Since 1997, Avalon Consulting has been a unique agency: woman-owned, progressive, focused on fundraising. We raise millions of dollars for nonprofits and partner with visionaries and changemakers who are making a difference.
We are searching for a new Digital Design Director to help us expand our digital design division while also designing powerful still and animated creative that connects with our client audiences, inspires action, and adds value not noise.
This will be a unique opportunity for you to drive digital strategies using a data-informed approach, which is centered around donors, members, and prospects, because humans do not experience our clients’ missions in singular silos, but as complex intertwined journeys.
You’ll be ideal for Avalon and this opportunity if:
• You understand the power of creating strategic and innovative designs to help drive people to take action, donate, and engage with nonprofits.
• You are eager to help mentor and expand a design division within a multichannel company that services both direct mail and digital client needs.
• You enjoy the creative process in the development of your work, as well as inspiring others to create imaginative digital designs.
• You are looking to create lasting change.
As our Digital Design Director, your days at Avalon will include:
• Leading the digital design division within the Avalon Design Department
• Mentoring a team of designers with growing digital skills, by providing professional development opportunities and ensuring continuous feedback through regular coaching as well as input during performance reviews.
• Creating engaging still and animated design for web, mobile, email, and digital ads for campaigns across Avalon’s suite of progressive nonprofit clients.
• Using a data-informed approach to develop designs that drive advocacy actions and donations from a variety of audiences and user journey considerations.
• Partnering with internal teams and client contacts to ensure branding requirements are being satisfied.
• Delivering stunning and effective digital concepts that meet client briefs, style guide and spec requirements, while generating fresh, innovative design ideas to captivate target audiences.
• Monitoring emerging design trends and the competitive landscape, incorporating appropriate use of color, type, tone, and style into digital designs.
• Incorporating elements of accessible design into client concepts and keeping abreast of developing trends and assessment tools in this area.
What we need from you:
• At least 5 – 8 years of experience as a designer in the digital marketing field, either at an agency or in-house.
• Prior experience supervising or mentoring other designers.
• Direct response or fundraising experience (preferred).
• An impressive portfolio showcasing innovative use of typography, photography, illustration, animation, and graphics in digital marketing and high-impact media.
• The ability to think strategically while ideating and delivering both large and small ideas that fit within a client’s strategy and brand.
• Proven experience understanding UI/UX design principles for creating intuitive and user-friendly digital experiences for email marketing, digital display and social media ads, and web.
• Expertise in using Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience with project management software like monday.com (preferred).
• A passion for innovation and continuous learning, with a desire to push the boundaries of digital design.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines while still ensuring quality of creative work.
In addition, we look for leaders at Avalon to demonstrate the following:
• Exceptional ability to build and maintain engaged and productive teams.
• Collaboration – both remotely and in person – with clients, partners, and peers
• Ability to inspire the best from other people through coaching and mentorship.
• Outstanding communication including active listening, persuasion, and remote meeting management.
• Competence in fostering positive, inclusive relationships that promote a sense of belonging.
• Ability to thrive in a rapid, high-volume agency environment, while thinking clearly and keeping cool under pressure
• Balance of strategic objectives alongside details and immediate concerns
Please apply with a resume, cover letter, and portfolio.