Academic Partnerships assists primarily regional universities in increasing their access and impact by making their academic programs available to students online. Founded in 2007, AP's mission is to expand access to high-quality, affordable, and workforce-relevant education, especially for working and adult students. AP brings single-minded dedication to student success, an integrated set of services, and data-driven performance to our collaboration with university partners.

The Sr. Director of Creative Operations leads the overall strategy and execution of several creative services and operations functions-including Content, Editing, Graphic Design, Digital and Website Design and Video Production and Project Management - ensuring high-functioning and collaborative creative and operations teams that consistently produce high performing, quality assets that align with organizational needs, standards and vision. Responsible for enabling and executing high-level marketing creative and processes, this role optimizes workflows and drives consistency, quality and innovation across all marketing & operations creative channels. This role also manages our project management processes, standard operating procedures and performance, ensuring timely delivery, proactive communication, extensive reporting and a continuous focus on process optimization.

Day In a Life:

The essential functions of this role are as follows:

Creative Operations:

• Lead a team of project management professionals to develop and execute new processes, enhance existing processes and effectively and proactively manage projects.
• Develop and implement high-level strategies for workflow optimization across creative teams, including - content, editing, graphic design, digital design, and video production teams.
• Implement robust quality assurance processes to ensure all marketing outputs, including creative and digital content, meet the highest standards. This includes establishing clear quality benchmarks, regular review mechanisms, and feedback loops to continuously improve the quality of deliverables.
• Support strategic initiatives for new partner and program launches, ensuring seamless integration and alignment with organizational goals.
• Define and Oversee SLAs: Establish clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for all marketing creative processes and assets to ensure timely, efficient and consistent delivery of services. Monitor and analyze team performance against these SLAs, implementing improvement plans to address any areas of underperformance. Ensure these SLAs are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changing organizational needs and industry standards.
• Partner cross-functional teams including, Product Marketing, Project Management and Marketing Operations teams to refine and optimize input requirements and project workflows and processes to accelerate delivery and enhance product quality.

Creative Services:

• Partner with Product Marketing & Growth teams to provide strategic direction for the creation and execution of all organizational creative assets.
• Oversee strategic relationships with creative agencies and contractors to augment in-house capabilities and drive scalability.
• Ensure the team's work is not only creatively excellent but also strategically aligned with the organization's brand and objectives.
• Drive innovation in content and design, setting high standards for creative output.
• Proven experience in tailoring and scaling creative concepts.
• Utilizes excellent conceptual and creative skills, as well as superior research, analytical, technical, written, and oral presentation skills.
• Able to provide clear, constructive creative critiquing, direction and feedback that inspires and motivates teams and drives quality.
• Possesses superior problem-solving, collaborative, and decision-making skills.

What You'll Need for Success:

You must meet the following requirements to be considered for employment:

• Experience in a senior leadership role, demonstrating successful leadership and strategic thinking
• Proven track record in building, hiring and managing large, diverse teams and driving significant marketing & creative initiatives and teams
• Expert project management skills
• A proven leader in creative execution, with superior graphic and written skill
• 8-10 years of in-depth experience in creative management and lead generation marketing within agencies or creative teams within large organizations
• Possesses a thorough and working understanding of interactive communications and delivery systems, processes, and user-interface design, as well as the technological design industry's best practices
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and strategic planning skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and influence senior management
• Proven innovator and ability to identify continuous improvements
• Strong sense of urgency; data-driven approach to managing performance and effectiveness
• PMP or Agile certifications a plus
• Understanding of higher-education student life-cycles is a plus

Academic Partnerships is an equal opportunity employer and supports a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Academic Partnerships offers the following comprehensive benefits:

• PTO - accumulated from day one
• 11 designated holidays
• Medical - four options (including PPO and HDP)
• Dental
• Vision
• Life & Disability (company paid)
• Flexible Spending Account & Health Savings Account (company contribution to HSA)
• Retirement plan with company match
• Maternity / Paternity / Parental Leave (company paid)
• Volunteer Time Off

Supplemental Benefits:

• Wellness program
• Alternative medicine options
• Pet discounts
• Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity

Personal and Professional Development:

• Continuous Professional and Leadership Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement for employees and their dependents