Job description

Graphic Designer
Req # 10003357

About the Department:
The Office of University Branding at George Mason University is responsible for telling the George Mason story. Relying on a team of highly skilled communicators and marketing professionals, the department builds awareness and support for the university, develops the brand, protects the reputation of the university, and shares important and timely information with the George Mason community and its external partners.

About the Position:
The Graphic Designer, working with the Senior Graphic Designer, Associate Creative Director, and other George Mason University team members, will create marketing and communication materials that engage the university’s target audiences and inform them about George Mason University. The designer will uphold and develop the George Mason brand in print and digital forms. It is ideal that the position holder loves everything about design and thrives in a creative environment. The designer will bring curiosity and will be engaged in the design world.

Responsibilities:
Designs and creates engaging and impactful branded marketing and communication campaigns and digital products;
Actively interacts with colleagues to determine project requirements, messaging, and organizational objectives;
Creates concepts/wireframes/mock-ups, designs that reflect the highest level of usability, brand, and creativity;
Delivers projects that achieve the stated objectives and support and advance the university’s brand;
Maintains awareness of project timelines and budget restrictions, follows all workflow procedures, and delivers high-caliber design solutions while providing excellent customer service;
Meets production deadlines, helps shape colleague expectations, and produces products that are impactful and error-free;
Ensures all working and final project files are orderly, organized and saved on the shared CS server;
Stores and organizes any unused materials for use on future projects;
Engages with colleagues in a thoughtful and productive way;
Serves as an active participant and attentive listener in discovery and colleague intake meetings, creative brainstorms, pitches, and team meetings;
Researches and maintains functional awareness of design trends, strategies, platforms, tools and techniques, and best practices—utilizing them on a daily basis;
Actively researches trends and taste changes in both the academic and commercial markets;
Seeks and finds online communities and resources for professional development, skill building and technique enhancement, and industry support and reference;
Stays connected to industry trends and makes recommendations on new and emerging approaches and formats;
Proactively seeks out trainings and experiences to grow professionally and help George Mason better meet its mission;
Provides support to OUB projects as needed;
Keeps project management system up-to-date with job status;
Coordinates preventative maintenance, system/software upgrades, and hardware/software troubleshooting with Senior Designer to ensure maximum performance of all equipment used by the employee; and
Other Related Duties as Assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in graphic design, art/fine art, visual or digital communication, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of specialized training and professional experience in graphic (print and digital) design;
Demonstrated professional experience (typically 5+ years, or equivalent knowledge);
High level of creativity and experience delivering on complex projects;
Experience working as part of a professional team;
A portfolio of print and digital design projects that demonstrate a high-level of skill in conceptualizing, planning, and executing digital and print projects for large, established brands. Specifically, work that demonstrates solid design skills, creativity, and a sharp attention to detail; strong composition and layout skills, an eye for color, type, and image selection; familiarity with working within a strong institutional brand profile or identity system; and comprehension of logical page structure, readability, visual hierarchy, and balance;
Demonstrated technical expertise in creative software including: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Express, After Effects etc.); web platforms (WordPress, Drupal, etc.); and email marketing platforms (MailChimp, EMMA etc.);
Demonstrated familiarity with common content distribution platforms, including: social media and best practices for creating effective assets for social media; web page layout and design within content management systems; and email, design and deployed using marketing platforms;
Ability to share and collaborate with different team members and project stakeholders, including other designers, design management, communications and marketing professionals, photographers, videographers, editorial and production staff, printers, and outside vendors;
Ability to work independently with a problem-solving approach to all work;
Ability to take direction and adjust to feedback; and
Ability to juggle multiple projects with competing deadlines and utilize the team’s project management processes and systems.

Preferred Qualifications:
Working knowledge or experience with ADA/508 compliance standards is highly desirable;
Familiarity with preparing materials for press or willingness to learn; and
Motion graphics or a willingness to learn.

Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for Graphic Designer at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter, Resume, Publication Materials and a Writing Sample/Portfolio (Applicants must provide either a PDF or URL link to their portfolio) for review.

Mason Ad Statement
Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason’s diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.