Executive Director, Creative Design, Department of Athletics

The Executive Director, Creative Design provides the creative vision, leadership, and executional oversight for all graphic design, branding, collateral production, and visual storytelling for Wake Forest Athletics. This role works hand‑and‑hand with the Assistant AD, Creative & Communications to set department‑wide creative direction, ensures brand consistency across all designed‑related mediums, manages high‑priority institutional and Athletics projects, and leads the Athletics design team that is responsible for designing graphics, print pieces, campaign assets, signage, and event visual identities.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non‑immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

• Creative Leadership & Direction
  • Provide overall creative direction, design leadership, and visual storytelling strategy for Wake Forest Athletics across all print, digital, social, in‑venue, and event platforms.
  • Lead the execution of major Athletics and University‑level design initiatives, including campaigns, institutional events, postseason branding, bowl design needs, major announcements, sport‑specific branding, and strategic graphic needs.
  • Uphold and advance Wake Forest Athletics’ brand identity, ensuring consistent application of visual standards across all units and external channels.
  • Partner closely with Communications, Fan Experience, Creative Video, Photography, Deacon Club, Ticketing, Facilities, and Licensing to deliver integrated creative campaigns.
• Creative Staff Leadership & Management
  • Manage, mentor, and develop the two Assistant Directors, Creative Design, establishing clear roles, workflows, and accountability.
  • Coordinate daily and long‑range project workflows to balance volume, deadlines, and creative quality.
  • Oversee creative collaboration with student workers, contractors, and external partners as needed.
  • Create and enforce design processes and request systems that ensure efficiency and clarity.
• Examples of Projects by Area Include
  • Fan Experience & Game Presentation:
    Weekly “This Week at Home” assets, sport‑specific game graphics, orientation and “Wake the Demons” materials, A‑frames/banners, and t‑shirt/giveaway designs.
  • Deacon Club / Development:
    Membership and ILC guides, donor collateral, event branding (alumni weekends, ILC events, BOD/AAC), major fundraising event creative, invitation mailers, Hall of Fame and Scholarship Brunch materials.
  • Communications Support:
    Annual awards and recognition graphics, Hall of Fame/Trailblazer/Moffitt assets, memorial graphics, institutional celebration logos, and brand‑strategy collaboration.
  • Licensing & Merchandise:
    Logo creation and updates, championship marks, retail/t‑shirt graphics, and marketing design templates.
  • Ticketing:
    Football/Men’s Basketball ticket collateral, parking passes, and ticket sales campaign graphics.
  • Facilities, Signage & Venue Branding:
    Large‑scale facility branding, postseason and event signage, maps and operational signage, and annual stadium/venue updates.
  • Event Operations:
    Credential design, postseason/tailgate branding, event logo creation, and annual event collateral refreshes.
  • Campus Life & Student Engagement:
    Materials for “We Are Wake,” “Wake Women,” first‑year traditions, student tailgate, #WFFridays, Deacs Decide, and other campus‑partner events.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Serve as a liaison for Athletics content creators, working closely with internal and external departments to execute campaigns, generate revenue and communicate Wake Forest’s brand and institutional messaging.
  • Assist with shooting photography, shooting and editing video (as able) and creating graphics as needed.
  • Work with Assistant AD of Communications & Content on weekly analytics reports and sets future goals and benchmarks.
  • Assist fan experience, communication, Deacon Club, and ticketing staff with the execution of creative media needs in support of ticket sales, attendance, and fundraising.
  • Provide leadership in coordination with the Assistant AD of Creative & Communications and Senior Director of Creative Media & Content Strategy and Assistant AD Creative &…