Assistant Director of Visual Communications

Position Title:

Compensation:

Department:

About this opportunity:

What you'll do and what you'll bring:

The Assistant Director of Visual Communications leads the visual strategy and brand execution for the Ball State University Foundation and Alumni Association. This position ensures design consistency across all touchpoints, including digital, print, and event collateral. They manage the end-to-end design process-from concept through production-and collaborate with internal stakeholders and vendors to produce high-impact materials that advance fundraising, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship. The role also contributes to digital and web projects, offering creative direction and graphic support that enhance user experience and brand storytelling.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the brand guardian for Foundation and Alumni branding, ensuring visual consistency across all materials and platforms.

• Design a wide range of creative assets including digital graphics, toolkits, presentations, print collateral, event signage, donor communications, and social media visuals.

• Coordinate with vendors and printers to ensure brand integrity and quality across produced materials. Approve print proofs and oversee quality control for final production.

• Manage production timelines for all design projects and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure deadlines are met.

• Partner across the Foundation to create assets for campaigns such as the Top 100 Student Awards, Homecoming & Alumni Weekend, One Ball State Day, Women of Beneficence, crowdfunding, social media, donor recognition, annual report, alumni awards, volunteer engagement Cardinals Connect and other efforts.

• Create visually compelling donor proposals and customized visual assets for major gift cultivation and stewardship, including infographics, timelines, and impact reports.

• Create light motion graphics or simple animated assets to enhance storytelling on digital platforms (social, email, web), if capacity allows.

• Create flexible, easy-to-use social media templates to share with the Foundation social team and social media managers across campus, supporting Foundation initiatives while maintaining brand consistency.

• Serve as secondary support for website updates and visual enhancements, ensuring consistency with overall design strategy.

• Serve as secondary support for email communications as needed, providing assistance if capacity allows.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum two years of proven design experience and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Canva. Alternatively, an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

• Demonstrated experience managing projects from concept through production with a strong portfolio showcasing brand-aligned work.

• Excellent attention to detail, layout skills, and understanding of design principles.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to collaborate across teams and effectively communicate visual ideas to non-design audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education, nonprofit, or advancement settings.

• Familiarity with web design principles and basic knowledge of HTML or CMS platforms.

• Experience with light animation tools (e.g., Adobe After Effects, Canva animation tools, or similar).

• Experience working with vendors for printing or promotional items.

• Experience mentoring student designers or managing design interns.

• Appreciation for philanthropy, alumni engagement, and the mission of public higher education.

How to apply:

For inquiries, please contact:

Assistant Director of Visual Communications Search Committee at foundation@bsu.edu

Please follow upload instructions to attach all of the required supporting documents listed below. NOTE: Do not use the Autofill feature for resume.

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• Finalists will be asked to share portfolios of design work

What we offer:

At Ball State University, we understand the importance of balancing professional responsibilities with personal well-being. That's why we offer paid 24 vacation days, 12 sick days and 10 holidays a year. Plus, our paid parental leave (6 weeks) is there for life's most significant moments. We offer affordable health and dental insurance, robust long-term disability and life insurance plans, as well a range of retirement benefits to provide financial security to you and your family. These benefits ensure that you can focus on your work and personal growth without worrying about the unexpected.

When you work for us, you are family. And to show our support of your family, we will cover 90 percent of your child's (or children's) undergraduate college tuition at Ball State. We do the same for you. In fact, we'll cover 100 percent of the tuition costs for you to earn your undergraduate degree and 80 percent of your graduate tuition. This offer is good from the very first day you start. It's just one way we do our part to uplift you.

Let's fly together toward a secure and prosperous tomorrow.

Curious about our excellent benefits package?

We have developed a calculator that shows you the value of our core benefits. Select the Total Compensation Calculator - Professional and download the spreadsheet. If you are applying for a 10-month position or one with Burris or Indiana Academy, please select the corresponding calculator.