Creative Manager

At John Ball Zoo, our mission is to inspire our community to be actively engaged in the conservation of wildlife and our natural environment. John Ball Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 1983 which assures excellent animal care and a dedication to conservation. As one of the top attractions in Grand Rapids, we welcome over 700,000 guests each year who are able to experience over 2,000 animals of over 230 species that represent the beautiful wildlife.

Creative Manager

• Are you a passionate and experienced creative leader who wants to share our vision of being a world-class zoo, premier education facility, and renowned conservation center? If so, the Creative Manager position at John Ball Zoo is the perfect role for you! In collaboration with the Director of Marketing and Sales, the Creative Manager designs, develops, and directs the implementation of all creative including advertising, branding, and promotions activities for the Zoo.
• They oversee the Creative Team and manage all creative project needs, while working to grow and innovate our brand in the community and beyond.
• The Creative Manager designs and produces creative and marketing materials for different Zoo departments, project manages creative and design projects from ideation to completion, and ensures designs are properly branded and meet the highest quality standards.
• This role manages and designs all marketing materials, including print and digital ads, event signage, and development appeals, coordinating with third party vendors as needed.
• The Creative Manager measures and analyzes marketing data and helps to develop innovative solutions across departments to improve guest experiences and sales. Plus, they get to work alongside the best Zoo team around!

Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Design, or related field or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in marketing and design, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Strong project management skills and experience, including multitasking and prioritizing skills, and ability to manage several projects at one time
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communications skills
• Creativity and ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative marketing solutions focused on guest experience and innovative solutions
• Knowledge of design principles including print and digital color concepts, composition, and human-centered design
• Ability to interact positively with a wide array of individuals from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Suites (Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign, and Illustrator), WordPress, and Constant Contact
• Flexing work hours may be needed periodically throughout the year

Perks

• We offer incredibly competitive benefits.
• This includes FREE:
• Medical plan option
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Dental & Vision for employee & family
• 12 Full weeks of parental leave ADDITIONAL BENEFITS We offer generous vacation time, 6 days of personal time, and 11 paid Holidays each year.
• We offer a 4% match and 3% employer contribution to your 401k, zoo discounts, employee-only zoo experiences, tuition reimbursement,
• additional medical benefits to meet your and your family's needs, and a FREE Premium Zoo membership for you and your family.

Salary

• $55,000 - $65,000