Associate Director of Website and Design

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Website and Brand Design reports to the Director of Strategic Communications and serves as the primary steward of Columbia College's digital presence and visual brand identity. This role is responsible for leading a comprehensive overhaul of the Columbia College website while maintaining brand consistency across all digital and print communications channels. The Associate Director will manage the Digital Content Manager and freelancers.

Responsibilities

Website Management and Development

• Lead the complete redesign and content reorganization of the Columbia College website, from strategic planning through implementation and launch.
• Manage all aspects of the Columbia College website content using Drupal, including site navigation, content organization and ongoing content and media maintenance.
• Collaborate closely with the Columbia College IT (CCIT) team and external vendors to ensure technical excellence and timely project delivery.
• Apply user experience (UX) best practices to create intuitive, accessible and engaging digital experiences for diverse audiences.
• Conduct user research, usability testing and analytics review to inform design decisions and continuous improvement.
• Ensure all web properties meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards and ADA compliance requirements.
• Implement and monitor web analytics using tools such as Google Analytics to track performance and inform optimization strategies.

Project and Stakeholder Management

• Manage complex, multi-phase projects involving numerous high-level stakeholders across the College.
• Coordinate with academic departments, admissions, student life, advancement and other key partners.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, freelancers and contractors.
• Develop project plans, timelines and deliverables for web and brand initiatives.

Brand Management and Design

• Manage the Digital Content Manager and oversee all graphic design produced.
• Serve as the guardian of the Columbia College brand, ensuring visual and messaging consistency across all communications channels.
• Update, refine and create comprehensive brand guidelines.
• Ensure all Columbia College internal partners and departments adhere to established brand guidelines.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field required.
• 3-5 years of professional experience managing and designing websites, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience leading website redesign projects from conception through launch.
• Proven track record of brand management and development across multiple channels.
• Proficiency in website content management systems (Drupal 10 preferred).
• Strong UX and UI design skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Competency in modern web design tools such as Figma, Sketch or similar platforms.
• Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and responsive design principles.
• Familiarity with web accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) and ADA compliance requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exceptional visual design skills with a strong portfolio demonstrating range and quality.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of SEO best practices and their application to web design.

Applications submitted without portfolio of website and graphic and brand design work will not be considered.