multicultural audiences.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Experience collaborating with photographers, videographers, editors, and production teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred.
• Experience creating culturally responsive or multilingual campaigns preferred.
• Knowledge of education, nonprofit, or community-centered organizations is a plus.
• Deep commitment to KIPP NYC’s mission and belief in educational equity and opportunity.
• Passion for celebrating and amplifying the brilliance of students, families, educators, and communities.
• Alignment with KIPP NYC core values: zest, grit, hope, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, feedback-driven, mission-oriented environment.

Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Photoshop
• Illustrator
• InDesign

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 50% match after 6 months
• Generous Time-Off aligned with the school calendar
• Up to 12 weeks of 100% parental leave
• Bright Horizons Back-up Child and Elder care
• Employer-paid Life Insurance and Short-term / Long-term disability
• 8-week paid Sabbatical after 10 years
• Annual professional development funds
• Tuition reimbursement

Portfolio Requirement

• A portfolio is required for consideration for the Creative Art Director role.
• Please submit your portfolio along with your resume as part of your application.
• Your portfolio should include examples that demonstrate creative direction, visual storytelling, brand development, and experience bringing concepts to life across multiple channels and mediums.
• Applications submitted without a portfolio will not be considered complete.