Graphic Designer

State of Iowa • Ames - 50010 - Story County, IA

15d

About The Position

Bring your creative energy to a role where your design skills make an impact. As a Graphic Designer on the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Office of the Director team, you’ll help shape eye-catching communication pieces that connect with audiences across the state. Join us as our next Information Specialist 2! This role is essential in helping Iowans understand the work we do. You’ll produce high-quality visual communication materials, both print and digital, that enhance transparency, public engagement, and agency brand identity. Through these communications, you will uphold our mission of Making Lives Better Through Transportation and will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s five core values: Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception. As a Graphic Designer (Information Specialist 2), your work will span a variety of creative and communication services, including, but not limited to: Create engaging print and digital materials, such as brochures, reports, infographics, maps, and online graphics, that help the public understand Iowa DOT projects and initiatives. Partner with internal teams to learn their communication goals and develop creative solutions that connect with the right audiences. Lead multiple design and communication projects at once by organizing timelines, balancing priorities, and ensuring on-time delivery. Ensure every communication product is easy to understand, visually consistent, accessible to all Iowans (ADA), and aligned with agency branding. Prepare polished, production-ready files and collaborate with printers, vendors, photographers, and contractors to bring projects to life. Stay current with design tools, creative trends, and accessibility best practices to keep improving how we share information with the public.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications and experience equal to two years of full-time work planning and developing content for dissemination through traditional media (newspapers, publications, radio, and television), websites, social media, and/or public speaking.
• Two years of full-time work experience in planning and developing content for dissemination through traditional media (newspapers, publications, radio, and television), websites, social media, and/or public speaking; and a total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications equals one year of fulltime experience.
• Twenty-four semester hours of postgraduate coursework in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or communications from an accredited college or university may substitute for one year of the required full-time work experience.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes experience equal to 18 months of full-time work as an Information Specialist 1.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop
• Experience in video production, editing, and animation a plus
• Strong layout, typography, and visual storytelling abilities
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to handle multiple deadlines
• Applicants may be required to present a portfolio of writing, layout, or other public relations efforts to demonstrate past experience and training.

Responsibilities

• Create engaging print and digital materials, such as brochures, reports, infographics, maps, and online graphics, that help the public understand Iowa DOT projects and initiatives.
• Partner with internal teams to learn their communication goals and develop creative solutions that connect with the right audiences.
• Lead multiple design and communication projects at once by organizing timelines, balancing priorities, and ensuring on-time delivery.
• Ensure every communication product is easy to understand, visually consistent, accessible to all Iowans (ADA), and aligned with agency branding.
• Prepare polished, production-ready files and collaborate with printers, vendors, photographers, and contractors to bring projects to life.
• Stay current with design tools, creative trends, and accessibility best practices to keep improving how we share information with the public.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start the first month following 30 days of employment
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial)

What This Job Offers

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