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Creative Jobs in Mankato, MN (NOW HIRING)

Drama Kids

Drama Kids Instructor

Mankato, MN · On-site

$25/hr

Drama Kids is a Creative Drama & Literacy Enrichment Program where kids "Act Up" with a purpose! We work with our students' imagination and creativity to develop communication skills, public speaking ...

Cura Health

Activities Assistant

Le Sueur, MN · On-site

$16.50 - $19.75/hr

At Cura Health, we are looking for a creative, compassionate, and energetic Activities Assistant to join our team. This position plays an important role in enhancing the quality of life of our ...

Cura Health

Activities Assistant

Le Sueur, MN · On-site

$16.50 - $19.75/hr

At Cura Health, we are looking for a creative, compassionate, and energetic Activities Assistant to join our team. This position plays an important role in enhancing the quality of life of our ...

Wyndy LLC

Babysitter role near region

Mankato, MN · On-site

$15.50 - $20.25/hr

Fosters a positive and enjoyable atmosphere through creative play and age-appropriate activities. Qualifications * A love of working with children * Excellent communication skills * Ability to follow ...

HRB

Senior Electrical Engineer

Mankato, MN · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

A creative problem‑solver with sharp analytical instincts and clear communication skills The Bottom Line If you like owning projects end-to-end, working across the full stack of hardware ...

New

Bolton & Menk, Inc

Architect

Mankato, MN · On-site

$87K - $130K/yr

Proficiency in Autodesk Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, and other visualization design tools such as Sketchup or Rhino. * Proficiency in MS Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.

Bolton & Menk, Inc.

Architect

Mankato, MN · On-site

$87K - $130K/yr

Proficiency in Autodesk Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, and other visualization design tools such as Sketchup or Rhino. * Proficiency in MS Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.

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Creative information

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$46.6K

$103.7K

$156.6K

How much do creative jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative in Mankato, MN is $103,682.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,900.00 and $145,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are creative jobs?

Creative jobs are jobs that require artistic talent or a creative mindset, and they usually refer to jobs in the advertising, marketing, graphic design, apparel manufacturing, literary, and film industries. The specific qualifications for creative jobs vary by field and position. For example, if you want to work in the art department at an ad agency, you need to have strong visual skills, a talent for graphic or fine art, and excellent drawing and drafting skills. Meanwhile, as a copywriter, you need to have strong written communication skills. Your duties and responsibilities also vary depending on the type of creative work you do.

What is a creative?

Creatives are professionals involved in generating original ideas and producing content across various fields, such as advertising, marketing, design, writing, and the arts. Their main role is to develop visually appealing, engaging, or thought-provoking materials that help communicate messages, promote brands, or entertain audiences. Creatives can include graphic designers, copywriters, art directors, illustrators, and more, often working in teams or agencies to bring concepts to life.

How does a creative professional typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Creative professionals often work closely with teams such as marketing, product management, and development to ensure their concepts align with overall business goals. Collaboration usually involves brainstorming sessions, regular feedback meetings, and iterative revisions based on input from key stakeholders. This cross-functional teamwork helps to refine ideas, maintain brand consistency, and deliver effective campaigns or products. Being open to feedback and adaptable to changes are important qualities for success in this collaborative environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a creative, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Creative, you need a strong portfolio showcasing artistic ability, innovative thinking, and proficiency in design or content creation, often supported by a degree in a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or other digital media platforms is typically required. Standout soft skills include adaptability, collaboration, and effective communication to convey ideas and work with diverse teams or clients. These skills and qualities are essential to producing compelling work that meets project goals and adapts to evolving creative trends.

What is the difference between Creative vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreativeGraphic Designer
Required CredentialsPortfolio, sometimes a degree in arts or related fieldDegree or certification in graphic design or visual arts
Work EnvironmentAdvertising agencies, media companies, marketing teamsDesign studios, marketing departments, freelance
Industry UsageBroader creative roles including advertising, branding, content creationPrimarily visual communication through graphics
Search & ComparisonBroader, encompassing various creative rolesMore specific to visual design tasks

While both Creative and Graphic Designer roles involve visual work, Creative is a broader term that includes various creative functions like branding, advertising, and content creation. Graphic Designers focus specifically on visual communication through graphic elements. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What are some creative careers?

Creative careers include roles such as graphic designer, writer, photographer, animator, and art director. These jobs often require strong artistic skills, proficiency with design or editing software, and a portfolio to showcase work. They can be found in industries like advertising, media, entertainment, and publishing.
More about Creative jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Creative jobs in Mankato, MN?

The most popular types of Creative jobs in Mankato, MN are:

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For Creative jobs in Mankato, MN, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Creative jobs in Mankato, MN look for?

The top searched job categories for Creative jobs in Mankato, MN are:

What cities near Mankato, MN are hiring for Creative jobs?

Cities near Mankato, MN with the most Creative job openings:

Creative jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative job openings in Mankato, MN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 68% Full Time, 29% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,682 per year, or $49.8 per hour.

Creative Director & Senior Designer

Saint Peter, MN • On-site

Gustavus Adolphus College
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools • 501 - 1,000 employees

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

263rd of 627 rated colleges and universities

Good employer

Paid breaks

Respectful managers

Learn more about Gustavus Adolphus Collegeexternal

$65K - $80K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 16 hours ago

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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