Graphic Design Lead

Lucas James Talent Partners • Columbia, SC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Lucas James Talent Partners is recruiting on behalf of UL Research Institutes. We have an exciting opportunity for a Graphic Design Lead at UL Research Institutes, based in our Columbia, Maryland office. The Graphic Design Lead guides and oversees the creative development of graphic design projects for Fire Safety, collaborating with other members of the digital media production team and cross-functional teams to conceptualize, design, and execute visually appealing and engaging visual design content across various platforms. The Graphic Design Lead utilizes innovative ideas, strategic thinking, and strong design skills to drive the creation of compelling visual experiences that resonate with our target audiences. UL Research Institutes: At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge. Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Fire Safety teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice. Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) advances fire safety knowledge to address the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL’s public safety mission of providing safe living and working environments for people everywhere. Through advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach, and education in collaboration with our international network of partners, we share with stakeholders the information, tools, and resources that enable them to make better, more fire-safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property. To learn more, visit FSRI.org.

Requirements

• Advanced knowledge and proficiency in visual design skills.
• Proficiency in graphic design tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and other relevant tools.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire, guide, and mentor junior designers.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present and articulate design concepts effectively.
• In-depth understanding of design principles, typography, layout, and brand systems.
• Working knowledge of print production and prepress for physical deliverables preferred, including file preparation with bleeds, CMYK, and die lines, with the ability to work effectively with print vendors.
• Adept at managing multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Problem-solving mindset and adaptability to changing project requirements.
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Multimedia Design, Visual Communication, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant professional graphic design experience, with a portfolio showcasing digital/web ads and social/newsletter graphics, production-ready print work, and template/document systems.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience with 2D and/or 3D animation or motion graphics is a plus.
• Illustration, icon design, animation, or motion graphics experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative direction and vision for graphic design projects, ensuring alignment with the organization's brand and goals, leading brainstorming sessions, idea generation, and concept development to deliver impactful design solutions.
• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of design projects, from concept to execution, ensuring deadlines and quality standards are met.
• Collaborate with project managers, content creators, and other stakeholders to define project scopes, objectives, and deliverables, allocating resources effectively, managing workloads, and delegating tasks within the design team.
• Design and create graphic design content, including social/newsletter graphics, digital/web ads, print/event collateral, templated document systems, presentation materials, illustrations, and more, using various tools and software, ensuring design materials are visually compelling, user-friendly, and aligned with the organization's messaging and brand guidelines.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing communications, instructional design, and research teams, to understand project requirements and deliver effective design solutions to communicate design concepts, strategies, and rationales clearly and persuasively to both team members and stakeholders.
• Conduct thorough reviews of graphic design content to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with project objectives, providing constructive feedback to team members and guiding them in refining their designs to meet quality standards.
• Stay current on industry trends, tools, and best practices, and research and propose new design techniques and technologies to continually elevate the quality of the team's design work.
• Contribute to and/or lead other department specific and cross-functional initiatives.

Benefits

• bonus compensation
• comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
• 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay
• additional 4% into retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment
• paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior