Art Director

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director, Social Media and Creative Services, the Art Director serves as the creative lead responsible for advancing and safeguarding the Stony Brook Medicine brand across all print, digital and environmental touchpoints. This role combines strategic creative leadership with hands-on design execution, ensuring that every visual communication reflects the organization's mission, values and standards of excellence. The Art Director oversees the design team, providing creative direction, mentorship and inspiration while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous growth. They manage creative workflows, prioritize projects and allocate resources to ensure timely delivery of high-quality work across multiple service lines, departments and stakeholders. Working closely with the Director, Social Media and Creative Services and the broader Marketing and Communications team, the Art Director helps shape and execute integrated marketing and communications strategies, translating complex concepts into compelling visual solutions that engage diverse audiences. This role leads the development of sophisticated and creative print, digital, environmental and multimedia communications that strengthen brand awareness, enhance patient experience and support organizational goals. As the primary steward of the Stony Brook Medicine visual identity, the Art Director oversees design standards, typography, illustration and creative execution across the health system. They provide expert guidance on brand and licensing compliance, ensuring both internal and external partners consistently uphold established brand standards while identifying opportunities to evolve and elevate the brand. The Art Director serves as the principal liaison to freelance designers, guiding creative development, ensuring consistency across campaigns and overseeing the adaptation of assets for various platforms and audiences. They stay at the forefront of design innovation and emerging technologies, including AI-powered creative tools, to continually enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of the health system's creative output.

Duties of an Art Director may include the following but are not limited to:

• Lead the creative vision and execution for Stony Brook Medicine's visual communications across print, digital, environmental and multimedia platforms.
• Champion, maintain and evolve the Stony Brook Medicine brand identity, ensuring consistency and excellence across all touchpoints.
• Establish and uphold best practices in design, typography, illustration and visual storytelling.
• Educate internal stakeholders, external partners and vendors on brand standards, licensing requirements and visual identity guidelines.
• Review and provide direction on licensing submissions to ensure compliance with brand standards.
• Supervise, mentor and develop a team of designers, fostering creativity, accountability and professional growth.
• Manage project intake, workload distribution and resource planning, aligning assignments with team expertise, capacity and deadlines.
• Review creative briefs and project requests to ensure strategic objectives, audience needs and project requirements are clearly defined.
• Provide ongoing creative feedback and quality control throughout the design process.
• Monitor project timelines and proactively address challenges to ensure deadlines and quality standards are consistently achieved.
• Conceptualize, design and execute high-profile marketing, communications and branding materials from initial strategy through final production.
• Translate complex healthcare information and data into visually compelling and accessible graphics, infographics and presentations.
• Design and oversee production of signage and environmental graphics for outpatient facilities and other health system locations.
• Perform advanced image editing and photo retouching as needed.
• Ensure all final deliverables meet technical and ADA specifications and are optimized for both print and digital distribution.
• Partner closely with Marketing and Communications leadership, clinicians, administrators and other stakeholders to develop creative solutions that meet business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on design and brand-related matters, diplomatically resolving challenges and aligning stakeholders around creative recommendations.
• Collaborate with freelance designers, photographers and creative vendors to ensure high-quality work and seamless execution.
• Work with the agency of record to guide campaign development, ensure adherence to brand standards and facilitate the successful transfer and production of campaign assets.
• Stay informed on emerging trends, technologies and best practices in design, marketing, animation, AI and creative production.
• Identify opportunities to improve creative workflows, enhance team capabilities and elevate the overall quality and effectiveness of the organization's creative output.
• Promote the adoption of innovative tools and processes that support efficiency, creativity and strategic impact.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of eight (8) years of professional design experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing, mentoring or directing creative professionals and projects.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects and Adobe Firefly, as well as Google Slides and PowerPoint, all in a Mac-based environment.
• Expert understanding of design principles, branding systems, typography, color theory and visual communication.
• Strong knowledge of print production, digital design, accessibility standards (ADA Compliance) and file preparation best practices.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated curiosity and proficiency with emerging technologies and a commitment to continuous professional development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Visual Communications or a related discipline.
• Experience with Monday.com or similar project and workflow management platform.

Special Notes: Resume/CV should be included with the online application.

Posting Overview: This position will remain posted until filled or for a maximum of 90 days. An initial review of all applicants will occur two weeks from the posting date. Candidates are advised on the application that for full consideration, applications must be received before the initial review date (which is within two weeks of the posting date).

If within the initial review no candidate was selected to fill the position posted, additional applications will be considered for the posted position; however, the posting will close once a finalist is identified, and at minimal, two weeks after the initial posting date. Please note, that if no candidate were identified and hired within 90 days from initial posting, the posting would close for review, and possibly reposted at a later date.

• Stony Brook Medicine is a smoke free environment. Smoking is strictly prohibited anywhere on campus, including parking lots and outdoor areas on the premises.
• All Hospital positions may be subject to changes in pass days and shifts as necessary.
• This position may require the wearing of respiratory protection, which may prohibit the wearing of facial hair.
• This function/position may be designated as "essential." This means that when the Hospital is faced with an institutional emergency, employees in such positions may be required to remain at their work location or to report to work to protect, recover, and continue operations at Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University Hospital and related facilities.

Prior to start date, the selected candidate must meet the following requirements:

• Successfully complete pre-employment physical examination and obtain medical clearance from Stony Brook Medicine's Employee Health Services*
• Complete electronic reference check with a minimum of three (3) professional references.
• Successfully complete a 4 panel drug screen*
• Meet Regulatory Requirements for pre-employment screenings.
• Provide a copy of any required New York State license(s)/certificate(s).

Failure to comply with any of the above requirements could result in a delayed start date and/or revocation of the employment offer.

*The hiring department will be responsible for any fee incurred for examination.