Director of Web and Creative Services

Posted Job Title

Director of Web and Creative Services

Director C, Business and Finance, Communications and Marketing

University Communications is the strategic voice and steward of Penn’s reputation, sharing the University’s values, priorities, and achievements with internal and external audiences. We tell Penn’s stories through media relations, digital & social channels, newsletters, and other communications outlets. We advise senior leadership on messaging, crisis response, and reputation management while partnering with Penn’s twelve schools, academic centers, and administrative departments to highlight research, teaching, campus life, and Penn’s broader impact.

We seek to ensure a consistent voice, foster meaningful engagement with key audiences, and strengthen the University’s reputation through innovative storytelling, brand coherence, and data-informed strategy.

The Director of Web and Creative Services provides strategic leadership and technical oversight for University Communications’ digital presence, including Penn’s flagship website (UPenn.edu), Penn Today, and digital creative production. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Communications, this role leads a cross-functional team of nine and serves as a member of the senior management team.

The Director oversees web strategy, design, and technical standards, web development, and digital creative production to elevate the University’s reputation, engagement, and storytelling across platforms. This role also ensures that digital platforms and creative outputs align with the University’s mission, strategic priorities, and brand standards.

• Drive the modernization and unification of Penn’s digital presence across a highly decentralized environment to improve user experience, consistency, and impact.
• Lead adoption and integration of AI tools across the department.
• Align digital innovation and creative direction with University Communications news and storytelling priorities.
• Advise department leadership and other core campus partners on web, digital, and brand strategy.

• Lead the redesign and next iteration of UPenn.edu, reflecting evolving user behavior, AI, and digital trends.
• Oversee the development, improvement, and maintenance of over 30 websites, including University’s primary website, UPenn.edu, University Communications’ signature news platform Penn Today, President’s Center websites, special initiative websites, and email newsletters, ensuring a cohesive, user-centered experience.
• Serve on the department’s crisis management team working closely with Penn’s Department of Public Safety on website updates during emergencies.
• Direct the web development function, including the Director of Web Development and web developers to set timelines and goals for Drupal engineering, web development, security, and continuous improvement.
• Provide oversight to web management staff on designing and maintaining websites, content updates, accessibility, and technical standards.
• Collaborate with Penn’s Information and Systems Computing on overlapping needs, site deployment, and Pantheon platform.
• Serve as the point of contact for vendor sourcing and managing outside web consultants and web designers for major web redesigns.

• Analyze web traffic and engagement to inform strategy; monitor and optimize SEO and AI-powered search efforts.
• Implement data-driven improvements to web content, UX, and digital campaigns.

• Provide strategic leadership for a team of videographers and photographers, shaping compelling visual storytelling that advances the University’s brand and reputation.
• Oversee resource planning, including managing contractors, budgeting, and equipment to support high-quality production.
• Set priorities and guide the development of high-impact creative projects, ensuring alignment with institutional messaging and communications goals.
• Collaborate closely with news, social media, and digital teams to develop integrated, cross-platform content that amplifies University stories and…