Manager, Brand Identity

Summary Description: The Brand Identity Manager is responsible for leading and evolving the organization’s visual identity across all channels. This role serves as the primary steward of brand standards, ensuring a consistent, high-quality brand presence while translating strategic objectives into compelling visual solutions. The Brand Identity Manager will develop a wide range of marketing collateral and materials—including corporate literature, presentations, event materials, program logos, social media graphics, email templates, digital ads, and more—for both internal and external audiences. This position is designed as a senior-level individual contributor with a defined path to team leadership. The Brand Identity Manager will initially lead projects and influence creative direction across the organization, with the opportunity to grow into a formal team lead/people manager as the function expands.

Academic and Trade Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.

Work Experience: Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in graphic design, brand identity, or visual communications, with demonstrated leadership or project management experience preferred.

Responsibilities:

• Brand Leadership & Governance: Lead the development, evolution, and enforcement of the organization’s visual identity. Ensure consistent application of brand standards across all platforms and initiatives.
• Creative Direction & Execution: Provide creative direction while actively contributing to design work. Oversee the development of marketing and communication materials including corporate literature, presentations, event materials, program logos, digital assets, and more.
• Project Leadership (Core Focus Year 1): Manage and prioritize a high volume of branded initiatives across the organization. Establish workflows, timelines, and quality standards to ensure efficient execution.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with marketing, communications, and business stakeholders to translate brand strategy and organizational priorities into effective visual solutions.
• Strategic Alignment: Work closely with the Director of Brand Strategy to operationalize brand strategy into scalable visual systems and campaigns.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure all deliverables meet high standards for design quality, accuracy, and brand consistency.
• Vendor Coordination: Partner with external agencies, printers, and vendors to execute projects while maintaining brand integrity.

Leadership Development (Future Team Lead Path)

This role is expected to evolve into a team leadership position. As the organization’s needs grow, responsibilities may expand to include:

• Reviewing and approving creative work produced by others
• Helping define team processes, workload management, and prioritization frameworks
• Elevating the overall creative capability and consistency of the organization

Job Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of branding, visual identity systems, and design principles in professional communications.
• Advanced proficiency in design tools (Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop; Microsoft Office: PowerPoint, Word).

Abilities and Skills:

• Strong creative direction skills with the ability to elevate brand quality
• Ability to balance hands-on execution with strategic thinking
• Proven ability to lead projects and influence outcomes without direct authority
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• High attention to detail and commitment to brand consistency
• Portfolio demonstrating expertise in brand identity work required

Relationships and Contacts:

Internal: Works closely with Brand Strategy team and cross-functional teams to support organization-wide branding and communications efforts. External: Manages and collaborates with agencies, printers, and other vendors as needed.

Reports to: Director of Brand Strategy

Company Profile: North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives (http://ncemcs.com/about/ncemc.htm) is the brand for the family of organizations formed to support the state’s 26 local electric cooperatives, including: North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, the power supplier to many of the electric cooperatives; North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, the cooperatives’ trade association; and Tarheel Electric Membership Association, Inc. (TEMA), a central purchasing and materials-supply cooperative.

North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants for employment.