Creative Director

About the Human Rights Foundation

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. HRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy. Our mission is to ensure that freedom is preserved and promoted worldwide. We seek, in particular, to sustain the struggle for liberty in those areas where it is most under threat.

HRF produces the Oslo Freedom Forum, an annual human rights conference in Norway. For more information on HRF and its work, please visit our website at www.hrf.org. To learn more about the Oslo Freedom Forum, please visit www.oslofreedomforum.com. 

Job Overview 

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is seeking to hire a New York-based Creative Director. This individual will oversee the creative direction and execution of HRF’s visual and branding initiatives. Key responsibilities include managing the creation and execution of HRF visual identity, managing the design aspects of the Oslo Freedom Forum conference series, ensuring branding consistency across all platforms, directing creative strategies, and supervising the creation of various digital and print materials. The Creative Director will manage the design team and collaborate closely with multiple departments to ensure cohesive and impactful visual storytelling.

Responsibilities and Expectations 

Specific duties include, but may not be limited to:

• Oversee the execution of the Oslo Freedom Forum conference series theme and design, managing relationships with design firms and ensuring the creation of assets within their scope of work.
• Ensure branding guidelines are met across HRF’s programs and platforms, maintaining awareness of deliverables created for HRF programs.
• Translate marketing objectives into clear and effective creative strategies.
• Direct and create social media graphics, including custom illustrations, in collaboration with other departments.
• Direct and create collateral for Development, fundraising, and HRF programs, including brochures, decks, gifts, social media graphics, and the Annual Report.
• Manage HRF’s creative team and contractors and oversee the work of by-project creatives managed by other teams/departments.
• Oversee profitability, deliverables, timelines, and budgets for design outputs, ensuring clear budget allocation and goal-setting for each deliverable.
• Meet with HRF teams and upper management to explain campaign strategies and solutions, and manage the creation of these strategies.
• Maintain quality control of the creative team’s outputs and assist in researching options for creative projects.
• Create visuals for HRF’s website, including new graphics and landing pages, in collaboration with web designers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant design work experience.
• At least 5 years of experience managing a team, including other creatives.
• Proven track record of developing and executing design strategies aligned with business objectives and market trends.
• Expertise in building and evolving brands through consistent visual identity and compelling storytelling.
• Experience collaborating effectively with other departments to ensure cohesive brand identity and user experience.
• Strong understanding of design principles, brand identity, typography, color theory, and user experience design.
• Proficiency with a wide range of design and project management software tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Elementor, Sketchup, Blender and Salient plugin).
• Proven ability to proactively solve creative challenges, self-motivate, and work both independently and collaboratively.
• Exceptional project management and communication skills.
• Collaborative spirit with excellent soft skills and the flexibility to manage multiple projects, work with external partners, and cross-functional teams efficiently.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities.
• Must be able to travel as needed.