Director of Digital and Creative Strategy

Location: Dental School-Evans Building - 1st Floor

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Job Profile Title

Director B, Business and Finance, Communications and Marketing

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Marketing and Communications, the Director of Digital and Creative Strategy at Penn Dental Medicine will serve as a senior-level role that blends creative talent with digital strategy, web architecture, technical implementation, and data-driven communications. Penn Dental Medicine seeks a visionary and technically adept individual who will be responsible for elevating Penn Dental Medicine's visual brand identity across all platforms, publications, practices, and divisions — ensuring a cohesive, compelling, and consistent look and feel that reflects the institution's excellence.

This role requires exceptional judgment, strategic thinking, collaboration, and the ability to manage complex initiatives and functions in a fast-paced academic environment.

Brand Leadership & Visual Identity

Leads the development, governance, and evolution of Penn Dental Medicine's visual brand, ensuring adherence to the University of Pennsylvania's brand guidelines, while developing a distinct aesthetic for Penn Dental Medicine ensuring a cohesive brand experience across a complex portfolio of audiences and channels.

Establish a clear, consistent visual identity system across all assets produced by and for Penn Dental Medicine.

Develop and maintain a comprehensive brand standards guide specific to Penn Dental Medicine's communications ecosystem.

Lead all creative development for high profile and milestone celebration(s), including branding, environmental, digital and print materials.

Penn Dental Medicine Journal

Oversee design and art direction for the Penn Dental Medicine Journal, a high-profile print publication produced twice annually.

Web development, strategy, and design

• Lead the digital and visual strategy for Penn Dental Medicine's web properties. Ensure websites and digital platforms support institutional, academic, research, clinical, admissions, advancement, and reputational objectives.
• Build, maintain, and optimize web properties using Drupal and WordPress (and other open-source CMS platforms as needed).
• Apply strong UI/UX principles to all digital properties to ensure accessibility, usability, and visual consistency.
• Partner with IT and web development staff on technical implementation and site governance.

Digital Communications

Leverage Salesforce and related marketing cloud tools to support data-driven communications strategies, audience segmentation, and campaign tracking.

Utilize Slate (Technolutions) to support strategic marketing and communications.

Partnerships

• Serve as Penn Dental Medicine's lead creative representative in cross-university creative and communications networks.
• Collaborate actively with creative directors, designers, and communication leaders across Penn's schools and centers to share best practices and pursue collaborative opportunities.
• Project Management and Data Analysis
• Manage multiple concurrent design projects from concept through final delivery, maintaining high standards of quality and consistency.
• Develop and manage creative briefs, project timelines, and stakeholder review processes.
• Use web analytics, audience insights, user behavior, and performance data to evaluate digital experiences and inform ongoing improvements to content, design, navigation and engagement.
• Other duties as assigned
• Provide and maintain expertise in innovative solutions focused on the responsible stewardship of Penn Dental Medicine and its community experience.