SENIOR CREATIVE DESIGNER (MAPS & INFORMATION DESIGN)

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

The Senior Creative Designer (Maps and Information Design) will create accessible, user-centered customer information across digital and physical touchpoints — including maps, interfaces, screens, and wayfinding. They will also manage GIS data, develop design systems, ensure consistent visual standards, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver clear, cohesive rider experiences.

Serves as a team senior designer in the development of design solutions and provides advanced-level professional design and/or environmental graphic solutions that convey information about Metro's wide-ranging programs, services, and projects.

Examples of Duties

• Leads design teams from concept to completion of small-, medium-, and large-scale projects, including defining design criteria, conducting research, creating team assignments, and schedules, providing design direction and refining presented concepts and designs
• Conceptualizes, designs, refines, and produces creative work for internal clients, Metro's partners, and Los Angeles County
• Collaborates with internal and external clients to refine project objectives and how best to accomplish quality work within time and budgetary constraints
• Investigates and resolves design problems by undertaking substantive research and analyzing data in order to find the best creative solutions
• Designs solutions that ensure continuity of Metro's voice and brand in all media
• Designs for a wide range of mediums, including print, outdoor, environmental, screen, web, mobile, interactive/digital, and other new media
• Provides design direction and mentors junior designers, illustrators, photographers, and other contractors, and oversees work on specific projects
• Prepares visual presentations for management-level staff using a variety of software, mockups, and/or samples
• Designs signage and wayfinding and other environmental graphic design solutions for a wide range of stations, facilities, vehicles, and other applications and integrates Metro's brand identity into the built environment
• Reviews and comments on construction drawings and specifications, shop drawings, samples, materials, and finishes for compliance with Metro Signage Standards and guidelines
• Reviews and comments on consultant work and materials for compliance with Metro Brand Guidelines and project standards
• Attends meetings to help develop strategies and provide input on a variety of Metro projects

May be required to perform other related job duties

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Environmental Design, Advertising or related field

• Three years of relevant experience conceptualizing, designing, refining and producing advanced-level communications materials; collaborating with clients and/or overseeing fabrication/installation; and leading creative teams through project completion; some positions in this class may require specialized experience in area of assignment; outstanding professional portfolio is preferred

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions
• Occasional use of graphic equipment such as knives and paper-cutters

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

• Experience designing customer information, digital maps, and user interface components for accessible, user-centered experiences across web, mobile, and screens, designed to integrate seamlessly with rider tools
• Experience creating public-facing maps and products using GIS data and tools such as Esri ArcGIS or with similar apps, including managing basemaps and feature layers, to translate complex data into clear, intuitive visual formats for diverse audiences
• Experience designing cohesive and user-centered information materials for digital and physical touchpoints throughout the customer journey – including maps, wayfinding, webpages, and templates – preferably within transit or public sector environments
• Experience building and maintaining design systems and documentation using tools like Figma and Adobe CC or similar programs, through cross-functional collaboration with technical and non-technical teams, and applying service design methodologies to establish scalable and iterative design libraries and guidelines
• Experience reviewing and enforcing graphic and communication standards across in-house, partner, and consultant deliverables to ensure consistent application of branding, symbology, and messaging across multiple touchpoints

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of (defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Basic and current principles and theories of graphic design and typography, new media, and/or environmental graphics
• Best practices for design, illustration, photography, web, and/or environmental mediums
• Basic math as it relates to proportions, perspective, and type specification
• Administrative, organizational, writing, and visual /verbal presentation skills
• Applicable hardware and related software programs for marketing, communications, web, and desktop publishing tools
• Applicable business software applications

• Developing appropriate design direction for advertising campaigns, customer information, printed and online communications, motion graphics and short films, advertising, and/or signage and wayfinding
• Exercising critical judgement in designing and producing a variety of communications materials
• Making visual/verbal presentations
• Preparing final design files for print, web, and/or environmental graphic projects
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, and recommending solutions
• Organizing and managing projects
• Translating artwork into large outdoor and three-dimensional formats
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees and outside representatives

• Develop appropriate design direction of an advertising campaign
• Correctly create final design files for print, web, and/or environmental graphic projects
• Create templates and PDFs (Portable Document Formats)
• Successfully track multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Spot printing defects
• Define print specifications
• Perform copy fitting, including correct typeface, size, line measure, spacing, and kerning on the computer
• Maintain organized and accurate graphic job files and update regularly to file servers
• Assemble comps for client review and offset printer instruction
• Evaluate jobs at a press check and analyze attributes
• Handle creative direction and feedback
• Read, write, speak, and understand English

Special Conditions

• This job specification is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job
• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
• This classification is at-will and the incumbent serves at the pleasure of the hiring authority when classified as an Intermittent, Emergency, Annuitant, or Temporary employee, is assigned to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) or Board Clerk's Office, and/or reporting directly to the LACMTA Board of Directors
• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
  

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Standing
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
• Feeling to perceive an object(s) size, shape, temperature or texture by means of senses in your skin
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances
• Color recognition (e.g., distinguishing wires, resistors, containers, light signals, etc.)

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.
Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro locations:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Open: Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Metro Talent Hub
8501 S. Evermont Place
Los Angeles, CA 90044
Open: Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

East Los Angeles Customer Center
4501 B Whittier Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90022
Open: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
(Closed Sun & Mon)

Wilshire/Vermont Customer Center
3183 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 174
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Open: Monday through Friday, 10am-6pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Rosa Parks Customer Center
Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station
11720 Wilmington Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Open: Monday through Friday, 6am to 6:30pm
(Closed Sat & Sun)

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

• Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

*Please refer to the applicable benefit type (Regular or Temporary)*

• Kaiser medical insurance
• Public Pension Plan
• 457/401K Plan
• Flex Spending
• Paid Sick Time
• Fare Media
• Rideshare Subsidies
• Metro One Fitness membership