Creative Director

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Director

🔹 Company: Erlanger Health System

🔹 Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States

🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Regular

🔹 Category: Healthcare

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-08-08

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Setting and protecting the creative vision for Erlanger Health System brand
• Overseeing the development of high-quality visual and narrative assets
• Ensuring brand cohesion across all platforms and programs
• Leading a team of designers and content creators
• Collaborating with peer directors to advance integrated campaigns

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of brand management and creative direction.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Establish and uphold Erlanger’s visual identity and creative standards across all campaigns, materials, and digital platforms.

✅ Translate marketing strategies and organizational goals into cohesive creative direction that connects with target audiences and drives engagement.

✅ Serve as the creative lead for enterprise brand campaigns, systemwide initiatives, and high-profile design projects.

✅ Directly manage the Art Director, Content Manager, and their respective teams, overseeing workload distribution, resource allocation, and team growth and development.

✅ Collaborate daily with Marketing, Communications, and Digital & Web Strategy Directors to ensure integrated campaign planning and unified creative execution.

✅ Participate in campaign planning meetings and strategy sessions to ensure creative alignment from the outset.

✅ Build and maintain strong working relationships with external partners, ensuring they are aligned with Erlanger’s brand standards, strategic priorities, and campaign objectives.

✅ Review and approve all major creative outputs, ensuring they meet brand standards, marketing objectives, and audience needs.

✅ Serve as the final authority on visual consistency and brand integrity across platforms.

✅ Build trusted relationships with stakeholders across the health system to understand audience perspectives and gain insight into evolving creative needs.

✅ Collaborate with peer directors to develop performance metrics for creative campaigns, incorporating audience feedback, campaign performance data, and brand audits into creative refinement.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage and mentor a team of designers and content creators.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Advertising, or a related field

Experience:

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in creative direction or design leadership
• 3+ years managing teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven creative environment
• Strong portfolio demonstrating brand leadership, campaign execution, and multi-platform creative work
• Experience in healthcare, nonprofit, or mission-driven environments preferred
• Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite, visual storytelling, and digital-first design principles

Preferred Skills:

• Master’s degree

ASSUMPTION: A strong portfolio and relevant experience in creative direction or design leadership are crucial for this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $80,000 - $120,000 per year (Based on industry standards for a Creative Director in the healthcare industry with 5-10 years of experience in Chattanooga, TN)

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan with employer contribution
• Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance program

Working Hours: Full-time, typically Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

ASSUMPTION: The salary range and benefits are competitive for the healthcare industry and reflect the experience level required for this role.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Hospitals and Health Care

Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees

Founded: 1889

Company Description:

• Erlanger is a non-profit, academic teaching center affiliated with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine
• Recognized as one of the nation's finest public hospitals and a leader in healthcare
• Named among "America's Best Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report
• Provides tertiary care services for a four-state region

Company Specialties:

• stroke
• pediatrics
• best place to have a baby
• bariatrics
• men's health
• women's health
• and trauma

Company Website: https://www.erlanger.org

ASSUMPTION: Erlanger's size and history indicate a well-established organization with extensive resources and a strong reputation in the healthcare industry.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level to Senior

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Work Arrangement: On-site, full-time

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to advance to a Vice President or Director role within the marketing department
• Opportunities to lead high-profile projects and campaigns
• Chance to mentor and develop team members

ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and leadership development within the marketing department.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate headquarters with multiple satellite locations

Office Location(s): Chattanooga, TN (headquarters) with additional locations in Tennessee and North Carolina

Geographic Context:

• Chattanooga, TN is located in southeast Tennessee, near the border with Georgia
• The city offers a mix of urban and outdoor recreational opportunities
• Chattanooga has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters and hot, humid summers

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, with flexibility for project demands

ASSUMPTION: The work environment is professional and collaborative, with a focus on teamwork and cross-functional collaboration.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening
• In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager
• Final interview with the Vice President of Marketing and Communications
• Background check and reference check

Key Assessment Areas:

• Creative portfolio and design skills
• Leadership and management abilities
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving
• Communication and collaboration skills
• Adaptability and flexibility in a fast-paced environment

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills
• Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your design work and creative direction
• Research Erlanger's brand and marketing efforts to demonstrate your understanding of the organization
• Practice common interview questions and be prepared to discuss your creative process and design philosophy

ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, Brand Management, Team Leadership, Adobe Creative Suite, Visual Storytelling, Campaign Execution, Healthcare Marketing, Nonprofit Marketing, Mission-Driven Marketing

ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing your creative skills, leadership abilities, and cultural fit within the organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects)
• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, JIRA)
• Content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal)
• Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs)

ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and relevant project management tools is essential for this role.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Patient-centered care
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Innovation and continuous improvement
• Integrity and accountability
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Adaptable and flexible in a fast-paced environment
• Strategic and forward-thinking
• Data-driven and results-focused
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you ensure that your creative direction aligns with the organization's mission and values?
• Can you describe a time when you had to adapt your creative approach to meet changing project requirements or stakeholder feedback?
• How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages diverse perspectives and ideas?

ASSUMPTION: Erlanger values candidates who demonstrate strong alignment with their core values and a collaborative work style.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
• Balancing creative vision with practical constraints and stakeholder input
• Adapting to changes in organizational priorities or marketing strategies
• Ensuring brand consistency across various platforms and channels
• Managing a team with diverse skills and experience levels

ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong project management, communication, and leadership skills to navigate effectively.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Creative Director (Healthcare) vs. Creative Director (Corporate): Healthcare roles may require more sensitivity to regulatory and compliance issues, while corporate roles may offer more flexibility in creative expression.
• Creative Director vs. Art Director: Creative Directors typically have more strategic and leadership responsibilities, while Art Directors focus more on the tactical execution of design projects.
• Creative Director (Healthcare) vs. Creative Director (Nonprofit): Nonprofit roles may have more constraints on budget and resources, but offer the opportunity to make a significant impact on mission-driven initiatives.

ASSUMPTION: Understanding the unique aspects of this role within the healthcare industry will help applicants tailor their skills and experiences effectively.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a comprehensive brand style guide for a new healthcare service line
• Leading a team to create a multi-channel marketing campaign for a hospital-wide event
• Designing and implementing a new patient education platform for a pediatric clinic

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of creative and strategic responsibilities required for this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does the Creative Director role fit into the overall marketing and communications strategy for Erlanger?
• Can you describe a recent marketing campaign and the creative director's role in its success?
• How does Erlanger support the professional development and growth of its creative team members?
• What are the biggest challenges facing the creative department in the next 1-2 years, and how can this role help address them?
• How does Erlanger measure the success of its creative campaigns, and how can this role contribute to improving those metrics?

ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions will help applicants understand the organization's priorities and the role's impact on the creative department's success.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills, particularly in creative direction, brand management, and team leadership
• Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your design work and creative direction, with a focus on healthcare or nonprofit marketing campaigns
• Research Erlanger's brand and marketing efforts to demonstrate your understanding of the organization and its mission
• Practice common interview questions and be prepared to discuss your creative process and design philosophy
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the position

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.