Art Director for ARPA-H

Hybrid work position with work at client site in Arlington, VA multiple times a month.

Spire is a full-service communications firm supporting innovative programs in government, technology, healthcare, and science. We seek an art director to support and manage brand and multimedia projects for a new federal health government agency, ARPA-H.   

Must have experience supporting multimedia projects under tight deadlines, managing and tracking projects from start to completion, and ensuring expert quality control on a range of deliverables.

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or long-term resident with a valid Green Card.

What You’ll Do

• Compelling Design: Create designs that capture the imagination of the public to participate in ARPA-H’s groundbreaking programs.
• Team leadership: Coordinate and lead a highly skilled creative team, including graphic designers, video producers, and multimedia specialists.
• Project management: Define project scopes, objectives, and deliverables, and create detailed project plans, roadmaps, and schedules.
• Strategic planning: Develop and implement creative strategies that align with the agency’s mission, values, goals, and brand identity.
• Quality assurance: Maintain high standards of quality and ensure that all creative assets meet the agency’s branding guidelines and align on industry best practices.
• Client engagement: Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and leaders to understand and translate their needs into creative solutions.

• Minimum 10 years of hands-on, client-facing experience in graphic design and multimedia production.
• 3-5 years of experience in project management across a team of specialized creatives, including formal or informal oversight to ensure quality control and brand compliance.
• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, web design, or relevant field.

Desired Additional Skills

• Start-up experience: Previous experience leading brand development and management for newly formed organizations or major initiatives, including creating and implementing brand guidelines, logos, and visual identities.
• Multimedia expertise: Proficiency in or understanding of a wide variety of multimedia production tools, including Adobe Creative Suite.
• Vendor management: Experience managing relationships with external vendors and coordinating printing and/or fabrication requests for specialized creative projects.

• Medical (CareFirst BCBS), Dental (United Healthcare), and Vision (UC ClearVision) plans paid at 100%
• Monthly $50 wellness stipend for gym memberships, spa services, etc.
• Life and disability insurance (short and long-term)
• Generous PTO and federal holidays
• Flexible home/office environment
• 401(k) plan with automatic 3% of salary employer contribution
• Employee referral bonuses
• Annual stipend for employee and/or job-related training

ABOUT ARPA-H

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is a newly formed agency within the National Institutes of Health. The agency advances high-potential, high-impact biomedical and health research that cannot be readily accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity. With a scope spanning the molecular to the societal, ARPA-H programs have the potential to radically improve everyone’s health.

Spire Communications is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, color, religion, disability, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.

Spire Communications