Creative Manager

Organization: The Midtown Association (MA) is a non-profit organization that is making Midtown the center for culture creativity and vibrancy in Sacramentos urban core. We were recently selected by our team and the Sacramento Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in Sacramento.

Our Culture and Values:

Our small but mighty team is fast-paced creative and mission-driven. We value:

• Integrity: High standards and personal accountability
• Responsiveness: Empathetic thorough service to all stakeholders
• Growth: Personal team and organizational growth celebrated often
• Collaboration: Helping others succeed as part of a collective mission
• Resiliency & Resourcefulness: Adaptability in a changing environment
• Efficiency Through Technology: Tech-driven transparency and results

Our modern open-concept office is surrounded by more than 20 restaurants coffee shops and cultural amenities. Our team enjoys a smart casual/business dress code.

Position Summary and Requirements: The Creative Manager works in the Communications Department which includes an Associate Director of Communications a Communications Manager an Advocacy and Stakeholder Affairs Manager a Creative Manager Communications Coordinator; and on contract includes public relations creative agency video services and website management. The Creative Manager reports to the Associate Director of Communications and manages contracts with website management and marketing consultants. They manage various graphic design projects develop strategies for Midtown Associations digital properties (including web social media and email) and uphold all Midtown Association and Midtown Parks brand identities. Evergreen print pieces include a quarterly dashboard and annual report for Midtown Association impact and vision report for Midtown Parks descriptions of organizational programs consumer-facing rack cards economic development reports and others. The Creative Manager upholds the organizations multi-faceted brand strategy in action through high-quality design and brand voice in all digital promotions creating items that allow partners and stakeholders to participate in the brand and ensuring visibility in the community. They oversee all digital communication channels including responsibility for creative concepts content collection graphic design revisions and working collaboratively with the Communications Manager for key messaging and visual assets. Applicants will be screened for a strong knowledge of data insights and visualization digital communications techniques and software proficiency visual communications and graphic design ability written communications expertise and project management skills.

What is a Midtown Association Manager Qualified Managers have successful supervisory experience of staff and consultants can act as the staff support to committees of board members and expert community members have experience with budget development and management have knowledge of key performance indicators and marketing techniques for event management and can plan program performance to generate specific outcomes. Managers bring recommendations to their supervisors for greater efficiency and service delivery in the organization. Managers create key partnerships in the community to ensure the success of the organization.

Basic Employment Qualifications:

• 3 years of full-time professional experience in communications marketing or public affairs
• Associate degree in communications marketing or related field
• Proven experience in campaign strategy message segmentation and content execution
• Excellent written communication and presentation skills
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite WordPress Microsoft Office Mailchimp Canva and social media platforms
• Ability to lift 40 lbs and pass background driving and drug screenings (cannabis permissible)

Ideal candidates will also possess:

• 6 years demonstrated experience with public affairs fundraising campaigns digital communications and marketing
• Bachelors degree in a relevant area of study
• Skilled in digital communications techniques and software proficiency including SEO strategies Sprout Social Google Ads and others
• Ability to manage multiple projects with speed and precision
• Familiarity with and curiosity for emerging technologies including artificial intelligence tools to enhance communications strategy and workflow

Work Environment/Hours: This is a full-time exempt position at no less than 40 hours per week. The schedule is generally Monday through Friday professional hours with variations for meetings and special events such as Second Saturday. The work environment is located primarily inside and consists of completing tasks involving communications by using technology independently and collaborating digitally or in-person with others. Conditions can range to include working outside in all types of inclement weather but would be very unlikely unless an event activation was taking place in unexpected inclement weather. Must be able to work around varying degrees of noise and interruptions. Must be self-motivated flexible patient and able to complete job assignments without direct supervision under sometimes dynamic conditions.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Under the direction of the Associate Director of Communications lead the visual and digital brand strategy for the organization. Oversee the creation consistency and evolution of all brand assets and digital properties ensuring cohesive and high-quality representation across campaigns programs and communications channels. Collaborate with internal teams to guide storytelling maintain brand integrity and enhance the organizations visibility while supervising the production and execution of creative projects that advance organizational goals.
• Implementation is as follows.
  • Design and brand management: Lead the creation development and maintenance of all visual and brand assets for Midtown Association and Midtown Parks ensuring consistency quality and alignment with organizational goals. Design and produce a wide range of materials including annual reports economic development pieces impact reports promotional graphics art wraps event signage uniforms logos social media and website graphics and presentations. Manage all design projects from concept through completion including content collection revisions coordination with printers and vendors and digital file organization. Maintain and evolve all brand strategies and sub identities through guides toolkits templates and training while ensuring that internal and external communications consistently reflect established brand standards and support visibility in the community.
  • Data analysis and insight visualization: Produce clear and accessible visualizations of operational safety economic and visitor data that demonstrate the impact of Midtown Association programs. Create templates and dashboards that standardize reporting and allow teams to quickly synthesize and share key metrics. Present data in ways that enhance advocacy efforts decision-making and program transparency ensuring that all materials reflect accurate context stakeholder needs and organizational priorities. Create compelling materials to support funding opportunities such as grant applications sponsorship proposals and partner reports.
  • Communications systems and workflow management: Implement and manage systems that organize creative project requests track progress and maintain accountability across teams. Establish clear processes for internal staff to submit design requests and ensure that priorities are aligned with organizational goals. Maintain dashboards and reporting tools that allow staff and stakeholders to monitor progress and measure performance of communications initiatives.
  • Digital communications management: Oversee and collaborate on the strategic direction of all digital communications channels including e-newsletters social media websites and other digital platforms to ensure cohesive inclusive and on-brand storytelling. Produce newsletters for general and business audiences manage social media strategy and engagement across all Midtown brands maintain editorial calendars and guide staff contributions. Manage website content structure updates and consultant coordination while achieving KPIs for impressions and search rankings. Ensure secure ownership and effective management of all digital properties software subscriptions user permissions and platform integrations to support organizational visibility and performance.
  • Management and Collaboration: Work collaboratively with the Communications Manager to ensure goal achievement task completion and high-quality production across all campaigns and communications. Interface with other program managers to create content that tells the story of their programs to thread through communication channels. Conduct small group presentations and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders to present and share information about campaigns and programs in a clear and professional manner. Provide daily supervision to volunteers interns contractors or junior Communications staff as needed.

o Other duties as assigned.

Benefits:Midtown Association has a very generous benefits package after the introductory period: 8 days of sick time 12 days of vacation plus several paid public holidays 401k with 5% match Flex-spend account fully paid insurance (Medical Life Dental Vision and Alternative Care Insurance) wellness program sabbatical program in office refreshments work from anywhere hours an assigned work from home day each week and parking.

Salary: DOE with an anticipated starting range of $78K-$85K per year with additional bonus potential.

Midtown Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).