[Hiring] Associate Creative Director, Design @Noodle

Role Description

Higher education is one of the most competitive and emotionally resonant marketing landscapes there is — and our partner institutions need creative that can match that moment. Our Associate Creative Director, Design is a creative leader who shapes the work, elevates the team, and brings ideas to life at every stage of the process.

This is a role for a strategic creative who thinks in brand systems and narratives, not just deliverables — someone equally at home developing an institutional identity as they are directing a video shoot or presenting a campaign concept to a university leadership team. You'll lead a team of designers and producers, collaborate closely with cross-functional marketing partners, and serve as a trusted creative voice for the partner institutions we serve.

If you're energized by the intersection of craft, strategy, and storytelling — and you want your work to genuinely shape how students find their place in the world — this role was built for you.

As our Associate Creative Director, Design, you will:

• Creative Thinking & Craft
  • Drive brand and identity work across a range of initiatives — from institutional rebranding and advancement campaigns to athletic identity systems — championing typographic craft, layout sensibility, and visual hierarchy at every scale.
  • Bring a storyteller's instinct to all video and photo work — leading productions from concept through post-production, including narrative development, storyboarding, and on-site direction.
  • Lead end-to-end creative campaign development — from initial concepting and internal reviews through client preview sessions and final production.
  • Proactively research design trends, cultural shifts, and competitor activity — translating those insights into creative strategies.
• Leadership & Collaboration
  • Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of designers, art directors, and video producers.
  • Set the tone for how the team shows up and what they produce.
  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional marketing teammates.
  • Establish and continuously refine team workflows, processes, and production pipelines.
• Marketing Integration
  • Partner with marketing strategists and client stakeholders.
  • Present concepts, campaigns, and proposals to partner institutions with confidence and clarity.
  • Leverage data, performance metrics, and market insights to inform creative decisions.
  • Apply a working knowledge of higher education recruitment marketing.

Qualifications

• 7+ years marketing experience; higher education experience preferred
• 5+ years of experience managing a design team, preferably at an agency
• Bachelor’s degree in design or corresponding field
• Understanding of higher-ed recruitment and marketing best practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; English fluency
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma

Requirements

• Must reside in the continental US, within close proximity to a major airport to facilitate travel to partner universities, as the role requires travel up to 30% of the time
• A reliable, high-speed internet connection is essential, along with a quiet, organized workspace for participating in camera-on, partner-facing meetings
• Available from 9am-5pm. Start and end times may flex slightly based on your time zone

Benefits

• Work from our beautiful NYC office OR the comfort of your home office!
• Computer and charger on us!
• 401(k) with company match, plus equity opportunities
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family (including mental health benefits like Headspace and Talkspace)
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Optional voluntary coverage, including supplemental life, accident, critical illness, and hospital insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and commuter benefits
• Pre-tax benefit options that help you save on eligible healthcare, dependent care, and commuting expenses
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness initiatives and resources
• Free subscription to the Calm app
• Employee discount program
• 4 weeks of paid vacation + 10 paid holidays + paid sick leave
• Monthly mobile connectivity stipend
• Annual education stipend for lifelong learning
• Growth opportunities - we pride ourselves on creating environments where employees can be themselves and grow within and around the company
• $100,000 - $120,000 a year