Digital Graphic Designer

City of Austin

1d•$30 - $37•Hybrid

About The Position

Under minimal supervision, this position will provide graphic and visual design services that support consistent branding, promotion, and the City's web and digital properties. The purpose of this role is to assist with consistent branding, promotion, and dissemination of information. This position is part of the City's centralized communications team responsible for creative services, brand governance, and the City's web and digital properties, and works on projects that serve departments across the organization. We're looking for a designer with strong graphic and visual design experience across a range of applications, including print and digital collateral, branding and identity work, and UI/visual design. The ideal candidate has produced work that meets diverse organizational needs while maintaining a cohesive brand system, and is motivated to help advance and evolve the City's visual identity and digital presence. Strong candidates will demonstrate experience in brand stewardship, versatility across mediums such as collateral, campaigns, and web/UI, and the ability to translate stakeholder needs into polished, on-brand creative.

Requirements

Knowledge of marketing practices and procedures, design principles, and media industries.
Knowledge of content management systems, Drupal experience preferred.
Knowledge of current and emerging web publishing standards and best practices related to accessibility, usability and writing for the web.
Knowledge of multimedia formats related to audio, video, and interactive technologies.
Knowledge of user-centered design process, specifically related to accessibility and Web standards.
Skill in design, illustrations, infographics and data visualizations.
Skill in typography, color and layout composition.
Skill in CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and prototyping and wireframe creation tools.
Skill in analytical and conceptual approaches to design.
Skill in oral and written communication.
Skill in project management to assist project managers in work estimates and planning.
Ability to craft graphic elements, assets, and visual treatments that adapt and flow with responsive design systems.
Ability to manage multiple projects and remain flexible through multiple revisions from concept to completion while keeping a keen attention to detail.
Ability to manage time and schedules.
Ability to work on projects of all scales and types, both collaboratively and independently.
Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public as well as to work collaboratively with marketing, development, and project management specialists.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
Ability to articulate design rationale, user-understanding and empathy and an understanding of brand.
Ability to work with Adobe Creative Cloud.
Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four (4) college or university with major coursework in related discipline or certificate in graphic design, plus a minimum of three (3) years of experience related to the job.
Experience may substitute for the education up to the maximum of four (4) years.

Nice To Haves

Ability to articulate design rationale to non-designers and negotiate constructively when a request conflicts with brand standards.
Experience developing, documenting, and maintaining brand standards for a large organization with a decentralized network of communicators.
Experience providing design services to multiple departments, business units, or client programs simultaneously.
Experience building and administering enterprise template systems such as Canva Enterprise, Adobe Express, or Microsoft Office template libraries.
Advanced proficiency in Figma, including components, variables, and shared libraries.
Experience supporting a design system or component library for a website or digital product.
Experience in government, higher education, healthcare, or another large public serving institution.
Working knowledge of WCAG 2.1 AA or 2.2 AA success criteria, including accessible document and PDF remediation.
Experience with digital asset management platforms, including taxonomy and metadata practices.
Experience creating illustration and iconography as a system rather than as individual assets.
Experience preparing files for commercial print production, including color management and prepress.
Experience designing for audiences with varied languages, literacy levels, and access needs.
Ability to travel to more than one work location.

Responsibilities

Creates comprehensive design strategies and packages tailored to customer needs.
Designs and produces websites, motion graphics, style guides, advertisements, promotional materials, print collateral, illustrations, logos, and photography for a wide variety of marketing materials and platforms.
Assists with web and social media presence, development, appearance, and updates.
Monitors and coordinates all stages of production to complete projects.
Advises and consults with vendors producing bid specifications, documentation, and contracts for vendors.
Assists in the planning and development of digital advertising, promotional campaigns, and strategies.
Acts as art director and liaison for individual projects and client programs.
Assists with the development of long-range strategic marketing plans.
Researches best practices, emerging technology, user behavior, interface content, and industry and cultural trends.
Acts as a steward of the brand look and feel, and ensures that all creative broadcast across all channels lives up to the highest quality of the City’s visual standards.
Collaborates with stakeholders to effectively drive communications and to ensure consistency of brand identity.
Works within the content management system to implement and maintain a consistent and engaging visual web presence.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.