Summary Description: The Brand Identity Manager is responsible for leading and evolving the organization's visual identity across all channels. This role serves as the primary steward of brand standards, ensuring a consistent, high-quality brand presence while translating strategic objectives into compelling visual solutions. The Brand Identity Manager will develop a wide range of marketing collateral and materials-including corporate literature, presentations, event materials, program logos, social media graphics, email templates, digital ads, and more-for both internal and external audiences. This position is designed as a senior-level individual contributor with a defined path to team leadership. The Brand Identity Manager will initially lead projects and influence creative direction across the organization, with the opportunity to grow into a formal team lead/people manager as the function expands.

Academic and Trade Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.

Work Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in graphic design, brand identity, or visual communications, with demonstrated leadership or project management experience preferred.

Responsibilities:

• Brand Leadership & Governance: Lead the development, evolution, and enforcement of the organization's visual identity. Ensure consistent application of brand standards across all platforms and initiatives.
• Creative Direction & Execution: Provide creative direction while actively contributing to design work. Oversee the development of marketing and communication materials including corporate literature, presentations, event materials, program logos, digital assets, and more.
• Project Leadership (Core Focus Year 1): Manage and prioritize a high volume of branded initiatives across the organization. Establish workflows, timelines, and quality standards to ensure efficient execution.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with marketing, communications, and business stakeholders to translate brand strategy and organizational priorities into effective visual solutions.
• Strategic Alignment: Work closely with the Director of Brand Strategy to operationalize brand strategy into scalable visual systems and campaigns.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure all deliverables meet high standards for design quality, accuracy, and brand consistency.
• Vendor Coordination: Partner with external agencies, printers, and vendors to execute projects while maintaining brand integrity.

Leadership Development (Future Team Lead Path)

This role is expected to evolve into a team leadership position. As the organization's needs grow, responsibilities may expand to include:

• Reviewing and approving creative work produced by others
• Helping define team processes, workload management, and prioritization frameworks
• Elevating the overall creative capability and consistency of the organization

Job Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of branding, visual identity systems, and design principles in professional communications.
• Advanced proficiency in design tools (Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop; Microsoft Office: PowerPoint, Word).

Abilities and Skills:

• Strong creative direction skills with the ability to elevate brand quality
• Ability to balance hands-on execution with strategic thinking
• Proven ability to lead projects and influence outcomes without direct authority
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• High attention to detail and commitment to brand consistency
• Portfolio demonstrating expertise in brand identity work required

Relationships and Contacts:

Internal: Works closely with Brand Strategy team and cross-functional teams to support organization-wide branding and communications efforts. External: Manages and collaborates with agencies, printers, and other vendors as needed.

Reports to: Director of Brand Strategy

Company Profile: North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives (http://ncemcs.com/about/ncemc.htm) is the brand for the family of organizations formed to support the state's 26 local electric cooperatives, including: North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, the power supplier to many of the electric cooperatives; North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, the cooperatives' trade association; and Tarheel Electric Membership Association, Inc. (TEMA), a central purchasing and materials-supply cooperative.