Graphic Designer

Reporting to the Senior Graphic Designer, the Graphic Designer serves as an integral part of the Publications and Design Team in Washington and Lee University’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs, working with the Director of Publications and Design and the Senior Graphic Designer to conceptualize and produce strategic, engaging visual content for a variety of audiences, including prospective and current students and families, alumni, faculty and staff, that elevates the university’s brand presence across multiple platforms.

To achieve our mission as a liberal arts college, we continually strive to foster a welcoming campus community, which recognizes the value of all persons. Our department is committed to contributing to an educational environment that is rich with a wide-range of intellectual perspectives and backgrounds.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborates with Communications office and campus partners to create on-brand, engaging, and accessible digital assets such as web banners, logos, icons, and infographics; high-performing graphics for social media; email marketing and e-newsletter templates; digital presentations and templates; video overlays; and simple short-form animations.
• Collaborates with office and campus partners to develop original, creative designs for print projects such as brochures, postcards, invitations, event programs, campus maps, outdoor graphics and banners, and newsletters, and the W&L Magazine.
• Partners with Communications office colleagues in the development, use, and evolution of visual brand guidelines across all multimedia and print platforms.
• Assists with print and digital production processes, such as packaging and optimizing final files for delivery, and facilitates relationships with vendors to secure quality, cost-effective external expert services; visits vendor sites on occasion for printing production quality assurance.
• Provides guidance for campus partners for the creation of internally facing collateral, where it is deemed beneficial to the university.
• Maintains project databases for file retrieval as needed.
• Stays abreast of trends in both digital and print design; benchmarks with relevant institutions; and researches and recommends new graphic design tools and technologies.
• Additional related duties as assigned.

 

Work Schedule: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. This position works 35 hours per week.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have significant experience in a graphic design, digital media, or related field with a combination of education and experience that provides a similar skillset. A bachelor’s degree is preferred.

• Excellent creative design skills as demonstrated by a portfolio showcasing original, innovative work.

• Proficiency on the Mac platform in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects) and Adobe Express, along with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

• Photo editing skills, including retouching, editing, cropping, and resizing. Must have the ability to work within established brand guidelines while maintaining design consistency.

• Strong organization skills and attention to detail, with an ability to multitask and meet tight deadlines. 

• Collaborative, collegial approach, with the ability to communicate and work effectively with faculty, students, and staff across campus.
• Strong asset management skills are essential.

Application Instructions: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Required materials include:

• Cover letter

• Resume

• Portfolio or link to work samples (included with your application materials)

• Names and contact information for three professional references

Application instructions for internal and external candidates can be found at: http://www.wlu.edu/employment-opportunities

Compensation:

The expected pay rate for this position is between $30.21 - $35.04 per hour. Offers are based on factors such as qualifications, relevant experience, skills, internal equity, and market and organizational considerations.

Washington and Lee University also offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of employees and their families. To learn more about working at W&L and benefits, visit jobs.wlu.edu.

Physical Requirements:

• Fine Motor Manipulation: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

Working Conditions: The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Types of Work: Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Non-Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible

Washington and Lee is an Equal Opportunity Employer seeking candidates committed to high standards of scholarship, performance, professionalism, and to a welcoming campus community. Job description requirements are representative, but not all‐inclusive of the knowledge, skill, and abilities needed to successfully perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.