Creative Director

Company Overview

Innovation Portal is a forward-thinking business incubator based in Mobile, AL, dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and technology innovators. Our mission is to create a supportive environment where visionary ideas are nurtured and transformed into groundbreaking realities. As a small, adaptable team, we take pride in our flexibility and responsiveness to new challenges and opportunities.

Job Purpose

Innovation Portal is launching The Challenge Project - a bold initiative to transform how Alabama tells its innovation story and attracts engineering talent. We need someone who can craft a cinematic, aspirational brand that makes young builders believe Alabama is the place to launch their careers and companies.

The Creative Director's main duty is to create and execute all content, media, and storytelling that brings The Challenge Project to life - from brand identity and marketing campaigns to livestream production and social media presence. You'll make engineering look epic, make building look irresistible, and make Alabama look like the best‑kept secret in American innovation.

This 9-month, salaried position reports directly to the Technical Director.

About You

You understand that great content tells a story that makes people care. You think in visuals, narratives, and moments that stick, and you're energized by turning blank canvases into compelling creative that inspires action. You're a versatile creative—comfortable across design, video, photography, copywriting, and social media—and you know how to make limited budgets look polished through scrappiness, taste, and strategic thinking.

You're excited about leveraging AI and emerging tools to multiply your creative output without sacrificing quality. You experiment fearlessly, ship fast, learn from what works, and iterate with confidence. You understand that strategic creative serves multiple audiences simultaneously, and you know when to go cinematic and when to keep it authentic. Most importantly, you believe Alabama's engineering and industrial heritage deserves to be told in a way that makes people sit up and pay attention.

Duties and Responsibilities

Some of the duties and responsibilities include :

Brand Development & Strategy

Develop and execute a complete Challenge Project brand identity and guidelines

Design marketing materials : posters, flyers, social templates, pitch decks

Craft messaging that resonates with students, corporate partners, and media

Content Production & Management

Produce weekly livestream content for challenges, workshops, and recap shows

Direct and edit video content : spotlights, interviews, showcases, event recaps

Create engaging social media content and manage publishing calendar

Write compelling copy for emails, newsletters, website, and press releases

Event Production & Documentation

Design and execute Demo Day as a high‑production event (stage, graphics, branding)

Coordinate livestream production with multi‑camera setups and graphics

Capture photo / video documentation and create post‑event content

Produce sponsor materials : impact reports, branded content, recognition graphics

Digital Presence & Growth

Build and maintain the Challenge Project website with compelling UX

Track content performance metrics and optimize for engagement

Create gamification elements : badges, leaderboards, visual rewards

Sponsor Relations & Systems

Create pitch materials, case studies, and press kits for partners

Implement AI tools to scale creative output and build content templates

Develop "event in a box" creative kits for mini‑challenges

Train community members on content creation basics

Qualifications

Qualifications include :

Previous experience in creative direction, content production, or brand marketing

Portfolio demonstrating design skills, video production, and multi‑platform content creation

Proficiency in creative software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Canva, Final Cut / Premiere, or equivalents)

Experience with livestream production tools (OBS, StreamYard, or similar platforms)

Strong copywriting and storytelling abilities

Social media expertise with demonstrated ability to grow and engage audiences

Understanding of video production : shooting, lighting, audio, editing

Photography skills and an eye for visual composition

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Self‑motivated and proactive, with a problem‑solving mindset and the ability to work with minimal supervision

Comfortable working with a variety of hardware and software applications

Displays a high level of ethics, empathy, and dependability

Organizational Environment

The team is startup in nature, which requires you to move quickly, and all staff to be flexible and operate well in teams

Expected to work independently and be given significant responsibility

Able to keep, maintain, and coordinate multiple schedules and projects

Excellent customer service skills that highlight a positive attitude

Aptitude to learn and understand the different industries and product lines.

Ability to prioritize and multitask with a high level of dependability

Ability to work well under pressure and in a fast‑paced environment

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Good listening and problem‑solving ability

Additional skills such as :

Experience in the tech industry, startup ecosystems, innovation / entrepreneurship programs, or journalism / documentary / event coverage

Advanced production capabilities : motion graphics (After Effects), web development (Webflow, Squarespace), AI creative tools (Midjourney, Runway), or podcast / audio production

Understanding of paid media and digital advertising, connections with Alabama media outlets or influencers, or experience creating educational content that makes complex topics accessible

Organizational Values

Empowering Others Through Service

We believe in opening doors for others. By helping others take their next step forward, we create a culture of mutual support and growth. We are committed to serving others and fostering a collaborative environment where everyone can thrive.

Curious Minds, Creative Solutions

We embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Our passion for curiosity drives us to continuously innovate, experiment, and find creative solutions as we seek excellence.

Progress >

Perfection

We celebrate every step forward, recognizing that progress is more important than perfection. This mindset encourages us to build, measure, and learn from both our successes and failures.

Make it Happen

There's a neon sign on our wall that says it because that's our standard. We take ownership of outcomes, get resourceful with what we have, and see things through to completion. Good ideas are common… execution is what counts. Don’t just do anything, do the important things.

Benefits

401(k) with matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Physical requirements

This position will be semi‑remote, with a requirement for frequent travel throughout the state of Alabama. Requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time, operate a computer, phone system, and other office equipment. Must also be able to lift and carry up to 10 lbs with or without accommodation.

Pay : From $75,000 annualized salary

Questions? - contact the Technical Director : Paul Lockett (paul@innovation-portal.com)

Work Location : across Alabama with an HQ - Mobile, AL 36602

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