Director, Creative Services

NeighborWorks as a Company and an Employer

For nearly 50 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, a congressionally chartered national nonprofit known as NeighborWorks® America, has strived to make every community safer and more prosperous. Our network of excellence includes nearly 250 nonprofits in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and on Native lands. NeighborWorks offers grant funding, peer exchange, technical assistance, evaluation tools, and access to best-in-class training as the nation’s leading trainer of housing and community development professionals. NeighborWorks network organizations build homes and apartments, expanding the supply of affordable housing in every community; provide financial counseling and coaching that increases self-sufficiency; encourage resident leadership; and collaborate with local stakeholders in the areas of health, economic development, employment, and education.

Caring for communities starts with caring for our internal community, our staff. Picture yourself in a collaborative and diverse hybrid environment surrounded by colleagues who challenge, encourage and inspire you. This opportunity offers an impressive total rewards package that includes a 401(k) match of up to 12%, 11 paid holidays, generous leave (including 40 hours of paid volunteer time) and industry-leading benefits. Start your career with NeighborWorks America and take advantage of our Staff Training and Education Program (STEP), designed to support continued learning and professional development. Our benefits are designed to support staff holistically, enabling them to give their best in both work and life.

We are a mission-based organization committed to building a high-performing work culture, guided by the following core values:

• We hold ourselves and each other accountable.

• We act with integrity.

• We lead with curiosity.

• We pursue excellence with courage.

• We respect, honor and celebrate each other.

• We collaborate with purpose.

Work at a Glance: Lead Brand Strategy and Creative Production

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Communications & Marketing, the Director, Creative Services leads the development and execution of creative strategies that advance NeighborWorks America's brand, communications and organizational priorities. The Director is a hands-on creative leader who personally creates, designs, photographs, films, edits and produces high-impact creative assets while leading the work of internal and external creative contributors. Serves as a player-coach who balances strategic leadership with direct involvement in day-to-day creative production. The Director manages a small unit and leads the work of contractors, freelancers, vendors and other external creative partners, while remaining directly involved in the creation and production of key deliverables. Working collaboratively with colleagues across the corporation, the Director translates business objectives into compelling creative solutions , ensuring effective execution, consistent brand application and timely deliver that strengthen brand visibility, audience engagement and organizational impact.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Brand Strategy, Identity and Governance

• Partners with the Senior Vice President to develop, refine and implement organizational brand strategy, translating business and communications objectives into compelling brand positioning, creative direction and audience engagement approaches.
• Serves as the creative department lead, helping shape the direction, tone and expression of the NeighborWorks America brand across all communications and marketing channels.
• Owns and manages NeighborWorks America's visual identity standards, brand implementation guidelines and creative frameworks, ensuring consistent and effective application across the organization and network.
• Creates and develops visual concepts, brand assets and design solutions that bring the enterprise brand strategy to life. Produces and refreshes core brand materials, templates, photography and visual assets to support organizational communications. Provides guidance and support to internal teams, partners and network organizations to ensure effective and consistent use of approved brand standards and creative assets.

2. Creative Strategy and Creative Direction

• Leads enterprise creative strategy for campaigns, publications, multimedia initiatives and major organizational projects, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, communications objectives and brand standards.
• Establishes and directs the creative vision for visual, written, video, photography and multimedia content across communications and marketing platforms.
• Leads creative brainstorming and concept development efforts, translating business needs and communications objectives into effective and innovative creative solutions.
• Consults with internal stakeholders to understand objectives, define creative requirements and develop strategic recommendations.
• Exercises decision-making authority regarding creative execution, visual storytelling approaches, design solutions and production methodologies within approved brand standards and strategic direction.
• Creates, develops, evaluates and refines creative concepts, designs and deliverables, while providing direction and feedback to staff, vendors and freelancers.
• Personally develops concepts, designs creative assets, captures photography and video content, and executes multimedia projects when business needs, timelines or project complexity require direct involvement.

3. Creative Production and Project Management

• Oversees the end-to-end management of creative projects across a broad range of applications, including print, digital, video, photography, multimedia, exhibits, campaigns, publications and other communications and marketing materials.
• Determines production requirements by reviewing client needs, establishing project scope, setting production schedules and coordinating creative activities across the enterprise.
• Oversees the creative development, design, production planning and execution of major corporate publications, including the Annual Report and other enterprise communications products.
• Personally creates, designs, photographs, films, edits and produces communications and marketing materials across multiple media formats.
• Steps into projects as needed to execute creative work, resolve production challenges and ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
• Maintains accountability for creative production workflows, quality assurance processes, project timelines and final deliverables.
• Keeps internal clients and stakeholders informed through regular project updates, timeline management and progress reporting.

4. Vendor, Resource and Operational Management

• Recruits, assigns and manages freelance designers, illustrators, photographers, videographers, printers and other creative vendors in accordance with corporate contracting procedures.
• Monitors vendor performance and production quality to ensure consistency, value and alignment with organizational standards.
• Oversees all creative assets and the technology, tools and digital asset management practices that support the development, storage, organization and distribution of photographs, videos, graphics and other creative content.
• Manages the creative services budget, including design, printing, digital assets, production expenses and contracted services.
• Identifies operational efficiencies and implements cost-effective approaches while maintaining high-quality creative standards.

5. Leadership, Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Provides supervision, coaching and professional development for a direct report, ensuring alignment with departmental and organizational goals.
• Manages workload allocation, performance expectations and work plan development for the employee and contracted resources.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of creative initiatives, production processes and service delivery, recommending and implementing improvements to strengthen organizational impact.
• Identifies opportunities where creative services can support strategic initiatives, improve audience engagement and enhance the NeighborWorks America brand.

Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Nature of Work Contacts:

• NeighborWorks America staff, network member organizations, vendors and national partners for the purpose of supporting communications & marketing efforts.
• Some contact with vendors, media, and communications executives with leading housing sector organizations.
• Senior management levels within corporations, foundations, financial institutions, federal agencies, trade associations and national nonprofit organizations for the purpose of exchanging information.
• Executive levels of NeighborWorks® organizations to respond to inquiries.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

• Manages the Creative Services budget, including expenditures related to design, printing, photography, videography, multimedia production, digital assets, contracted services and other creative resources.
• Oversees budget utilization for creative projects and production activities, ensuring resources are aligned with organizational priorities and approved spending plans.
• Reviews and approves project-related expenditures, invoices and vendor costs in accordance with corporate procurement and financial policies.
• Provides subject matter expertise on production budgets, vendor selection and cost estimates for Communications & Marketing and other business units utilizing creative services.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

(a) Education: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of work experience in graphic design, brand management, and production services is required.

(b) Experience: At least 8 – 10 years of progressive professional creative design experience in an in-house creative services department or agency, leading the development of integrated creative solutions across digital, print and broadcast media.

• Must have prior supervisory experience.
• Expert level proficiency in Adobe creative suite and related creative production tools, with demonstrated ability to personally design, produce, edit and deliver professional-quality creative assets across print, digital, photography, videography and multimedia platforms.
• Proven ability to make on-camera subjects comfortable and foster authentic, engaging interviews with individuals at all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated expertise in corporate photography and videography, including planning, directing and producing visual content.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills.

(c) Licenses, Certifications: None required.

(d) Competencies, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Must be able to manage multiple projects and adhere to strict deadlines.
• Must have exceptional customer service and client relations skills.
• Highly effective at concepting, designing, producing and executing integrated creative solutions.
• Extensive background in asset storage management and versioning.

(e) NeighborWorks America Staff are expected to demonstrate excellence in the following:

• Sensitivity to racial, gender, sexual orientation and cultural differences
• Effective, respectful, and timely communications with internal and external stakeholders
• Listening effectively, seeks and accepts feedback
• Analytic, thoughtful and strategic thinking
• Considering the mission, objectives, and goals of NeighborWorks and demonstrating an understanding of the impact of her/his/their decisions and behavior on the organization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree and/or experience or knowledge of affordable housing/community revitalization issues is preferred but not required.
• Corporate photography and videography expertise.

Working Conditions:

(a) Travel: up to 15%

(b) Physical/Sensory Demands:

• Fast paced working environment, extensive computer usage.
• Ability to safely lift and transport approx. 40 pounds of production equipment, load and unload equipment from vehicles, and set up and break down audiovisual equipment at various indoor and outdoor locations.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods

(c) Hybrid: This role reports into the office 2 days per week.

Salary Range: $119,000- $124,000

The salary offered for the role will be based on a variety of factors, including geographic location, internal equity, and the candidate’s qualifications/professional experience.

Special Provisions:

Occasional work outside of normal business hours, such as weekends and evenings may be required.

Must be able to travel as needed (at times with short notice).

Requisition Close Date: November 20, 2026, 5 p.m. ET

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is strictly prohibited as candidates seeking employment with NeighborWorks America engage in our interview process. Prohibited uses of AI include but are not limited to, drafting and submitting misleading resumes, using or referencing AI-produced answers during any portion of our interview process, or using an AI notetaking tool. Candidates are welcome to take notes, but using AI is not permitted. Prohibited use of AI during the interview process will result in immediate disqualification. In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, NeighborWorks America will consider reasonable accommodations requested by candidates seeking employment with our organization.