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Creative Design Manager Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Collabera

Creative Project Manager

Eagan, MN · On-site

$83K - $113K/yr

Job Title: Creative Project Manager Location: Eagan, MN 55123 Duration: 6 Months (May Extend ... This role will design campaigns in partnership with our customer marketing partners to drive ...

Advantage Solutions

Creative Strategist

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$93K - $121K/yr

We offer Sales, Account Management, Category Management, Consumer Research, Business Insights ... Presentation Design Expertise: Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint and visual storytelling, with a ...

The HR Source

Project Manager

Virginia, MN · On-site

Manage projectworkflows among Marketing, Creative, Design, and Digital teams, working withleadership to ensure process efficiencies. * Assess projectrisks continuously, elevate issues as needed, and ...

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All JobsCreative Design JobsCreative Design Manager JobsCreative Design Manager Jobs in Minnesota

Creative Design Manager information

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$41.1K

$112.1K

$197.4K

How much do creative design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative design manager in Minnesota is $112,134.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,800.00 and $141,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a creative design manager?

Creative Design Managers are professionals responsible for leading and overseeing creative projects within organizations, such as advertising campaigns, branding, and visual content creation. They manage teams of designers, ensuring creative output aligns with company goals and brand identity. Their role involves project management, creative direction, collaboration with other departments, and maintaining high standards of design quality. Creative Design Managers also stay up-to-date with design trends and often mentor junior staff.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a creative design manager?

To thrive as a Creative Design Manager, you need strong visual design expertise, leadership experience, and a relevant degree in design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and project management tools is typically required. Excellent communication, team collaboration, and creative problem-solving are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure the delivery of innovative, high-quality design solutions while effectively leading and motivating creative teams.

How does a creative design manager balance creative vision with client or stakeholder requirements?

As a Creative Design Manager, you'll often navigate the challenge of aligning your team's innovative ideas with client or stakeholder expectations. This involves active listening, clear communication, and presenting creative solutions that address both aesthetic goals and practical needs. You'll facilitate brainstorming sessions, provide constructive feedback, and ensure that the design output meets brand guidelines, project timelines, and business objectives. Strong collaboration with marketing, product, and leadership teams is key to achieving successful outcomes while maintaining creative integrity.

What is the difference between Creative Design Manager vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative Design ManagerGraphic Designer
ResponsibilitiesOversees creative projects, manages design teams, develops concepts, and ensures brand consistency.Creates visual content, designs layouts, and produces graphics based on project briefs.
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, advanced design skills, and strategic thinking.Proficiency in design software, creativity, and technical skills.
Work EnvironmentCollaborative teams, client meetings, and project planning.Design studios, freelance work, or in-house departments.
Common CertificationsDesign degrees, Adobe certifications, leadership training.

The main difference is that a Creative Design Manager leads and oversees creative projects and teams, focusing on strategy and management, while a Graphic Designer primarily executes visual designs and creates graphics. Both roles require strong design skills, but the manager role involves more leadership and project coordination.

Is a creative design manager a stressful job?

A creative design manager often faces stress related to tight deadlines, managing multiple projects, and balancing client or stakeholder expectations. The role requires strong organizational skills, leadership, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations, which can contribute to job stress.

What does a creative design manager do?

A creative design manager oversees the development and execution of visual concepts for projects such as branding, advertising, and product design. They lead a team of designers, coordinate with other departments, and ensure that creative work aligns with brand goals and client needs, often using tools like Adobe Creative Suite. Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills are essential in this role.

What are the most commonly searched types of Creative Design jobs in Minnesota?

The most popular types of Creative Design jobs in Minnesota are:

What are popular job titles related to Creative Design Manager jobs in Minnesota?

For Creative Design Manager jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Creative Design Manager jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Creative Design Manager jobs in Minnesota are:

What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Creative Design Manager jobs?

Cities in Minnesota with the most Creative Design Manager job openings:

Creative Design Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative Design Manager job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,134 per year, or $53.9 per hour.

Creative Director & Senior Designer

Saint Peter, MN • On-site

Gustavus Adolphus College
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 501 - 1,000 employees
Learn more about Gustavus Adolphus Collegeexternal

$65K - $80K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Gustavus Adolphus College rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Description
Gustavus Adolphus College seeks an accomplished, strategically minded Creative Director & Senior Designer to lead creative direction across the institution. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability and eagerness to dive into our creative and brand needs, helping us elevate our Gustavus identity and brand through design and marketing opportunities across our region. This position is key to furthering the College's marketing and communication objectives, including student enrollment, engaging Alumni and donors, and amplifying the energy across campus.
This is a newly created role for Gustavus - historically, brand standards were set by an outside agency and upheld internally through art direction and production design. This new position will set the creative vision in partnership with outside agencies and carry it through to concept development and design across numerous touchpoints, ensuring visual and strategic consistency that meets the College's goals.
Job Summary: The Creative Director & Senior Designer is both a hands-on designer and a creative leader. You will originate campaign concepts, set the visual and video vision for the institution, and ensure brand consistency across a wide range of outputs and partners. A typical year will include projects such as multi-channel campaigns, publications, display graphics and beyond, so digital and video design fluency is essential . This is not a production role; it's a role for someone who understands how design and creative fuel institutional goals like enrollment and advancement, and is confident in current creative and cultural trends to influence others.
Employment Status: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Exempt (Salaried), Benefits Eligible
Salary Range: $65,000-$80,000
How to apply: Continue here or visit https://gustavus.edu/jobs/ to complete the online application and submit a resume and portfolio. A cover letter is optional. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
*Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position*
Main Responsibilities:
Creative Leadership & Brand Vision
  • Lead, steward, and champion the Gustavus brand. Serve as the creative authority for Gustavus Adolphus College, setting and championing a unified creative vision across all brand expressions.
  • Lead the development of campaign concepts from idea to execution, translating institutional priorities into compelling creative work in partnership with creative agencies.
  • Establish and evolve visual identity and brand standards, building on and extending the foundation set by prior external agency partners.
  • Act as a trusted creative partner to leadership and department leads across campus.
  • Set the vision for video and motion content, ensuring it aligns with the broader brand and creative strategy.

Design Direction & Quality
  • Personally lead high-priority brand design work while directing the overall quality and consistency of design output across the team.
  • Support visual identity for Gustavus.edu
  • Review and approve creative work across marketing needs of other departments to ensure a cohesive brand experience.
  • Maintain and evolve brand guidelines, templates, and creative systems that scale across departments and channels.

Strategy & Business Impact
  • Bring a discerning eye to every project, balancing craft with strategic intent. • Understand and articulate how creative and design decisions drive institutional outcomes, including enrollment, advancement, and brand awareness. • Partner with the CMO and marketing leadership to align creative output with broader marketing and institutional strategy.
  • Contribute a strategic point of view to planning conversations, not just execution.

Team & Vendor Support
  • Support and provide creative direction to the social media, video, website, admission, and advancement teams, helping shape their work at a strategic and visual level.
  • Manage relationships with outside creative vendors - agencies, production companies, and freelance talent - ensuring their output meets brand and quality standards and stays ahead of design, video, and cultural trends.
  • Provide project coordination for design projects not managed by another member of the Marketing and Communication team.
  • Work with print and mail services to ensure completion of designed pieces. • Serve as an active member of the Marketing and Communication team and work collaboratively to ensure an integrated approach to brand and positioning for the college.

Other duties as assigned.
Prerequisites
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field; equivalent professional experience considered.
  • 7+ years of professional design experience, including experience leading brand or creative direction (agency, in-house, or a mix of both).
  • A portfolio demonstrating strong conceptual thinking, campaign development, and design craft.
  • Demonstrated experience setting or upholding brand standards across multiple channels and audiences.
  • Experience directing or collaborating closely on video and motion content. • Excellent presentation and communication skills; ability to build trust and influence across departments without formal authority over them.
  • Strategic thinker who can connect design decisions to business and institutional goals.
  • Comfortable working cross-functionally in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
  • Experience managing or directing external creative vendors, including agencies and production partners.
  • Strong creative concepting skills for motion and video, with experience leading the creative vision and collaborating with outsourced motion designers through execution.
  • Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven marketing environments.
  • Experience building or maturing a creative function within an organization (rather than only working within an established one).
  • Direct people-management experience.
  • Experience mentoring or providing creative direction to social and video specialists.

Schedule & Work Environment
This is a hybrid position, with a mix of on-campus work and flexibility for remote work. Specific hybrid arrangements are established in coordination with the supervisor and subject to departmental needs.
Gustavus offers competitive and comprehensive benefits which include:
  • Medical insurance (which includes access to Nice Healthcare) as well as dental, vision, and life insurance
  • Workplace accommodations for physical or mental health concerns
  • Onsite health services
  • Free parking, exercise classes, and use of library and athletic facilities
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employer contribution to retirement savings plan (after one year of employment)
  • Tuition scholarships for dependents
  • Tuition benefit plan for employees and spouse
  • 13 paid Holidays + generous PTO plan

Gustavus Adolphus College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.
Gustavus Adolphus College is one of the nation's leading private liberal arts colleges serving approximately 1,800 students. The College aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people. Known for its strong science, writing, music, athletics, study-away, and service-learning programs, Gustavus is located on a scenic 340-acre hill in St. Peter, Minnesota only one hour southwest of the Twin Cities.
Contact
Kim Frisch | kfrisch@gustavus.edu | 507-933-7683
Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2026

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