DIRECTOR, MARKETING & CREATIVE SERVICES

ABOUT US:

Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.

POSITION TITLE: Director, Marketing & Creative Services

POSITION SUMMARY:

We are seeking a highly creative, strategic and collaborative Director of Marketing & Creative Services to lead integrated marketing, digital marketing and creative services and help shape how the organization's brand is expressed across audiences and channels. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications, this role will oversee key functions spanning traditional and digital marketing, constituent engagement and database management, audience development, brand and creative services, analytics and cross-functional project management.

The Director will play a central role in translating institutional strategy and priorities into coordinated marketing plans, campaigns, channel and audience strategies, and creative execution. The position will lead integrated marketing campaigns; audience growth, segmentation and engagement strategies; marketing data and performance reporting; and brand stewardship and creative direction across institutional and philanthropic communications.

Serving as a key liaison between Marketing & Communications and the Office of Philanthropy, the Director will provide strategic marketing and creative oversight for philanthropy communications, donor-facing materials and campaigns, ensuring compelling storytelling, cohesive visual expression and alignment with institutional brand and marketing strategy. As a critical extension of the AVP, the Director will exercise significant autonomy in leading day-to-day marketing and creative functions and will coordinate closely with internal stakeholders, external agencies and vendors to ensure initiatives are strategically aligned, high quality, measurable, and delivered on schedule and within budget.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

INTEGRATED MARKETING & DIGITAL STRATEGY

• Translate institutional marketing strategy and priorities established by the AVP into integrated marketing plans, campaigns and channel strategies that strengthen awareness, engagement and reputation among key audiences.
• Lead marketing initiatives across traditional and digital channels, including print, radio, out-of-home, paid social, search, display, email, web and emerging platforms.
• Lead project management for integrated marketing and communications initiatives, including development of project plans, timelines, milestones, resources and assigned budgets.
• Provide strategy and oversight for email marketing and marketing automation, including segmentation, subscriptions, testing, optimization and performance, while overseeing day-to-day campaign execution.
• Manage the marketing and constituent database, ensuring data integrity, governance and effective segmentation while developing strategies to drive audience acquisition, growth, engagement, retention and re-engagement.
• Develop and optimize audience journeys across channels to strengthen relationships with key institutional and philanthropic audiences.
• Oversee marketing analytics, dashboards and campaign reporting, establishing KPIs, analyzing performance and translating insights into actionable recommendations and optimization strategies.

BRAND & CREATIVE SERVICES

• Serve as a steward of the institutional brand, ensuring consistent, distinct and compelling application of brand standards, messaging and visual identity across marketing and communications channels.
• Lead creative concept development from brief through execution, translating strategic objectives into compelling visual identities, campaign concepts, messaging frameworks and creative assets across channels.
• Provide creative direction and oversight for institutional marketing and communications, including print, digital, advertising, campaign branding and institutional collateral.
• Supervise creative staff, providing strategic context, creative direction, feedback, professional development and workload prioritization while overseeing creative and production workflows and resources.
• Develop and champion visual storytelling approaches that bring institutional priorities, programs, people and impact to life across marketing, communications and philanthropy channels.
• Oversee the organization and maintenance of institutional content, creative assets, content libraries and digital asset management systems.

PHILANTHROPY & CROSS-FUNCTIONAL PARTNERSHIP

• Serve as the primary day-to-day marketing and creative partner to the Office of Philanthropy, providing strategic and creative oversight for philanthropic communications, donor-facing materials, annual reports, campaigns and other collateral.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external partners to develop and execute marketing and communications plans supporting institutional and Advancement priorities.
• Manage assigned external creative contractors, marketing agencies and vendors, ensuring work is strategically aligned and meets quality, timeline and budget expectations.

TEAM, OPERATIONS & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Establish and maintain efficient workflows, standards and processes that improve coordination, production and delivery across Marketing & Communications.
• Manage assigned marketing and creative budgets, monitor expenditures and performance, and recommend resource adjustments to maximize effectiveness and return on investment.
• Support the Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications on department-wide strategic, operational and cross-functional priorities.
• Details of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, advertising, public relations, business or a related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience considered.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, advertising, creative services or a related field, including integrated campaign leadership and complex, cross-functional project management.
• Demonstrated experience translating organizational strategy and priorities into integrated marketing plans and campaigns across traditional and digital channels.
• Demonstrated experience managing creative staff and other direct reports, including providing creative direction, setting priorities, managing workloads, coaching and providing feedback.
• Experience managing budgets, agencies, vendors and external partners.
• Experience working in a complex organization with multiple stakeholders; experience in higher education, research, healthcare, nonprofit or other mission-driven organizations preferred.
• Portfolio demonstrating strong creative judgment, visual storytelling, conceptual development, brand application and execution across multiple formats and channels.

Technical & Functional Skills

• Strong experience with email marketing and marketing automation platforms such as Klaviyo, Mailchimp or similar platforms.
• Strong experience with marketing or constituent databases, including data integrity, segmentation, audience development, list growth and engagement strategies.
• Experience developing audience journeys and using behavioral and engagement data to inform marketing strategy and optimization.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing channels, including paid social, email, web and other emerging platforms, as well as traditional marketing channels including print, radio and other advertising.
• Strong understanding of marketing analytics, campaign measurement, KPIs and performance reporting, with demonstrated ability to translate data and insights into actionable recommendations.
• Strong understanding of brand management, visual identity, creative production and campaign concept development across print and digital environments.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, and Canva, with the ability to provide informed creative direction and evaluate work against brand standards.
• Experience with project management and workflow platforms such as Asana, Monday.com or similar systems.
• Experience working with content management systems and digital asset management platforms.
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft 365, particularly PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.

Leadership & Professional Skills

• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects, competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate organizational priorities into actionable marketing strategies and plans.
• Strong creative and visual judgment, with the ability to translate strategy into compelling creative concepts and provide clear, constructive creative direction.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze performance data, identify meaningful insights and translate findings into recommendations and decisions.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively with senior leaders, colleagues, external partners and diverse stakeholders across a complex organization.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and take ownership of initiatives from planning through execution.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, quality and brand consistency.

Additional Requirements

• Only local candidates will be considered for this role.
• Cover letter required
• Provide on-site support for department and institutional events as needed, which may occasionally require work outside of standard business hours, including evenings and weekends.
• While subject to change based on business needs, this is an on-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from our La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work 1 day per week remotely from home.

COMPENSATION:

The expected hiring range for this position is $160,000 to $170,000/annually, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Employer Contributed Retirement Plan - Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
• Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
• Free, on-site parking

The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.

EEO Statement:

The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture, and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.