Director of Web and Creative Services

About the role

The Director of Web and Creative Services provides strategic leadership and technical oversight for University Communications' digital presence, including Penn’s flagship website (UPenn.edu), Penn Today, and digital creative production.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University Communications, this role leads a cross-functional team of nine and serves as a member of the senior management team.

Responsibilities

• Drive the modernization and unification of Penn’s digital presence across a highly decentralized environment to improve user experience, consistency, and impact.
• Align digital innovation and creative direction with University Communications news and storytelling priorities.
• Advise department leadership and other core campus partners on web, digital, and brand strategy.
• Lead the redesign and next iteration of UPenn.edu, reflecting evolving user behavior, AI, and digital trends.
• Oversee the development, improvement, and maintenance of over 30 websites, including University’s primary website, UPenn.edu, University Communications’ signature news platform Penn Today, President’s Center websites, special initiative websites, and email newsletters, ensuring a cohesive, user-centered experience.
• Direct the web development function, including the Director of Web Development and web developers to set timelines and goals for Drupal engineering, web development, security, and continuous improvement.
• Provide oversight to web management staff on designing and maintaining websites, content updates, accessibility, and technical standards.
• Collaborate with Penn’s Information and Systems Computing on overlapping needs, site deployment, and Pantheon platform.
• Serve as the point of contact for vendor sourcing and managing outside web consultants and web designers for major web redesigns.
• Analyze web traffic and engagement to inform strategy; monitor and optimize SEO and AI-powered search efforts.
• Implement data-driven improvements to web content, UX, and digital campaigns.
• Provide strategic leadership for a team of videographers and photographers, shaping compelling visual storytelling that advances the University’s brand and reputation.
• Oversee resource planning, including managing contractors, budgeting, and equipment to support high-quality production.
• Set priorities and guide the development of high-impact creative projects, ensuring alignment with institutional messaging and communications goals.
• Collaborate closely with news, social media, and digital teams to develop integrated, cross-platform content that amplifies University stories and engagement.
• Guide brand standards across the University, including digital and creative outputs.
• Oversee logo review, web standards, and the development and maintenance of the University style guide.

Requirements

• Proven leadership building and managing cross-functional creative, digital, and technical teams in complex, high-visibility environments.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing complex brand and communications platforms.
• Strong foundation in marketing and digital content strategy.
• Deep understanding of brand management, governance, and consistency across channels.
• Experience with modern web platforms and delivering scalable, media-rich digital experiences.
• Data-driven mindset with proficiency in analytics, performance metrics, and leveraging AI to optimize workflows, innovation, and output quality.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of an organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Professional certifications and training in digital, web, and technology preferred.

Skills

• Leadership building and managing cross-functional creative, digital, and technical teams.
• Building and managing complex brand and communications platforms.
• Marketing and digital content strategy.
• Brand management, governance, and consistency across channels.
• Modern web platforms and delivering scalable, media-rich digital experiences.
• Data-driven mindset with proficiency in analytics, performance metrics, and leveraging AI.
• Communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits

The University of Pennsylvania offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

This is an onsite position and is hybrid eligible (up to 2 days remote).

Job Location - City, State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Target Salary Range: $120,000 – $140,000 depending on experience.

Experience: 7-10 years of progressively increasing experience and responsibility.

Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

Department / School: President's Center

Pay Range: $110,907.00 - $140,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level.

Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement: The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.