Graphic Designer

Design: Lead design and produce creative solutions and final art for a variety of advancement communications projects based on institutional priorities, project requirements, and budget parameters. Print projects include annual endowment reports, gift proposals, donor impact reports, event collateral (invitation suites, programs, etc.), holiday cards, and other advancement and alumni projects as assigned. Digital projects include deliverables for the alumni and giving webpages and social media accounts. Work closely with the Director of Advancement Communications for creative direction, determining visual identity and brand, concept assessment and critique. Participate in project kick-off meetings, planning, research, brainstorming, conceptual development, and prepare design concepts for presentations. Support the design and production of high-quality multimedia deliverables, including videos, animations, and Keynote presentations, utilizing a wide-variety of industry-standard design technology. Contribute to project schedules, creative briefs, and visual storytelling development

Communication Services and Project Administration: Work with the Assistant Director of Advancement Communications and other partners as appropriate on creative briefs, project requirements, print specifications, logistics, and other creative and business processes.

With UA and UCM partners, create new ideas for advancement communications pieces rooted in best practices. With Advancement Communications colleagues, create templates and graphics for UA staff to enable them to easily create their own visual projects. Manage Advancement Communications digital asset tools. Organize and conduct photoshoots to supplement existing university advancement imagery to be used across print and digital projects. The graphic designer may manage freelancers and review and offer feedback on other graphic design projects for the Advancement Communications team or other division colleagues. Monitor industry trends in design, photography, illustration, animation, and marketing. Participate in professional development opportunities. Monitor use of new technology, tools, and creative talent that extend our internal staff capacity. Review portfolios, demos, online seminars, etc.

Other duties and administrative tasks as assigned by the Director of Advancement Communications which may include managing student workers, scheduling rooms, and organizing internal meetings.

This position may supervise student workers.

Displaying Creativity.

Prioritizing and Organizing.

Acquiring and Analyzing Information.

Serving Customers.

Evaluating and Implementing Ideas.

Full time.

35 hours per week.

Occasionally may be required to support department events during evenings and weekends.

Hybrid work arrangement.

$60,000 - $65,000 annually.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent.

2-4 years of relevant experience.

Bachelor's degree.

3-5 years of relevant experience.

Bachelor’s degree in visual communication/graphic design from an accredited institution.

Demonstrated ability to design and produce projects from start to finish.

Demonstrated experience implementing identity and brand guidelines, campaigns, print production, design for web, and working within tight deadlines.

Excellent communication skills, detail orientated, and manages time efficiently.

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline-driven environment and proven history of successful collaboration across teams and/or units.

Must have a solid working knowledge of production, MacOS, and experience with Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, AfterEffects, Premiere Pro) and Microsoft Office.

Comfortable using email marketing platforms, such as Engaging Networks, preferred.

Working knowledge of HTML, information architecture, and user experience, a plus.

Experience with motion graphics, and video creation and editing, a plus.

Excellent customer service skills (including responding quickly, diplomatically, thoughtfully, and creatively to feedback from clients, while keeping the project headed toward the agreed-upon goal)

Extremely high level of professionalism; superior tact, discretion, and sensitivity to confidential information.

Inclusion of a creative portfolio highly preferred.

Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.

Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.

Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

American University is an employer.