Senior Graphic Designer or Senior Transportation Planner (with Vi...
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates - Plainfield, New Jersey, us, 07063Work at Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates
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Overview
we
aren’t the ones who enact the policies or pour the concrete. Our clients do.That’s why telling the transportation story, visually, is central to our work.
Perhaps it’s a slide deck that helps a city council rethink parking minimums. Or a swoon-worthy executive summary that turns NIMBYs into YIMBYs. Or a transit map so gorgeous and functional that riders instantly know they are valued.This is where you come in.
As a Senior Graphic Designer or Senior Transportation Planner, you’ll bring our work to life in the form of slide decks, reports, infographics, maps, and more.You’ll talk shop with clients, such as transit providers and city staff, to help them harness the potential of visual communications. Where they see a spreadsheet, you see an infographic. Where they see a wall of text, you see a set of vignettes. You show them opportunities they hadn’t noticed—and then make them a reality.So, why are there two possible job titles? The answer is that we want to be flexible.Maybe you’re a planner with graphic design chops and you’re looking for a career path that blends the two skillsets. You want to keep doing planning work, while also integrating design in a meaningful way. In this case, the Senior Transportation Planner (with Visual Communications Focus) is for you.Or perhaps you’re a graphic designer who has experience with transportation planners—for example, at a city, transit agency, or advocacy group. In this case, the Senior Graphic Designer title may be a better fit.Either way, this is a senior position, which means you’ll generate ideas about taking our visual communications to new heights at Nelson ygaard. You’ll help to streamline workflows, provide mentorship, and identify key opportunities. In short, you are strategic.About Nelson ygaardFor over 35 years, Nelson ygaard has led the transportation planning field with our values and innovation. We’ve always been guided by the principle of putting people first—designing transportation systems for people, not just cars. This principle also extends to how we operate as a firm. We were founded by two women who believed in the benefits of a more egalitarian workplace, where leadership and creativity can blossom at all levels and where diversity is a core strength.Today, we are 150 talented and dedicated people in 13 offices across the country who continue to live by those values. What unites us at Nelson ygaard is the belief that transportation can change the world and our steadfast commitment to make the world more just, sustainable, connected, and beautiful.ResponsibilitiesYou have a broad range of graphic design experience, ideally with some transportation or urban design interest or expertise. Depending on your skills and our project needs, tasks will include:Creating materials—maps, charts, diagrams, illustrations, handouts, social media graphics, reports, and slide decks—that make planning concepts resonate with non-technical audiences. This involves both graphics development and layout.Providing creative direction for tasks and projects. Helping project managers identify the audience, purpose, approach, format, and key messages of visual communications materials.Helping clients with the implementation stage of plans, e.g., public-facing transit rider information materials, signage, or promotional materials.Helping clients make community engagement both fun and functional. Designing community engagement materials like boards, posters, surveys, and social media graphics.Developing project-specific branding including logo design, color selection, and font selection. This may include walking clients through the branding process.Coordinating visual communications tasks from beginning to end. Providing budget and time estimate guidance. Managing up.Leading non-design tasks for transportation planning projects and/or managing small projects that advance sustainable mobility for our clients. This requires a planning background but is an opportunity if you’re interested.Managing the completion of technical analyses, feasibility studies, and other transportation reports, including the development and delivery of effective presentations to diverse audiences, is another opportunity for those interested in the Senior Transportation Planner role.Mentoring junior staff. Opportunities for leadership and team management are available depending on experience, qualifications, and interest.Thinking of new and better ways to get things done. Documenting visual communications processes. Building on existing templates and creating new ones.Strategically learning design skills that continue to set us apart. Working with office and practice leaders, subject matter experts, and data, GIS, and engineering teams to help showcase our work.Stewarding the Nelson ygaard brand. Elevating the functional and aesthetic quality of our firmwide visual communications.RequirementsYou have a very strong eye for design and examples to back it up. You can get key messages across to non-technical audiences. You have a keen attention to detail.You’re a clear writer and excellent communicator. You get to the point.You have demonstrated experience using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.You can format content in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (or equivalents).You have some familiarity with GIS and spreadsheets.You’re resourceful, curious, communicative, and enthusiastic. You suggest solutions when identifying problems. You take initiative. You seek opportunities to learn and improve. You bring energy to teams.You’re passionate about how sustainable transportation can make the world a better place. You understand the connection between transportation and equity. You’re committed to incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion into your work.You have a postsecondary education in urban planning, geography, engineering, public health, design, or a related field. We are open to candidates with alternative educational backgrounds who have demonstrated understanding of sustainable transportation.You have 6 or more years of experience involving design, preferably related to urban or transportation planning.Nice-to-HavesThe following skills are
not
necessary but experience with any of them would be considered a bonus: R, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WordPress, Unity, UX design, rendering, SketchUp, wayfinding, Photoshop, After Effects, Animate, photography, video capture, video editing, or Section 508 compliance.Salary And BenefitsThe annual salary range for this position depends on qualifications and years of experience:Senior Associate Designer I/ Senior Associate Transportation Planner I: $88,920 - $113,620Senior Associate Designer II/ Senior Associate Transportation Planner II: $102,960 - $131,560.Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, pre-tax transit and bicycling benefit, a 401k program, life insurance, and paid time off. Additionally, we offer flexibility to work from home up to 3 days per week.Applying for the PositionTo apply, please click on the “Apply Online” link. Qualified and interested candidates must submit the following items:ResumeWork samples that highlight your skills (not to exceed 6 MB)Cover letter.In your application, please note your preferred Nelson ygaard office location, and whether you would like to be considered for the Senior Designer role or the Senior Transportation Planner role. The Senior Designer role would involve uniquely visual communications work, whereas the Senior Transportation Planner would involve a mix of planning and visual communications work.You may submit your cover letter in the form of a letter OR a slide deck. A traditional cover letter helps us understand your writing style, career goals, and why you think you’d be a good fit for the position. A slide deck gives you the opportunity to showcase your overall design style as well.If you’re submitting your cover letter as a slide deck:Use any software you wish.There is no slide minimum or maximum.You are welcome to use pre-existing graphics or templates—after all, efficiency is important in consulting! Just make sure to note where you’ve done so.Include full sentences, because (1) the deck needs to stand on its own without a presenter, and (2) we want to get a sense of your writing style. This means it’s okay for slides to have more text than you would otherwise include in a presentation deck.Please keep in mind:We do not consider applications without a cover letter.Remember that this is a visual communications position: we are judging your resume formatting.If any materials exceed the file size limit, please provide a link, e.g., via Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or a similar service.At Nelson ygaard we believe that inclusion spurs creativity, and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people and ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status, we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve. We’re committed to maximizing the diversity of our team and want to hear from anyone who is passionate about our work.
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