Graphic Designer Job at The Woodlands Township in The Woodlands

Summary of Duties: The Graphic Designer develops and maintains a favorable brand identity for The Woodlands Township by producing visual content for print and digital media platforms. This is achieved as part of a creative team, working alongside other Communications staff and Township departments to guide design projects from inception to completion. This position has a special focus on graphic design and layout for various quarterly and monthly print publications such as The Woodlands Township Community Magazine and the Parks and Recreation activity and splash guides. The position uses professional judgment and experience to facilitate creative messaging and calls to action that positively impact Township programs and services.

Essential Employee Responsibilities: During emergency conditions, subject to being called to work in the event of a disaster, such as a hurricane, or other emergency situation and are expected to perform emergency service duties, as assigned.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

1. Serve as primary graphic designer for the Communications Department by offering artistic expertise and knowledge of best practices in visual communication.
2. Plan and coordinate projects with Communications leadership, prioritizing them by Township needs.
3. Design visual elements including, but not limited to, logos, publications, brochures, vector illustrations, social media graphics, mastheads, presentations, templates, infographics and video/animation elements as needed.
4. Create design and layout of print and digital publications such as The Woodlands Community Magazine, the seasonal Activity Guide, the Splash Guide, the monthly Township Talk feature in Community Impact and other collateral materials.
5. Collaborate with the Social Media Strategist and Video Producer on the creation of graphics for social media, video productions and animations.
6. Create and manage professionally printed projects for the Township, including developing ideas, creating artwork files (layout and design), researching bids and estimates, working with vendors throughout production process, acting as a liaison between the Township and vendors, and ensuring final product meets expectations of the Township.
7. Maintain Township Style Guides and educate departments regarding graphic standards and best practices, to ensure adherence across the organization.
8. Assist internal and external customers/vendors in preparing graphics, technical aspects and choosing file formats.
9. Remain current with knowledge of trends and best practices in design and visual communications. Remain current with knowledge of printing industry and design including terms used, understanding of printing methods, paper stocks, digital format preferences and requirements. Participate in continuing education opportunities, as available.
10. Simultaneously handle multiple, complex tasks under tight timeframes and changing priorities/conditions.
11. Assist with emergency communications during community-wide emergency situations. This position will cross-train with other Communication staff and may serve in a backup capacity for other positions as needed during emergencies. It is likely that graphic design services will be needed prior to, during and following an emergency.
12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Minimum Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education: Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.F.A.) from four-year College or university in Graphic Design, Visual Communications or related field.

Experience: Three (3) years of related experience. Applicants should be prepared to provide a comprehensive portfolio of their original work along with the completion of a hiring project.

A combination of relevant education, professional certifications, and work experience will be considered to meet the requirements of this position. Candidates demonstrating equivalent experience in lieu of formal education may be considered.

Licenses And Certifications:

• Must possess a Texas driver’s license within the first ninety (90) days of employment and meet the driver safety policy requirements.

Computer Skills:

• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Express required.
• Microsoft Office required.
• Familiarity with Canva required.
• Knowledge of Adobe Premiere/video editing/motion graphics is a plus.

Language Skills: Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Have strong communication skills, including written grammar, punctuation, proofreading skills, tact and diplomacy. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out simple one- or two-step instructions. Ability to deal with standardized situations with only occasional or no variables.

Human Collaboration Skills: Recommendations regarding policy development and implementation are made and/or recommended. Evaluates customer satisfaction, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction.

Freedom to Act: The employee normally performs the job by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance reviewed periodically.

Technical Skills: Advanced: Work requires advanced skills and knowledge in approached and systems, which affect the design and implementation of major programs and/or processes organization wide. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively.

Budget Responsibility: Has no budgetary/fiscal responsibility.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, and crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Distinguish and recognize spatial relationships; eye for graphic design.

Work Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Satisfactory: Office environment and little physical effort is required. Relatively free from unpleasant environmental conditions or hazards. Some outside work required.

The Woodlands Township is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce.