BRAND & CREATIVE SERVICES LEAD (ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST)

Brand & Creative Services Lead

The Mayor's Office of Communication has an exciting opportunity for a Brand & Creative Services Lead. The Brand Strategy & Creative Services Lead will serve as the City's chief steward of visual identity and creative expression. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining a unified brand strategy across all departments, ensuring that the City's communications are visually compelling, consistent, and reflective of Houston's values and diversity. As a key leader within the Communications Hub, this position will oversee graphic design, branding, marketing collateral, and creative storytelling, while managing a team of designers and creative professionals.

Key Responsibilities:

Brand Strategy & Governance

• Lead the City's brand unification effort, ensuring all departments adopt and consistently apply the new brand system.
• Maintain and evolve citywide brand strategy, including visual identity, tone, and core messaging alignment.
• Develop and enforce brand governance processes, including approval workflows, compliance reviews, and usage guidelines.
• Serve as primary advisor to the Mayor's Office on brand presentation for key priorities and public-facing initiatives.

Creative Services & Execution

• Oversee development of professional creative assets, including graphics, templates, signage, digital content, and campaign visuals.
• Ensure that all creative output across departments meets standards for accessibility, consistency, cultural inclusivity, and visual excellence.
• Direct creative work for high-profile projects, announcements, mayoral priorities, and citywide campaigns.

Leadership of the Brand & Creative Services Hub

• Lead, mentor, and coordinate designers, brand leads, and creative staff across City departments.
• Build a collaborative ecosystem that strengthens creative capacity citywide and ensures rapid fulfillment of branded asset requests.
• Manage the centralized asset library, template system, and brand style guide; ensure continuous updates and accessibility for all departments.

Operational Excellence

• Implement tools, platforms, and workflows that streamline creative production and cross-department collaboration.
• Maintain a service-oriented approach to intake, prioritization, and fulfillment of requests from City departments.
• Champion project management best practices to ensure timely and high-quality delivery.

Minimum Requirements:

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Liberal Arts, or a related field. Three years of administrative experience are required. Professional administrative experience may be substituted for the above education requirement on a year-for-year basis. License requirements: None

Preferences shall also be given to those with the following skill sets:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in brand strategy, graphic design, creative direction, or visual communications.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing creative teams and delivering high-impact design projects.
• Strong portfolio showcasing brand development, campaign design, and multimedia storytelling.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva).
• Experience developing and enforcing brand standards across large organizations.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field; advanced degree or certifications preferred.

Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.

Selection / Skills Tests Required: Department may administer skills assessment test. Safety Impact Position: NO. If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test. Salary Information: Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification. Pay Grade: 20. Application Procedures: Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during active posting period. Applications must be submitted online at: www.houstontx.gov. To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call (832-393-0453). If you need special services or accommodations, call (832-393-0453). (TTY 7-1-1) If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627. Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process. All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information provided. EOE Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Benefits

The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan. Benefits include:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Wellness
• Supplemental Insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Retirement pension
• 457 deferred compensation plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• 10 days of vacation each year
• 13 city holidays, plus one floating holiday
• Compensable Sick Leave
• Personal Leave
• Flexible schedules
• Hybrid-Telework for eligible positions
• Professional development opportunities
• Transportation/parking plan
• Section 125 pretax deductions
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
• Paid Prenatal, Parental and Infant Wellness Leaves
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

For plan details, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/benefits.html