Senior Graphic Designer

About Us - Values Overview

Department Summary

As the chief communications organization for the University of North Texas, the Division of University Brand Strategy and Communications (UBSC) collaborates with internal and external partners to:

• Advance and protect UNT’s institutional identity and reputation.
• Reinforce and grow UNT’s brand in graphics, images and words.
• Increase UNT’s visibility in public and in the higher education marketplace.
• Support UNT’s student recruitment, retention and graduation goals.
• Strengthen UNT’s relevance and value to key audiences, including alumni, donors, faculty and staff members, and encourage community engagement.

Position Overview

This position is responsible for advanced professional and skilled technical work in communication design for the purposes of targeted print and media production, including advertising campaigns, digital communications, marketing campaigns, publications, and social media. This employee will serve as a Design team lead, working closely with project stakeholders to conceptualize, design, create and produce various print and digital communications.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in graphic design or related field and four years of professional graphic arts work experience in print, video, and/or electronic media production, or related field; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• The ability to conceptualize, design, and produce unique, engaging and original work is a must, as well as the ability to understand and implement audience research into projects creatively, accurately and effectively.
• Collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders to align design work to strategic goals and initiatives is essential.
• A high degree of collaboration and excellent interpersonal communication skills are required.
• Candidates must have a mastery of Adobe Creative Cloud applications including InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, and a commitment to following best practices in sourcing and licensing fonts, photography and illustration.
• Considerable knowledge of the planning, methods, practices and techniques used in the production of design, marketing, publications and advertising materials for print and digital media is required.

Preferred Qualifications

Mastery of Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator are required. Adobe Animate or After Effects skills are a plus, as are illustration skills. Familiarity working within project management workflow, such as Smartsheet, is advantageous. Knowledge of the capabilities of Adobe Express and Adobe Firefly, as well as the impact of evolving technologies such as artificial intelligence is a plus.

Job Duties

• Analyzes, considers, applies and incorporates relevant audience-specific research within the conceptualization, design and production of campaigns and projects.
• Thinks creatively and demonstrates an interest and curiosity in current design trends. Has a basic knowledge of popular design and art history movements, as well as both past and current influential artists and designers. Gleans unique sources of inspiration and is enthusiastic to engage in new work.
• Utilizes Smartsheet to follow the established internal review process with the Director of Design, the Project Management team and all assigned team members.
• Is self-motivated and proactively works ahead to clear tasks and projects effectively and efficiently. Collaborates and communicates clearly with the Director of Design and the Project Management team to prioritize work. Manages time productively. Works to clear assigned tasks in advance of time off when possible and provides clear information about remaining tasks for teammates while out. Confirms all active projects are well organized and stored in the correct location on the server so others may access them.
• Responds decisively and pivots as needed to meet strategic goals.
• Follows UNT brand standards in the design and production of all work and advises campus partners regarding best brand practices as needed. Maintains and enhances UNT’s institutional image through consistent application of brand marks, taglines and other graphic identity markers.
• Receives and implements direction, accepting edits as a standard part of the creative process. Makes edits quickly in collaboration with the team. Asks logical questions and actively participates in discussions to arrive at agreed upon solutions. - (Essential)
• Meets deadlines, starts and completes tasks on time, alerts the Project Management team and Director of Design when tasks are held up in another area or otherwise delayed.
• Produces clean, well-organized files and file folders. Names layers, eliminates blank or unnecessary layers and builds files in a professional manner. Utilizes the Preflight Quality Checklist when pre-flighting and packaging projects. Attends press checks as needed and arrives on time. Takes and completes the UBSC design area Press Check checklist consistently to all press checks. Obtains and returns with press sheets for reference.
• Conceptualizes, plans, designs and produces projects under the direction of the Director of Design, in collaboration with other UNT and UBSC stakeholders so that strategic goals are achieved. May serve as a team lead.
• Can be reliably reached during work hours, regardless of work location. Informs the Director of Design in advance of being out, and as soon as possible when sick or in the event of an emergency. Attendance is consistent and reliable and in accordance with UNT policy.

Physical Requirements

• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers. 

Environmental Hazards

• No adverse environmental conditions expected. 

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm Hybrid optional

Driving University Vehicle

No

Security Sensitive

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted. 

Benefits

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit –and takes actions to prevent – discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices, and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities. UNT System Administration promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. System Administration also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist, or participate in a related investigation or proceeding.