Associate Manager - Creative

Abu Dhabi
Permanent
Full-time

2 days ago

Job Description:Aldar Education is currently seeking an Associate Manager - Creative. The Associate Manager - Creative is responsible for developing and delivering creative and brand visual strategies across assigned schools or portfolios, while leading the rollout of HQ-led creative frameworks and brand initiatives at a school level. The role owns end-to-end creative direction, acts as a custodian of brand visual identity, and ensures all creative output is grounded in insight, research, and data to drive impact, consistency, and excellence across all touchpoints.Aldar Education is the leading education group in Abu Dhabi. We provide inclusive and innovative learning that inspires and empowers communities. Aldar Education aims to be your employer of choice. We educate over 34,000 students across our group of owned and managed schools in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and as we grow, so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school leaders and employees across the group.Working collaboratively, our purpose is to empower the next generation to shape our future, directly supporting the educational goals of Abu Dhabi's government. Today, Aldar Education's efforts are guided by the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 plan, which aims to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy through premium education.We are a “Great Place To Work” and currently employ over 1,400 teachers to deliver the English National Curriculum, the highly regarded American Massachusetts State Curriculum, and the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, all with an international dimension.This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi's leading school group.Responsibilities:Main Duties

Develop and own creative and brand visual identity strategies aligned with brand, marketing, and enrolment objectives
Act as custodian of brand visual identity, ensuring consistency, quality, and evolution across all schools and platforms
Lead the delivery of creative programmes from concept through execution across digital, video, motion, print, and on-ground environments
Lead, manage, and develop a team of Creative Officers supporting school-level and HQ-led initiatives
Lead the localisation, adaptation, and rollout of HQ-led brand identities, creative frameworks, and campaigns across schools
Ensure creative strategy and execution are informed by research, insights, and performance data
Drive creative excellence, governance, and continuous improvement across all assigned activity

Specific Duties

Develop and evolve brand visual identities, sub-brands, and creative systems grounded in research, insight, and data
Own and maintain brand guidelines, toolkits, and visual standards, ensuring clarity and consistent adoption
Lead creative ideation, concept development, and storytelling across campaigns, launches, and key initiatives
Oversee video development, motion graphics, animation, and multimedia storytelling across platforms
Lead the development of HTML banners, dynamic creative assets, and digital ad formats in collaboration with digital teams
Oversee the development and rollout of creative assets including digital content, social assets, print collateral, OOH, event branding, and school environments
Translate HQ-led creative frameworks and campaigns into effective, high-quality school-level executions
Provide creative direction, quality control, and performance feedback to Creative Officers
Brief, manage, and quality-control external creative agencies and production partners as required
Partner closely with Brand, Digital, and Communications teams to ensure integrated execution and alignment
Support creative delivery for open days, enrolment campaigns, launches, and key school milestones
Identify opportunities to elevate creative quality, storytelling, and innovation across schools and platforms

Qualifications:Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Creative Arts, Marketing, or a related discipline
Formal training or certifications in design, branding, motion, or digital creative disciplines are desirable

Minimum Experience

6-10+ years' experience in creative, brand, or design leadership roles
Proven experience developing and owning brand visual identities and creative systems
Strong track record delivering integrated creative campaigns across digital, video, motion, print, and physical environments
Demonstrated experience leading creative teams and managing direct reports
Experience rolling out HQ-led brand identities and creative frameworks across multiple brands or locations
Experience working in multi-brand, portfolio, or complex organisational environments
Experience within education, hospitality, or premium service-led brands is preferred

Job Specific Knowledge & Skill

Excellent English language skills, written and oral
Work in a highly collaborative and effective manner, both independently and in cross-functional teams
Very good at establishing professional relationships within and across companies
Ability to roll up sleeves and get things done through taking calculated risks and experimenting with new solutions
Attention to detail with diligent follow-up, and able to execute in a timely manner
Skilled in multitasking and handling pressure
Organizational ability, of self and others
Capable of influencing people and talented in networking with cultural sensitivity
Great interpersonal skills
Ability to think strategically
Commercial acumen
Expert-level understanding of brand visual identity systems and creative strategy
Strong expertise in video production, motion graphics, animation, and multimedia storytelling
Working knowledge of HTML banner development, dynamic creative optimisation, and digital ad formats
Ability to ground creative decisions in research, insight, and performance data
Strong understanding of digital, social, print, OOH, and experiential design principles
Proven people leadership, coaching, and development capability
Excellent creative leadership, briefing, and stakeholder management skills
Strong eye for detail, craft, and quality control
Confident in presenting creative ideas and rationale to senior stakeholders
Highly structured, forward-thinking, and outcome-oriented

Working knowledge of the following:Creative & design platforms

Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro)
Strong working knowledge of Canva (including brand kits, templates, and scalable systems for non-design stakeholders)
Experience with Figma or similar collaborative design tools for digital and UI-led assets
Video, motion & multimedia
Expertise in video production workflows, editing, and post-production
Strong capability in motion graphics and animation (After Effects or equivalent)
Understanding of video optimisation for social, web, and performance marketing
Digital & HTML assets
Working knowledge of HTML5 banner development, dynamic creative formats, and rich media ads
Familiarity with tools such as Google Web Designer, or equivalent HTML5 creative platforms
Understanding of creative requirements for programmatic and performance-led environments

Brand systems & governance

Strong experience developing brand identity systems, guidelines, and toolkits
Ability to govern brand consistency across multiple brands, schools, and environments
Strong understanding of applying research, insights, and performance data to inform creative decisions

Certifications (desirable)

Adobe Certified Professional (ACP)
Google Creative or HTML5 display certifications
Motion graphics or video production certifications
UX, design thinking, or brand strategy certifications

Leadership & delivery

Proven people management, coaching, and creative leadership capability
Strong briefing, presentation, and stakeholder management skills
High attention to detail, craft, and quality control
Structured, forward-thinking, and outcome-oriented mindset

WHAT WE OFFER:Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. We educate over 34,000 students across our group of owned and managed schools, and as we grow, so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school leaders. We offer an attractive remuneration package including medical cover, flights, housing, and free child school places. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff, so we place a special emphasis on professional development, coaching and training.Successful candidates will have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to both lead and contribute to training others as well as developing themselves.Aldar Education is keen to hear from like-minded, forward thinking school leaders who would welcome the challenges and opportunities that we have to offer.This job description is not all inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are also mindful of our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application at our company.Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.

Aldar Education

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