Art Director (Alexandria)

Job type: Direct hire

Location: Alexandria, VA (10 WFH days per quarter)

Our association client is looking for an Art Director to lead and elevate brand expression across digital, social, web, events, and marketing channels. This is a role ideal for a design leader who combines strong conceptual thinking with hands-on execution.

You’ll partner closely with creative and marketing leadership to develop compelling visual storytelling, ensure brand consistency, and drive innovative campaigns that resonate with target audiences.

Responsibilities

Lead concept development from ideation through execution, translating business goals into compelling visual solutions Partner with cross-functional teams to shape high-impact campaigns across multiple channels Present creative concepts and direction clearly to stakeholders and leadership Ensure all creative output is audience-focused, insight-driven, and aligned with brand strategy Help evolve and maintain a cohesive, scalable brand system across all touchpoints Uphold a high standard of design quality, consistency, and visual storytelling Develop guidelines, toolkits, and systems to support efficient creative execution Create visually engaging assets across digital, social, web, presentations, and marketing materials Contribute hands-on design work while guiding overall creative direction Design user-centric experiences across platforms, including web and mobile Mentor and provide creative direction to designers and cross-functional partners Oversee day-to-day creative output to ensure quality and alignment with strategy Collaborate closely with marketing, content, and other internal teams Leverage data, testing, and insights to continuously improve creative performance Support campaign optimization through iteration and experimentation Stay current on design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices Incorporate modern tools, including AI, to improve workflows and scale creative output 8+ years of experience in brand, visual, or campaign design (agency or in-house) Strong portfolio showcasing strategic thinking, brand identity work, and multi-channel campaigns Proven experience building and scaling brand systems and design frameworks Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (motion design experience is a plus) Experience working cross-functionally with marketing and business stakeholders Strong understanding of performance-driven creative and testing methodologies Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a fast-paced environment Excellent communication and presentation skills

Requirements

8–10+ years of experience in brand, visual, or campaign design (agency or in-house) Strong portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking, brand identity, and motion design Experience creating toolkits and documentation for scalable, consistent execution Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (including After Effects or similar) Experience incorporating AI tools into design and motion workflows Understanding of performance marketing principles (A/B testing, audience targeting, creative optimization) Experience in interactive and multimedia content creation is highly preferred