Associate Creative Director

Assist Director(s) and Executive Director with the daily operation of the Office of Spiritual Development (OSD), as it relates to various projects and initiatives.

Required Action for Employment Consideration: All applicants applying for the position are required to submit a current portfolio to be considered for the position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Associate Creative Director will serve the departments within the Office of Spiritual Development, including LU Stages, LU Shepherd, LU Serve, LU Send, and Liberty Worship Collective. They will lead and execute creative strategy across campaigns, events, social platforms, and live experiences. This role works closely with the Executive Creative Director and the Director of Operations and Communications to lead OSD Creative with excellence, collaborating across teams to develop assets that support Convocation, Campus Community, music releases, department events, and broader campus moments.

Creative Execution & Oversight (Creative Field Flexible)
This role flexes to the unique creative discipline of the individual hired. Whether your expertise is in graphic design, videography, photography, motion, or another creative field, your contributions will anchor high-level creative execution while also playing a key role in team leadership, cross-functional collaboration, content strategy, and the development of student creatives.

• Executes creative work across your primary skill set (design, video, photo, motion, or other) in support of Liberty University (LU) Stages, LU Shepherd, LU Serve, LU Send, and Liberty Worship Collective.
• Maintains visual and tonal consistency across all social media platforms oversees content creation, facilitates brainstorming sessions, conducts weekly meetings, analyzes engagement metrics, and stays abreast of social media trends.
• Collaborates and delegates cross-functionally with other creatives across video, photo, design, motion, and copy to ensure cohesive project execution and team synergy.
• Manages multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, ensuring adherence to specifications, deadlines, and budgets.
• Stays current with industry trends and tools; ideates and plans new initiatives that connect with the target audience.
• Collaborates with Liberty Worship Collective (LWC) and Campus Production to oversee music releases, including managing timelines, organizing promotional content schedules, delegating tasks, and providing creative direction for deliverables.
• Conducts visual project reviews across disciplines and provides feedback for full-time staff and student workers.
• They will also contribute to ideation, storytelling, and high-level concept development across creative campaigns and initiatives.
• Maintains high attention to detail and effective time management, with the ability to work under pressure while being strategic, analytical, visionary, and execution-oriented.

Team Leadership & Development

• Actively contributes to department-wide planning, strategy, and leadership conversations - including key decisions around creative direction, team structure, culture, and long-term vision.
• Directly manages full-time creative staff, across various disciplines as needed (1-4 individuals).
• Provides macro-level leadership of the Student Worker program, including development of systems, team culture, growth plans, and overall structure (1-9 individuals).
• Develops and implements recruitment initiatives for both full-time staff and student workers.
• Leads through clear, consistent communication - providing clarity across teams, fostering feedback culture, and resolving tensions with maturity and humility.

Operational & Budget Management

• Leads and participates in university and departmental meetings as needed, including cross-departmental collaboration and engagement with Office of Spiritual Development Directors, Executive Directors, the Vice President, and the Chancellor. Contributes to department budget planning, resource allocation, and oversight of key expenses.

Mission Alignment & Team Culture

• Embodies, upholds, and multiplies OSD Creative's team values - including proactive growth, team-first mindset, ownership and accountability, positive culture builder, transparency, encouragement of others, and fruit-bearing character that reflects the heart of Christ (Galatians 5:22-23).
• Actively contributes to a team culture that embraces feedback, celebrates growth, and cultivates spiritual, relational, and creative development in others.
• Works effectively as a team member, embracing and fostering LU's Christian model and Mission - Training Champions for Christ.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Please see section "Team Leadership & Development" for further details.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALSEducation and Experience

• 3+ years in a professional creative position preferred.
• 1+ years in leading and managing creatives preferred.
• Four-year college degree, with a concentration in Digital Media, Cinematic Arts, Graphic Design, Strategic Communication, Marketing, or similar creative degree preferred.
• Proficiency in programs related to your skillset such as but not limited to Adobe Premier Pro, Adobe After Effects, DaVinci, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Lightroom preferred dependent on creative field.
• Communication and operational software and applications in use: Asana, Slack, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, iMessage, and Instagram.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong analytical reasoning and decision-making ability - able to assess information, solve problems, and apply sound judgment in both routine and complex situations.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOBCommunication and Comprehension

• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to convey clear, well articulated information.
• Ability to understand, speak, and write English in order to convey messages and correspond in an articulate and professional manner.
• Possess public communication skills that allow professional representation of Liberty University.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent computer skills.

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• May be required to travel
• May be required to sit to perform deskwork or type on a keyboard.
• Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectively communicate orally.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to move about the campus.
• Handle materials, reach overhead, kneel or stoop in order to conduct business.
• Regularly lift 20 or fewer pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONSWork Environment The working environment in which one will typically perform the essential functions of this position is a climate-controlled setting. It is well lighted, and the noise level is moderate. Working environment may include facilitation of events outdoors occasionally. (Edit for duties performed outside office environment.)

Driving Requirements Use of one's personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) may be required for travel in the performance of the essential functions of this position. Proof of a valid Virginia driver's license, an acceptable DMV record, and liability insurance is required.

Target Hire Date

2025-05-26

Time Type

Full time

Location

Lynchburg - In Office

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe it is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate all employees and prospective employees strictly according to the requirements of the job. All personnel related activities such as compensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments, working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs, and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including all applicable state of employment protected classes. The University is a Christian religious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to religious discrimination requirements. The University's hiring practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception to the "religion" component of the employment discrimination laws for religious organizations (including educational institutions), and permits them to give employment practice preference to members of their own religious beliefs.