Director of Web and Creative Services

About the University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University 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.

Job Profile Summary

University Communications is the strategic voice and steward of Penn’s reputation, sharing the University’s values, priorities, and achievements with internal and external audiences. We tell Penn’s stories through media relations, digital & social channels, newsletters, and other communications outlets. We advise senior leadership on messaging, crisis response, and reputation management while partnering with Penn’s twelve schools, academic centers, and administrative departments to highlight research, teaching, campus life, and Penn’s broader impact. We seek to ensure a consistent voice, foster meaningful engagement with key audiences, and strengthen the University’s reputation through innovative storytelling, brand coherence, and data-informed strategy.

Job Description

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.

The Director oversees web strategy, design, and technical standards, web development, and digital creative production to elevate the University’s reputation, engagement, and storytelling across platforms. This role also ensures that digital platforms and creative outputs align with the University’s mission, strategic priorities, and brand standards.

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Drive the modernization and unification of Penn’s digital presence across a highly decentralized environment to improve user experience, consistency, and impact.
• Lead adoption and integration of AI tools across the department.
• 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.

Web & Digital 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.
• Serve on the department’s crisis management team working closely with Penn’s Department of Public Safety on website updates during emergencies.
• 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.

Analytics & Continuous Improvement

• 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.

Creative Direction

• 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.

Brand Governance & Consultation

• 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.

Required Skills & Expertise

• 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.
• Working knowledge of web design, UX, accessibility standards, and effective collaboration with development teams.
• 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.

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

Job Location

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Salary Range

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

Experience & Education

• 7-10 years of progressively increasing experience and responsibility.
• Bachelor’s degree required. Professional certifications and training in digital, web, and technology preferred.

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.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

Key skills/competency

• Web Strategy and Development
• Creative Direction and Production
• Digital Marketing and Content Strategy
• Brand Management and Governance
• Team Leadership and Management
• AI Integration and Optimization
• UX/UI Design and Accessibility
• Data Analytics and SEO
• Stakeholder Management
• Web Platform Management