Graphic Designer (Communications Analyst)
Prince William County, VA - Virginia Beach, Virginia, us, 23450
Work at Prince William County, VA
Overview
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Overview
See Position Description Location :
Prince William County, VA Job Type:
Full-Time (FT) Job Number:
202509543 Department:
PARKS & RECREATION Opening Date:
02/26/2025 Closing Date:
3/31/2025 11:59 PM Eastern GRADE:
C41 Hiring Salary:
$69,356.20 - $81,595.53
Introduction
Are you passionate about design, community engagement, outdoor spaces, and cultural experiences? If so, we'd love for you to join our team! Prince William County Parks & Recreation is looking for a Graphic Designer to join the Marketing and Communications team and help bring our mission and vision to life visually. With a service portfolio that includes 81 parks, 2 waterparks, 4 community pools, 2 indoor aquatic and fitness centers, 3 community centers, 3 golf course, over 50 miles of trails, and 15 historic sites, our offerings are diverse and expansive. You'll play a vital role in creating visuals that inspire, inform, and encourage the public to explore and enjoy these parks and services.
About This Role: As a Graphic Designer with Prince William County Parks & Recreation, you'll be responsible for creating a wide range of visuals that support our marketing and communication efforts. Your designs will help promote our diverse and expansive service offerings, from beautiful parks to recreational programs, community events, and historic sites. You'll be designing: • Promotional Materials: Brochures, flyers, posters, and banners to advertise events, programs, and seasonal activities. • Digital Content: Social media graphics, email newsletters, and website visuals to engage and inform the public about our services and offerings. • Wayfinding and Signage: Directional signs, informational boards, and event signage for our parks, trails, and facilities. • Branding & Identity: Consistent and creative visual assets for campaigns and initiatives that reflect the unique character of our parks and programs. • Event Graphics: Logos, posters, and other visual materials to support community events, festivals, and special programs. • Interactive Media: Graphics for digital displays, interactive maps, and promotional videos that highlight our parks, trails, and recreational spaces. • Exhibit Graphics: Museum quality graphics and visual installation designs for historical properties and other interpretive signage.
Minimum Requirements:
High School diploma or G.E.D. & 4 years of graphic design related experience
Preferences: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and a deep understanding of print production and prepress processes Experience designing a wide range of marketing materials, including print materials, digital assets, web ads, social media graphics, and presentations Strong understanding of design theories and principles such as contrast, balance, emphasis, hierarchy, white space, and typography Proven ability to interpret client ideas into polished, finished products by collaborating with internal stakeholders, gathering requirements, presenting design concepts, and incorporating feedback. Work Schedule: This is a full-time position Monday-Friday (37.5 hours per week). Upon successful onboarding, this position is telework-eligible but may revert to in-office scheduling if business needs change.
Starting Salary Range:
$69,356.20 - $81,595.53
We also offer great benefits to full-time employees including:
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) Annual leave and sick leave Paid personal days Paid holidays Group Medical and Dental Health Plans Group Life Insurance 401a and 457 Retirement Savings Plans Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Career Development Prince William County Government full-time positions qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Click here for additional information.
Prince William County Government offers medical plans with corresponding pharmacy and basic vision coverage, as well as dental plans and a separate vision plan.
Full-time and part-time Prince William County Government employees are eligible to participate in our plans; however, the level and cost of benefits depends on the classification of the position. The following positions do not accrue leave and are not eligible for holidays or other fringe benefits:
Temporary Provisional Seasonal employees Click on the link below to explore our plans and rates. 01
I understand that information provided on my application is used to determine my qualifications. Information on my resume will not substitute for the education, work experience and required fields on the County application. Only information provided at the time of the application submission will be considered when determining my qualifications. Only responses to Supplemental Questions that can be verified in my submitted education and work experience will be credited.
I have read, understand, and acknowledge the above statement I decline to proceed any further in this process.
02
Please select your highest level of completed education.
Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field such as Arts, Fine Arts, Visual Communication, Digital Media, or Graphic Design Bachelor's degree or higher in an unrelated field Associates degree in a related field such as Arts, Fine Arts, Visual Communication, Digital Media, or Graphic Design Associates degree in an unrelated field HS/GED None of the above
03
How many years of professional experience do you have in graphic design?
Less than 4 years 4 - 5 years 6 - 7 years 8 years or more
04
How would you rate your level of experience in collaborating with internal stakeholders, gathering requirements, presenting design concepts, and incorporating feedback?
Beginner: I have limited experience in collaborating with stakeholders and may need guidance when gathering requirements, presenting concepts, or incorporating feedback into designs. Intermediate: I have experience working with stakeholders to gather requirements and present design concepts. I can incorporate feedback but may occasionally need support on refining designs or managing stakeholder expectations. Advanced: I am confident in collaborating with internal stakeholders, gathering requirements, presenting concepts, and incorporating feedback effectively. I can handle most situations independently and ensure that feedback is implemented while maintaining design integrity. Expert: I have extensive experience working closely with stakeholders throughout the design process. I am skilled at gathering requirements, presenting design concepts clearly, managing feedback, and refining designs efficiently, ensuring alignment with both business goals and design vision with minimal supervision.
05
How would you rate your proficiency with the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop?
Beginner: I have basic knowledge of the software and can perform simple tasks with some guidance. Intermediate: I am comfortable using InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop for a variety of tasks and can handle most functions with minimal support. Advanced: I am highly proficient in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop and can handle complex tasks with ease, often troubleshooting and solving design challenges independently. Expert: I have expert-level proficiency with InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, and can use the software at an advanced level for a wide range of projects, providing expert-level design solutions with little to no supervision.
06
When creating designs for the web and social media, which of the following design software are you proficient in? (Select all that apply)
Adobe XD Figma Canva None of the above
07
How would you rate your level of experience and understanding of graphic design theories and principles (such as color theory, typography, composition, visual hierarchy, and branding)?
Beginner: I have a basic understanding of graphic design principles and can apply some fundamental concepts. I may still be learning how to effectively use design theories in my work. Intermediate: I have a solid understanding of key design principles and can apply them to most projects. I am comfortable working with concepts like color theory, typography, and composition but may need occasional guidance on more complex applications. Advanced: I have a strong grasp of graphic design theories and principles and consistently apply them across various projects. I can create designs with a thoughtful use of color, typography, and composition and have experience adapting these principles for different media and purposes. Expert: I have an expert-level understanding of graphic design theories and principles, and I can intuitively apply them to create highly effective, visually compelling designs. I am skilled at utilizing advanced techniques in visual hierarchy, color theory, typography, and branding, and can adapt these principles to suit a wide range of complex projects.
08
Considering all aspects of design for both print and web, how would you rate your level of experience?
Beginner: I have limited experience in design for both print and web. I may need guidance on key aspects such as layout, typography, and file preparation for different formats. Intermediate: I have a solid understanding of design principles for both print and web. I can work across both mediums but may need occasional support with more complex tasks or specific formatting requirements. Advanced: I am experienced in designing for both print and web, with a strong understanding of the nuances between the two. I can independently create and adapt designs that work seamlessly across both formats, ensuring quality and consistency. Expert: I am highly skilled in all aspects of design for both print and web. I can independently handle all design tasks, from concept to execution, across both mediums, with a deep understanding of the technical and aesthetic differences between them.
09
What is your experience in designing for various media formats that includes print, digital, and social media platforms?
Limited Experience: Primarily focused on one or two media formats (e.g., print or digital). Limited exposure to other platforms. Moderate Experience: Worked across multiple platforms (e.g., print, digital, social media) with some guidance or collaboration. Familiar with the basics of adapting designs to different media Substantial Experience: Able to independently create and adapt designs that work across multiple platforms. Comfortable using various software tools to tailor designs to specific formats (e.g., resizing, reformatting, adjusting content). Extensive Experience: Expertise in designing seamlessly across multiple platforms, with a deep understanding of the nuances and best practices for each medium. Highly proficient in leveraging a variety of design tools and techniques to ensure consistency and high-quality output across all formats.
10
Which of the following best describes your experience designing publications that have more than 50 pages?
Limited Experience: I have never designed a publication with more than 50 pages or have very little exposure to such large-scale projects. Moderate Experience: I have some experience designing larger publications (50+ pages) but still require guidance or assistance in certain areas, such as layout optimization or managing complex elements. Substantial Experience: I regularly design publications with 50+ pages, and I can handle most tasks independently with minimal supervision. I am comfortable with managing layout, formatting, and large volumes of content. Extensive Experience: I am highly skilled in designing large publications from start to finish. I can independently manage all aspects of the process, including planning, layout, editing, and final production, with little to no supervision.
11
What type of design projects have you worked on most frequently, or are you currently working on? (Select all that apply)
Branding/Logos Print Design (e.g., brochures, posters, flyers, business cards) Digital (e.g., social media graphics, web ads, digital/screen graphics) Illustration Large Format Design (e.g., exhibits, banners, posters, tradeshow graphics) Other (please specify in work history) None
12
Based on your experience working with print files, how would you rate your proficiency in performing pre-press tasks such as using correct color profiles, imposition, adding bleeds, adding variable data, and troubleshooting issues related to transparency, fonts, resolution, and color?
Basic Understanding: I can export files in common formats, but have limited experience with more advanced pre-press tasks. Intermediate: I can set up print-ready files with some guidance, including handling basic pre-press tasks like adding bleeds and managing resolution, but may need assistance with more complex issues. Advanced: I am skilled in most pre-press tasks and can handle complex situations (e.g., color profiles, imposition, font issues) independently, though I may seek guidance for unique or specialized cases. Expert: I am considered an expert in pre-press tasks. I can perform all aspects of pre-press work, from file setup to troubleshooting, with little to no supervision, ensuring accuracy and high-quality results.
13
What type of large format design projects have you worked on most frequently, or are you currently working on? (select all that apply)
Posters larger than 11x17 Billboards Vehicle Wraps Banners Outdoor signage Window graphics Vinyl die cut graphics Museum/Exhibit graphics None of the above
14
Based on your experience with large format print projects, how would you rate your proficiency in tasks such as size conversions, resolution conversions, combining vector/raster graphics, and working with large format templates (e.g., vehicle templates, dye sublimation product templates, and structural configurations)?
Beginner: I have limited experience with large format print projects and may require guidance on tasks like size conversions, resolution adjustments, and working with templates. Intermediate: I am comfortable handling tasks such as size and resolution conversions and combining vector/raster graphics. I can work with basic large format templates but may need assistance with more complex configurations. Advanced: I have extensive experience with large format print projects. I can independently perform size and resolution conversions, combine graphics, and work with a variety of large format templates (e.g., vehicle wraps, product templates) with minimal guidance. Expert: I am highly proficient in all aspects of large format printing. I can handle complex tasks such as size and resolution conversions, graphic integration, and working with various specialized templates (vehicle wraps, custom product templates, structural designs) with little to no supervision, ensuring high-quality results.
15
Considering factors like small format printing, large format printing, indoor vs. outdoor use, and other project-specific considerations, how would you rate your experience in selecting the appropriate substrate for a project?
Beginner: I have limited experience selecting substrates and may require guidance to choose the right material based on project requirements (e.g., indoor vs. outdoor, size, durability). Intermediate: I am familiar with selecting substrates for a variety of projects, including small and large format printing. I can choose materials for common use cases but may still need support for more complex or specialized requirements. Advanced: I have significant experience selecting appropriate substrates for different types of projects, including considering factors like durability, exposure conditions (indoor/outdoor), and print type. I can independently recommend and select materials for most scenarios. Expert: I am highly proficient in selecting the ideal substrate for any project, considering all relevant factors (e.g., application, environment, longevity, print method). I can make informed decisions on complex projects and provide expert recommendations with little to no guidance.
16
When designing graphics for both digital and print consumption, how would you rate your experience in managing various resolution requirements for a variety of deliverables?
Beginner: I have limited experience managing resolution requirements and may need guidance on adjusting resolutions for different formats (e.g., digital vs. print) or deliverables. Intermediate: I am familiar with adjusting resolutions for different types of projects (e.g., optimizing images for print and web). I can handle common resolution requirements but may still require some guidance for complex or specialized formats. Advanced: I have solid experience managing resolution requirements for both digital and print. I can independently optimize graphics for various deliverables, ensuring they meet quality standards for different mediums (e.g., print, web, social media). Expert: I am highly skilled in managing resolution for all types of deliverables, ensuring optimal quality and performance across both print and digital formats. I can seamlessly handle complex resolution scenarios and adjust files for various outputs (e.g., high-res for print, optimized for web and social media) with little to no supervision.
17
Do you have a portfolio showcasing your skills in print and digital design?
Yes No
18
The starting salary range for this position is $69,356.20 - $81,595.53. Are you willing to accept an offer in this range?
Yes No
Required Question