Graphic Designer (Contract)

International City County Management•Washington, DC

1d•$30 - $37•Remote

About The Position

ICMA is seeking a creative and detail-oriented Contract Graphic Designer to support the development of visual communications across conferences, publications, educational resources, marketing campaigns, and organizational initiatives. This role is for a senior-level designer with 5 - 8 years of professional experience who enjoys variety, thrives in a collaborative environment, and is passionate about creating thoughtful, brand-driven design solutions. Working closely with the Design Manager, project managers, marketers, and stakeholders across the organization, you will help shape visual experiences that connect with local government professionals and support ICMA's mission. In addition to contributing to meaningful work, this role offers a unique opportunity to build an exceptionally diverse portfolio. Designers will have the chance to create conference branding systems, environmental graphics, publications, marketing campaigns, resource guides, presentations, infographics, and digital assets - all within a single role.

Requirements

Five to eight years of professional graphic design experience in an agency, in-house, freelance, or contract environment.
Strong portfolio demonstrating: Brand identity design and application, Publication and editorial design, Marketing and campaign design, Typography and layout systems, Event and conference-related creative work, Print and digital communications
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, including: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop
Working proficiency in: Canva, Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint, SharePoint, Dropbox, or similar file management systems
Experience preparing files for print and digital production.
Strong understanding of: Graphic design principles, Typography and information hierarchy, Visual storytelling, Brand identity systems, Design trends that balance innovation with long-term effectiveness
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
Strong communication and collaboration skills.
Ability to work independently in a remote environment.
A high-speed Internet connection is required.
Contract personnel must provide their own Internet service and use their own personal computer, telephone, printer, and other technology at their own expense.
The internet connection must be of sufficient bandwidth to allow the individual to perform the job functions.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting conferences, events, and environmental graphics.
Experience working with associations, nonprofits, or mission-driven organizations.
Familiarity with social media campaign design.
Experience designing presentations, reports, and educational resources.
Basic understanding of motion graphics, video editing, or Adobe After Effects.
Familiarity with accessibility considerations in visual communications.
Understanding of how AI can be used responsibly as part of the creative process and design toolkit.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with marketing teams, project managers, copywriters, and stakeholders to develop effective visual communications.
Translate project briefs into compelling visual concepts and polished creative assets.
Design and produce a wide range of print and digital materials aligned with ICMA brand standards.
Support the development and execution of branding for conferences, educational programs, campaigns, and organizational initiatives.
Execute design projects from concept through final production.
Create visual assets including: Publications and resource guides, Conference branding systems, Event signage and environmental graphics, Presentation templates and PowerPoint decks, Infographics and illustrations, Email and marketing graphics, Social media assets, Booth graphics, banners, and promotional materials, Digital advertising and web-ready imagery
Maintain consistency across visual touchpoints and brand experiences.
Participate in creative reviews and incorporate feedback thoughtfully.
Explain design rationale and help stakeholders understand design decisions when appropriate.
Provide project updates and participate in recurring check-ins with the Design Manager.