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 and advance the organization's integrated marketing and communications efforts and help shape how the organization's brand is expressed creatively 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 priorities into coordinated marketing and communications strategies and ensuring their effective execution across channels. The position will oversee integrated marketing campaigns, audience growth, segmentation and engagement strategies, marketing data and performance reporting, and provide brand stewardship and creative direction for institutional and philanthropy communications.

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

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Develop and execute integrated marketing strategies and campaigns that advance institutional priorities and strengthen awareness, engagement and reputation among key audiences.
• Lead and execute marketing initiatives across traditional and digital channels, including print, radio, out-of-home, paid social, search, display, email, web and other emerging platforms.
• Lead project management for integrated marketing and communications initiatives, including development of project plans, timelines, milestones, resources and budgets.
• Oversee email marketing and marketing automation, including campaign strategy and execution, audience segmentation, subscriptions, testing, optimization and performance.
• Lead creative concept development from brief through execution, translating strategic objectives into compelling visual identities, campaign concepts, messaging frameworks and creative assets across channels.
• 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 and translating performance data into actionable insights and recommendations.
• 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...
• Provide creative direction, oversight and project management for institutional marketing and communications, including print, digital, advertising, campaign branding and institutional collateral.
• Supervise the staff graphic designer, providing creative direction, design feedback, professional development and strategic context while overseeing creative and production workflows, priorities and resources.
• Support the management of external creative contractors and marketing agencies.
• Provide strategic and creative oversight for philanthropic communications and collateral including marketing materials, annual reports, campaign materials and other donor-facing communications and collateral.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external partners to develop and execute communications and marketing plans supporting institutional priorities.
• 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.
• Establish and maintain efficient workflows, standards and processes that improve coordination, production and delivery across Marketing & Communications.
• Manage assigned marketing budgets and monitor expenditures and performance to maximize effectiveness and return on investment.
• Support the Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications on additional strategic, operational and department-wide priorities as assigned.
• 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 experience managing integrated marketing campaigns and complex, cross-functional projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing creative staff, including providing creative direction, setting priorities, managing workloads and providing feedback on creative work.
• Experience developing and executing marketing strategies across traditional and digital channels.
• Experience managing staff, agencies, vendors and external partners.
• Experience working in a complex organization with multiple stakeholders; experience in higher education, research, healthcare, nonprofit or 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

• Demonstrated experience with email marketing and marketing automation platforms such as Klaviyo, Mailchimp or similar platforms.
• Strong experience managing 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.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing channels, including paid social, email and web marketing.
• Experience planning and managing traditional marketing, including print, radio and other advertising channels.
• Strong understanding of marketing analytics, campaign measurement, KPIs and performance reporting; experience using web analytics and reporting platforms.
• Proficiency with creative and design platforms such as Adobe Creative Cloud (including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign) and Canva, with the ability to provide informed creative direction and evaluate work against brand standards.
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft 365, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.
• 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.
• Strong understanding of brand management, visual identity and creative production across print and digital channels.
• Experience developing campaign identities, creative concepts, visual systems and brand applications.
• Experience producing collateral for both print and digital environments.

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.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong creative judgment and ability to provide clear, constructive creative direction.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and translate insights into recommendations and decisions.
• Ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively with senior leaders, colleagues, external partners and stakeholders across an organization.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, quality and brand consistency.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and take ownership of projects from strategy through execution.
• Excellent visual and creative judgment, with the ability to translate strategy into compelling creative concepts and experiences.

Additional Requirements

• Only local candidates will be considered for this role.
• Cover letter required
• 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 $169,000 to $190,000/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.