Graphic Designer

Defender of Wildlife • Washington, DC

6h • $79,000 - $85,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Multimedia Director, this role will create graphic designs, choose and procure photos, assist with proofing and revisions, oversee the pre-print process and bidding, and work with printers and other vendors to ensure timely and on-budget delivery of Defenders’ design deliverables. This position will take charge of the production and printing process to ensure timely and on-budget designs. The Graphic Designer will assure that all Defenders designs maintain high standards consistent with Defenders’ branding standards and guidelines and play an integral role in rebranding. This role will also capture, edit, and organize photos of events, wildlife, wild places, and staff. The position upholds organizational standards for accurate, human-captured images of wildlife and wild landscapes, photo researching, editing, rights-negotiating, multimedia organization, and managing PhotoShelter, our cloud-based database of images for organization-wide use. Additionally, the role will create motion graphics and animations for specific projects and as visual storytelling support for organizational campaigns.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s (B.A./B.S.) degree or equivalent
• 5 years of relevant experience in progressively responsible positions in design and production, print, photography, motion graphics, and animation preferred.
• Expertise in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Lightroom, Canva, After Effects, font management and digital asset management.
• Expertise in Apple hardware and software, able to transfer files from PC to Mac environment (and vice versa).
• Ability to make decisions, work independently, and juggle many different responsibilities.
• Knowledge of, and experience, with web design and HTML.
• Knowledgeable with maintaining branding identity and consistency in all designs.
• Organized and able to work efficiently under deadline pressure.
• Willingness to work cooperatively and accept constructive criticism.
• Knowledge of and interest in nature and environmental issues.

Nice To Haves

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.

Responsibilities

• Provide art direction for Defenders’ printed and online materials to ensure visually compelling graphic designs that follow Defenders’ branding guidelines.
• Oversee pre-press operations, check color and coordinate proofing process.
• Ensure that printing, assembly and delivery of publications meet the highest standards of quality, environmental sustainability, timeliness and economy.
• Keep track of all schedules and deadlines, keep all projects on time and on budget.
• Maintain archive of designed materials in SharePoint and Media Den shared network spaces.
• Solicit and review bids from printers and other contractors, help prepare and monitor contracts with vendors and review, submit for payment and track vendor invoices.
• Create display and social ads, infographics and other elements for digital advertising.
• Must be open to innovating design style and requests to meet a rapidly evolving landscape.
• Respond to requests for images from marketing, communications, fundraising, program and other departments throughout the organization.
• Research and edit candidate photos to ensure that images meet standards for accuracy, realism and quality.
• Negotiate for appropriate rights and/or purchase photos, working within assigned budgets.
• Obtain and provide accurate credit and caption information, and ensure this information is included in final product, as appropriate.
• Review, update and manage a database of photos, ensuring that these meet standards for accuracy, realism and quality.
• Oversee entry and cataloging of these photos on Defenders’ digital asset management, PhotoShelter.
• Work with stock agencies and/or individual photographers to obtain images to augment this database of images staff can freely use.
• Design deliverables including ads, out of home, annual reports, calendars, invitations, brochures, newsletters, fact sheets, PowerPoint templates, virtual backgrounds, motion graphics, infographics, animations, flyers, briefs, cards and other printed and digital materials as requested.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Equal employment opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, genetic information, disability, veterans' status or and any other legally protected class, characteristic or trait per applicable federal, state, or local law.

What This Job Offers

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