Graphic Designer and Public Space Coordinator

Help Shape the Look and Feel of Downtown Rochester

Downtown Rochester is where our community gathers - to experience incredible food, connect at events, explore local businesses, enjoy public art, and spend time together in vibrant public spaces.

Behind every event poster, social graphic, and Downtown experience is thoughtful design that helps bring it all to life, communicating all the great things our community has to offer with those wanting to experience it!

The Rochester Downtown Alliance (RDA) is seeking a Graphic Designer and Public Space Coordinator to help shape the visual identity of Downtown Rochester across marketing, events, public spaces, and the everyday experience of being Downtown.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys creating meaningful design work that people see, interact with, and remember. From event branding to social media to the visual details that define Downtown’s character, your work will be highly visible and impactful.

About the Rochester Downtown Alliance

The Rochester Downtown Alliance works to create a vibrant, welcoming, and thriving Downtown for residents, businesses, workers, and visitors alike.

Through events, marketing, public space enhancements, and partnerships with local businesses and community organizations, we help shape Downtown Rochester as a place people want to visit, work, and spend time.

Our team is collaborative, creative, and deeply committed to our community. Every project we take on - from major events to small design details - contributes to the overall experience of Downtown.

About the Role

The Graphic Designer plays a central role in shaping how Downtown Rochester looks, feels, and communicates visually, as well as helps shape the look, feel, and energy of Downtown Rochester’s public spaces.

This position works closely with the RDA team to create compelling, cohesive design across a wide range of materials - from digital campaigns to physical installations throughout Downtown.

You’ll help bring ideas to life visually, support marketing initiatives, and contribute to projects that enhance the overall Downtown experience - both online and in the spaces people move through every day.

This is a highly collaborative and creative role that also requires organization, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple projects at once.

We’re looking for someone who is creative, detail-oriented, and excited to contribute to a wide variety of projects - someone who enjoys both designing and seeing their work implemented in real spaces.

What You’ll Do

Design Marketing & Event Materials

• Create posters, flyers, and promotional materials for Downtown events and initiatives
• Design graphics for social media, email campaigns, and digital marketing
• Develop slide decks and visual presentations for public meetings and stakeholder communications
• Support website updates with graphics, layouts, and visual content

Develop Branding & Visual Identity

• Help create and evolve branding for events, programs, and seasonal initiatives
• Maintain visual consistency across all RDA communications and materials
• Contribute to the overall look and feel of Downtown Rochester’s brand

Lead Placemaking/Experiencemaking & Beautification Projects

• Help develop and manage public art installations, murals, and creative placemaking initiatives
• Coordinate beautification projects such as planters, lighting, seasonal décor, and streetscape improvements
• Work with artists, designers, and fabricators to bring projects to life

Coordinate Creative Partnerships

• Build relationships with local artists, performers, and creative partners
• Collaborate with Downtown businesses and community organizations on public space activations
• Coordinate vendors, installations, and project logistics

· Book and manage local musicians and performers for seasonal programming

Support the Downtown Experience

• Help identify opportunities to enhance Downtown’s public spaces
• Assist with special projects that make Downtown more welcoming, beautiful, and engaging

· Support small-scale activations that encourage people to gather and linger Downtown

Collaborate Across the Team

• Work closely with the Executive Director and Marketing & Content Coordinator to execute campaigns
• Support other team members with design needs across programs and initiatives
• Coordinate with vendors, printers, and fabricators to bring designs to life

What Makes This Role Special

Few design roles offer the opportunity to see your work come to life in a real, physical place.

In this role, you might:

• Design a poster that draws thousands of people to a Downtown event
• Create a visual identity for a new program or initiative
• See your work displayed across Downtown in signage, social media, and public spaces
• Help shape how Downtown feels - from a first impression online to a moment someone experiences in person with surprise and delight

Your work will be visible, tangible, and experienced by the community every day!

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is creative, organized, and excited to contribute to a wide range of design projects.

You might have experience in:

• Graphic design (digital and print)
• Branding and visual identity
• Social media and marketing design
• Basic video editing or motion graphics (a plus)
• Adobe Creative Suite

Key Qualities

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Creative and visually thoughtful
• Organized and able to manage multiple projects
• Detail-oriented with strong follow-through
• Collaborative and open to feedback

· Adaptable and willing to jump into a variety of projects

· Comfortable coordinating artists, performers, and vendors

· Excited to contribute to the energy and experience of Downtown Rochester

Position Details

• Position: Graphic Designer & Public Space Coordinator
• Location: In-person, Downtown Rochester, Minnesota
• Schedule: 30–40 hours per week (part-time or full-time considered)
• Compensation: $42,000 - $45,000 annually, depending on experience (based on full-time equivalent)

FTE Benefits Include:

• Health insurance (70% paid by RDA)
• Disability insurance
• Retirement plan with 3% match after one year
• Paid holidays (8 days annually)
• Paid vacation
• 10 days in Year 1
• 15 days in Years 2–3
• 20 days beginning in Year 4

Join Us in Shaping Downtown

At RDA, we believe the details matter - and great design plays a big role in connecting with people and how they experience a place.

If you’re excited about creating work that is seen, shared, and experienced throughout Downtown Rochester, we’d love to hear from you.

Submit your resume, portfolio, and a brief note about why this role interests you to: sfagan@downtownrochestermn.com

A Quick Note to Applicants

We know that great designers come from many different backgrounds and experiences. If you’re excited about this role but don’t meet every qualification listed above, we still encourage you to apply.

In your application, we also invite you to share one idea for a visual concept, campaign, or design element that could enhance the Downtown Rochester experience!

Pay: $42,000.00 - $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person