Graphic Design Specialist II

GENERAL PURPOSE: The Graphic Design Specialist activates the University¿s brand and develops a visual language for Advancement programs and partners¿including the Office of the Senior Vice President, Events and Donor Engagement, Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Major Gifts, and Gift Planning¿as well as departments and divisions across the institution¿ including the Office of the President, all undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, and the Medical Center. The Graphic Design Specialist authors and maintains content, design, photographic imagery, illustrations, and multimedia to support the organization's identity and strategic plan goals. Applies storytelling and design fundamentals to conceive overall concept, tone, voice, look, and feel of each project across all related tactics in both traditional and digital media, consistent with overall messaging and visual identity. Designs the layout of publications, special event invitations and programs, signage, packaging, presentations, illustrations, posters, graphs, charts, infographics, animated GIFs, and more. The Graphic Design Specialist plays a key role in building the University's strategic creative and marketing infrastructure and understands audiences, channels, and how to distribute content, with demonstrated knowledge of social networks, new-media, and traditional print outlets. RESPONSIBILITIES: Graphic design and creative solutions: Produces and maintains graphic designs and multimedia content for advancement programs and institution-wide initiatives including Principal gifts, Gift planning, Meliora Weekend, Reunion, Celebration of Scholarships, Annual Giving, URMC galas, student young alumni, and affinity engagement, and more. Produces custom creative solutions for strategic donor engagement opportunities and scalable tactical solutions for mass marketing initiatives. Transforms abstract ideas, concepts, information, and data into concrete, appealing, easy-to-understand visual communications. Develops and delivers solutions that meet client objectives. Coordinates and art directs photoshoots on deadline and in collaboration with communications colleagues and University partners. Edits tactics and treatments for message, audience, and channel. Understands the principles of visual storytelling and effective design techniques for composition, color, and typography. Understands how to use multimedia design assets effectively across a variety of platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTokand other web and social channels. Packages and provides content and designs for use by external vendors and media outlets and coordinates with outside vendors, producers, and contractors on technical needs for support, as needed. Maintains and evolves digital media asset libraries and archives. Project management: Manages multiple project life cycles at a time¿from intake through delivery. Assists in setting and adjusting schedules, tracks and reports on progress, liaises with external contractors and vendors, ensures successful delivery, and archives work. Presents work for approval and ensures high quality and client satisfaction. Works directly with the Senior Creative and Design Specialist to exercise fiscal control over assigned projects to keep them within budget while maintaining the highest possible level of quality. Works with Creative Director to ensure all facets are in keeping with the University¿s brand identity and are visually effective. Manages and organizes an archive of photo, video, and design assets with the appropriate level of metadata necessary to make it searchable and provides support as needed to locate assets. Brand stewardship and cross-functional collaboration: Consults and collaborates with fellow creatives and marketers on a regular basis. Serves as an ambassador across the University for brand standards, monitoring brand integrity and consistency across all platforms and all divisions and departments of the University. Stays abreast of developments and technology in the design and multimedia fields through professional meetings/seminars/classes/workshops. Helps colleagues develop basic design, video production, and art direction skills as needed. Creative strategy: Assists Senior Creative and Design Specialist and Creative Director with pulling insights from market and data research and adjusting strategies and tactics to meet ongoing needs. Conducts regular trend research to ensure tactics and solutions are relevant for each target audience on every project. Assists with information gathering, benchmarking, and educating colleagues on the importance of the insights that drive effective creative. Other duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: Bachelor¿s degree in graphic design, new media, communications, or related field. At least 2 years of professional experience in graphic design, communications, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Must demonstrate a command of video, design, color theory, typography, and composition techniques with sophisticated craftsmanship. Competency in creative and graphic design principles from concepting and prototyping through final production and mechanical delivery. Strong combination of technical, creative, and problem-solving skills related to the practice of both traditional and multimedia design. Ability to take abstract concepts, information, and data and turn it into appealing, easy-to-understand visual communication for print/digital publications. Proficient graphic designer with work samples showing a range of skills with both traditional communications approaches, as well as strategic marketing solutions. Proficiency in creating visual concepts, presenting to partners, developing assets, and crafting engaging visual languages. Knowledge of social media and how to engage audiences on digital platforms in the public space. Demonstrated experience with and passion for motion graphics, animated GIFs, and dynamic multimedia design. Illustration and/or hand lettering skills a plus. Proficiency in Adobe CS, including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator Proficiency in a Mac OS workspace. Experience with pre-press, mechanicals, working directly with print and fulfillment vendors, managing independent contractors Experience working in an agency or fast-paced environments such as events. Strategic thinking, with a proven ability to understand client needs and provide counsel on solutions. Demonstrated ability to work with clients or faculty, and a general understanding of the higher education environment. Excellent time management and project management skills. Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills. The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion to advance the University¿s mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create ¿ and Make the World Ever Better. In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates from underrepresented populations, veterans, and persons with disabilities consistent with these values and government contractor Affirmative Action obligations. How To Apply All applicants must apply online. EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled Pay Range Pay Range: $24.91 - $34.87 Hourly The referenced pay range represents the minimum and maximum compensation for this job. Individual annual salaries/hourly rates will be set within the job¿s compensation range, and will be determined by considering factors including, but not limited to, market data, education, experience, qualifications, expertise of the individual, and internal equity considerations. Apply for Job Careers Sign In New User Location: Central Administration Full/Part Time: Full-Time Opening: Schedule: