Lead Graphic Designer

Pay Range: To maintain internal equity, we have identified the salary range for this position at the Oakland Zoo as $72,800 to $81,120 annually. An offer within this salary range will be determined by the experience and qualifications of a candidate and will be our best and final compensation offer.

Application Instructions

Please submit the following:

• Resume detailing relevant experience
• Cover letter expressing your interest in the role and the Oakland Zoo’s mission
• Online portfolio showcasing your design work

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Review of applications will begin immediately.

Position Summary

The Oakland Zoo, a leader in wildlife conservation, education, and inspiring connections between people and nature, is seeking a dynamic and visionary Lead Graphic Designer. This is an extraordinary opportunity to use your creative talents to advance the Zoo’s mission, create memorable guest experiences, and communicate the story of wildlife conservation to diverse audiences.

The Lead Graphic Designer will be responsible for the conceptualization, design, and implementation of all visual communications across the Zoo’s platforms, including print, digital, and environmental graphics. As a senior creative team member, you will oversee the Zoo’s visual identity and ensure consistency, innovation, and excellence in every design deliverable. This role requires exceptional artistic and leadership abilities, together with a passion for wildlife and community engagement. With a high level of visual strategy, the lead graphic designer owns design oversight for major collateral (Impact Report, Strategic Plan, etc.) and guest experience design consistency (maps, signage, uniforms, etc.).

Essential Job Duties

• Creative Leadership: Lead the design team in conceptualizing, developing, and executing creative projects that align with the Oakland Zoo’s brand and strategic goals.
• Brand Stewardship: Maintain and evolve the Zoo’s visual identity, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints including signage, marketing materials, web, social media, merchandise, and exhibits.
• Project Management: Oversee multiple concurrent projects from inception to completion, establishing timelines, managing resources, and ensuring all milestones are met on schedule and within budget.
• Mentorship: Guide, mentor, and inspire junior designers and interns; provide constructive feedback and foster a supportive, growth-oriented environment.
• Vendor Relations: Liaise with print vendors, photographers, illustrators, and external agencies; oversee production quality and ensure adherence to brand guidelines.
• Innovation: Stay current with design trends, techniques, and technologies; propose new ideas and approaches to enhance visual storytelling and audience engagement.
• Environmental Graphics: Design wayfinding, interpretive, and exhibit signage that enhances guest navigation and learning, while reflecting the Zoo’s commitment to conservation and accessibility.
• Digital Media: Create digital assets for web, email, and social media campaigns that engage, inform, and inspire.
• Photography & Videography: Oversee photo and video shoots as needed; curate and manage the Zoo’s visual asset library.
• Merchandise Design: Develop unique graphics and branding for Zoo swag for donor events and member appreciation, etc, from apparel to souvenirs, that reflect the spirit of the Oakland Zoo and support conservation efforts.

Supervisory Responsibility

Assistant Graphic Designer and/or freelance designers

Oakland Zoo does not expect every applicant to have every skill and qualification listed here and will consider the combination of formal education, training, and practical experience of each applicant. We are committed to supporting the career development of our employees. A strong candidate who is interested in growing and learning in this role will possess at least 75% of the following qualifications.

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or related field OR 5 years of professional experience in graphic design, including at least 2 years in a senior or lead role.
• Demonstrated expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), as well as proficiency in After Effects, Premiere Pro, or similar software.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a variety of work, including branding, print, digital, and environmental design.
• Proven experience managing creative projects from concept to completion.
• Excellent understanding of typography, color theory, composition, and user experience.
• Familiarity with environmental graphics, wayfinding, accessibility standards, and sustainability in design preferred.
• Creative, curious, and passionate about storytelling through visual means.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on design execution.

Bonus if You Have

• Master’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or related field
• Comfort with photography, video editing, and content creation

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualities

• Collaboration – builds trusting relationships with both internal and external stakeholders across our organization and community-wide and approaches differences of opinion with curiosity and humility.
• Communication – communicates respectfully and effectively with stakeholders across identities, both verbally and in writing.
• Inclusive Culture – fosters a culture of mutual respect, transparency, collaboration and belonging which allows all employees to feel appreciated, included, and valued.
• Leadership – mentors, advises, and develops people across identities with consideration for cultural relevance and responsiveness, self-awareness around implicit bias and understanding of the power dynamics that exist in organizations.
• Passion – wholeheartedly believes in, represents, and models Oakland Zoo’s mission and PRIDE values at all times.
• Presentation – able to convey ideas clearly and sensitively, highlight key takeaways and translate impact; have thoughtful presence, can quickly build rapport with others, and are comfortable in front of a variety of audiences.
• Project management – effectively prioritizes commitments, driving forward multiple high-profile and complex projects simultaneously with flexibility, resourcefulness, and agility to adapt to shifting organizational needs.
• Relationship-Building – able to build and maintain trusting relationships and mutually beneficial partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Sustainability – oriented toward the mission and values of Oakland Zoo and able to put those into practice by finding creative and resourceful ways to develop sustainable practices within your role and department.
• Wildlife Aware – understands mission to support the conservation and welfare of animals at the Zoo, locally and globally. This is demonstrated by a willingness/passion to reflect this mission in all actions and to continue to learn how to take action for wildlife.

Work Environment

The Oakland Zoo offers a vibrant, inclusive, and mission-driven workplace in the heart of the Bay Area. Our team is passionate about wildlife, science education, and making a positive difference for species and habitats locally and globally. As Lead Graphic Designer, you will work on-site at our scenic campus, with opportunities for flexible scheduling and occasional remote work as projects allow.

Benefits

Oakland Zoo offers a comprehensive benefits package, including Health insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Flexible spending account, Retirement plan, Paid time off, Employee Assistance Program, and A Family Zoo Membership.

Who We Are

Oakland Zoo (managed by The Conservation Society of California) is an award-winning facility stretching 100 acres and overlooking the city of Oakland atop the hills of beautiful Knowland Park. Our mission is to deepen connections with animals, save wildlife, and inspire champions for the natural world. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Zoo is part of the largest conservation organization in the nation. Our employees take PRIDE in our values of being Positive, Respectful, Inquisitive, Driven and Effective members of a team who places the care of our animals, stewardship of the natural environment, and the experience of our guests at the forefront of all that we do.

Oakland Zoo’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access

We believe that all people should have safe access to the Zoo and culturally relevant and responsive experiences with our staff, programs, and curriculum. Oakland Zoo is also striving to create an equitable and inclusive internal culture where all staff members feel represented and valued for their identities and lived experiences. We examine how power, bias, race, and other aspects of identity impact our organization. We work to build a culture of continuous learning and improvement toward a vision of equity and belonging for all staff. We are looking for team members who can actively join us in this process. We are committed to reflecting the diverse community in which we exist and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ identifying folks, and women to apply.

The Conservation Society of California is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, QAOV status, or other characteristics protected by law. The Conservation Society of California also promotes respect for all people and will not tolerate harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Oakland Zoo participates in E-Verify to verify work authorization.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.