Creative Manager

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Creative Manager at UWD is the steward of our voice, visual identity, and creative direction of all digital and print collateral, creating a cohesive narrative of values and audience to amplify our messaging and organize our immigrant community. The Creative Manager guides the look and feel of United We Dream along with the Senior Marketing and Creative Director. In addition to managing permanent creative staff and part-time staff, they handle the day-to-day visual content management for our website, social media, video production, and creative interaction with our campaign engagement. The Creative Manager at UWD is an active collaborator and key player in relationships with our other departments, including Communications, Advocacy and Political, among others. This position is under the supervision of the Narrative Director.

The Creative Manager and their team are responsible for keeping a pulse on our membership online. This role will craft strategies that increase membership engagement across all our social media platforms. This involves innovation to lead the growth and engagement of our content. The Creative Manager will oversee and support the team that executes compelling content that engages with our base and ensures that UWD’s online profile reflects the mighty power of our youth-led organization through authentic storytelling and amplifying the voices of our communities.

A successful Creative Manager will bring to life a careful and proactive instinct for detail-oriented aesthetics and stay actively updated on emerging trends and platforms. Expert proficiency in social media and online communications platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and WhatsApp is a must for this role. A successful candidate will have experience in market research, artistic influences, and analytics to deliver the best version of UWD’s brand; while also being able to represent UWD in partner and allied spaces within the larger creative and movement community, embodying an intersectional race and immigrant justice analysis, rooted in training movement leaders. 

The position is full-time, exempt. Periodic travel is expected. Although not required, a major plus if you are multilingual.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Management

• Manage United We Dream’s team of creative staff and contractors that will increase the membership engagement across our social media platforms.
• The Creative Manager will oversee and support the team that executes compelling content that engages with our base, builds community, and strengthens UWD’s profile online.
• Work closely with the Creative Content Team to create the visual components of a content strategy focused on engagement and acquisition
• Manage multiple projects at a time and meet competing deadlines.
• Create and manage the design process for all projects, including projects led by other departments, elements for campaigns in which UWD is engaging on, and design elements in collaboration with our partners when needed. All this including long-term work and rapid-response campaigns
• Develops relationships with staff and leadership across the organization to address issues quickly.
• Coordinate partnership opportunities and relationships with movement organizations as well as in the social media and creative sphere. 
• Responds timely to discussions and ongoing work. Steers plans flexibly when rapid response arises.

Branding Development

• Oversee the development of internal UWD brand collateral, including but not limited to fundraising presentations, annual reports, and print collateral 
• Oversee the visual elements of rapid response work, including video, graphics, and print collateral 
• Oversee the development of campaign digital and print collateral, including but not limited to video, audio, and photography production, social media infographics, and other types of digital media 
• Oversee maintenance of multimedia library, including photos, design, and videos 
• Advanced understanding of typography, color theory, good design principles, and spatial awareness/layouts.
• Keyed in to print/web/social design trends.

Fellowship Design & Management

• Design and manage the UWD’s Fellowship, a program that trains young leaders in creating content that challenges disinformation and advances community narratives.
• Directly supervise fellows, who are responsible for producing all social media and video content for UWD.
• Provide strong and constructive editorial feedback on digital content; explain revisions clearly and mentor fellows in developing their editorial and storytelling skills.
• Delegate tasks appropriately, maintain high standards, and ensure deadlines are met consistently.
• Develop and manage a fellow recruitment and selection process that reflects the diversity and values of UWD’s membership.

Content And Social Media Presence: 

• Collaborate with department leadership to develop creative digital engagement strategies that include the use of video, graphics, and web assets, and leveraging the use of different social platforms
• Evolve UWD’s social media strategies and platforms to engage key audiences for United We Dream Network and related entities (such as United We Dream Action, and the United We Dream Action PAC)
• Provide day-to-day direction to the team creating content for social media and  managing UWD’s social media platforms
• Track key metrics and drive continuous improvement of our social media strategy
• Lead the social media team to develop creative content ideas and constantly develop new and highly engaging content.
• Responsible for proactively identifying and seizing upon rapid response opportunities, setting clear goals, and leading the team to respond to the moment.
• Manage and develop a comprehensive and coordinated social media and content calendar.
• Lead on using the latest internet trends to develop content, inform and inspire UWD members.

Growth, Creative, and Voice Strategy Development 

• Lead the team to frame ideas, develop stories, and synthesize complex public policy issues in a way that appeals to a wide variety of audiences.
• Partner crossdepartmentally  to determine efficient and impactful design and social media strategy for digital campaigns, organizing campaigns and rapid response
• Responsible for leading rapid response content strategy in our national campaign and local efforts for our digital platforms, programs and websites, including giving direction to content teams and in collaboration with our policy and communication teams.
• Responsible for quality control of all United We Dream social media platforms
• Serve as an editor by holding and transforming the voice of UWD in all social media materials and posts, as well as other digital-team-led materials both internal and external.
• Build UWD’s social media squad by developing programming to help grow the voices of UWD membership and UWD influencers. 
• Develop and execute new and creative growth strategies based on our content's data and performance.
• In collaboration with digital organizing, utilize strong analytical ability to evaluate end-to-end customer experience across multiple channels and customer touchpoints

Organizational Leadership

• Engage as a leader: Advise on organizational creative and branding strategy; represent the Digital Department’s perspective during campaign leadership team meetings; participate in strategic and long-term planning processes for the organization.
• Strategic alignment: Build consensus within the membership to ensure UWD’s digital and political strategy is aligned with the organizational vision and membership priorities
• Build future leaders: Train and mentor youth in digital and content in order to build a pipeline of young leaders of color in the immigrant rights movement
• Demonstrate embodied leadership: Prioritize taking care of your physical and emotional health as a key component of thriving in your role. Incorporate personal ecology practices in ways that work best for you, while serving as a model for your staff in managing their own personal ecology. Project trust & confidence in your abilities and skills and recognize the achievements and abilities of others
• Strengthen the culture: Ensure a safe, welcoming, and inspiring organizational culture for staff to excel in. Role model and uphold UWD’s values of creating an inclusive and equitable working environment

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• Must demonstrate exceptional adaptability, as responsibilities within this role are subject to evolution and program objectives may shift. This requires a proactive approach to learning new skills and embracing unforeseen challenges to ensure continuous contribution and success.
• 5-6 years of experience and demonstrated success in creating, expanding, and maintaining digital content
• At least 3 years of experience managing fast-paced and creative teams.
• Ability to drive learning and improvement, including generating data that helps us learn, conducting tests of innovative strategies, reporting back key learnings, and proactively driving the evolution of our social media presence  
• Demonstrated experience with modern web design, photography, and video editing programs (Adobe Suite: Premier and/or Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign).
• General knowledge of CSS/HTML, with a preference for experience in building websites.
• Demonstrated understanding of the use of visual media to create engagement and spur action.
• Demonstrated expertise in creating content – video and audio production, graphic design, or other digital content – focused on advocacy and creating change.
• A creative ability to frame ideas, develop stories, and synthesize complex public policy issues in a way that appeals to a wide variety of audiences.
• Deep knowledge of social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitch, Youtube, and their data backgrounds to inform strategy development.
• Knowledge of immigrant rights’ policy and organizing landscape, preferably with lived experience as an undocumented person, immigrant, or immigrant family and deep understanding of and passion for the issues facing immigrant communities.
• A strong writer and communicator – is able to break down complex topics into simple concepts for both, their team, and our online audiences.
• Talented organizer with excellent project management skills.
• Intersectional social justice analysis on race, class and gender passionate about immigrants’ rights.
• Writing, copyediting, and proofreading skills are effective, and can coach staff to better their writing skills
• Excellent organizational skills, and demonstrate a clear ability to adapt rapidly to evolving priorities and deadlines.
• Attention to detail, flexibility, and patience.
• Passion to build leaders, preferably with an understanding of community organizing principles.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $75,000.0-$90,000.00

Benefits:

• Employees who have completed less than 1 year of service with United We Dream: 
  • 10 Vacation days per year
• Employees who have completed more than 1 year of service but less than 3 with United We Dream: 
  • 12 Vacation days per year
• Employees who have completed more than 3 years of service but less than 5 with United We Dream: 
  • 17 Vacation days per year
• Employees who have completed more than 5 years of service with United We Dream: 
  • 22 Vacation days per year
• Paid two weeks Off Holiday between December and January.
• 12 Paid holidays
• 4% 403(B) employer discretionary contribution 
• 12 weeks of paid family leave (after 1 and 1 day of service) 
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life coverage 
• $120 Reimbursement included cell service/data and utilities monthly
• $500 Reimbursement for office supplies working from home annually
• $2000 Stipend towards professional development

Location
As UWD is a remote-first workplace, this is a full-time, remote position. We have a preference to hire in states where we already have employees working from home - AZ, DC, CT, CA, FL, IL, MO, NJ, NM, NY, OK, NC and SC. Once UWD determines it is safe to do so, you may be required to travel occasionally to DC or elsewhere, for internal team meetings, retreats, and UWD events as required for your role.

To Apply
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing example through our career website https://unitedwedream.org/about/careers/. Please do not send duplicate materials and incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone calls, please.

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UWD is an equal opportunity employer; people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. UWD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic background, citizenship status, religion, political orientation, genetic information, sexual orientation, age, or disability.