Graphic Designer

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Chicago’s Enrollment and Student Advancement Division (ESA) seeks a highly organized, creative, and detail-oriented graphic designer to support communications and outreach across the division. This position will have a particular focus on designing print and digital collateral for student career programs, University Master’s programs, and college access initiatives like STARS (Small Town and Rural Students Network). This role is central to translating the division’s work into compelling, accessible materials for diverse audiences while ensuring consistent, high-quality execution across print and digital channels. The position will collaborate closely with project leads, contribute to outreach strategy, and support the day-to-day operations that advance the division’s mission. This position reports to ESA’s Executive Director of Creative Operations and works closely with project leads across affiliated departments.

Requirements

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
Adept at preparing files for print production and working with external print vendors.
Familiarity with digital design for social media platforms and email marketing.
Working knowledge of typography, layout, and color theory as applied to both print and screen.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Think critically about outreach goals and assess the impact and viability of projects.
Collaborative and responsive to work across teams and disciplines.
Proactive and solutions-oriented, with strong follow-through.
Comfortable balancing creative production with administrative and operational tasks.
Interest in mission-driven programming.

Nice To Haves

Designing print and digital collateral in a professional or institutional setting.
Familiarity with WCAG accessibility standards as applied to digital materials.
Hands-on exposure with motion graphics tools such as Adobe After Effects.
Hands-on exposure with Lightroom or similar tools for photo editing and asset management.

Responsibilities

Designs and produces print collateral for ESA initiatives, including brochures, one-sheets, handouts, signage, and event materials.
Creates digital collateral including social media graphics, email assets, and promotional materials across platforms.
Maintains brand consistency across all materials, ensuring alignment with University of Chicago visual identity standards.
Manages and organizes a library of design assets, templates, photos, and production files for ongoing and future use.
Works closely with colleagues in the University’s Career Advancement and College Admissions offices to scope project requirements and source content.
Supports content development across platforms, ensuring alignment with institutional standards and messaging.
Prepares files for print production, including vendor coordination and press-ready output.
Attends meetings with project leads and stakeholders; prepares clear, actionable notes and summaries.
Tracks project timelines and deliverables to support successful execution.
Contributes to defining and refining outreach goals for ESA initiatives.
Evaluates the effectiveness, relevance, and feasibility of outreach efforts and projects.
Supports efforts to expand visibility and engagement with key audiences.
Conceptualizes and creates graphic artwork, such as charts, graphs or illustrations, for various publications, advertising materials and/or customers with limited supervision.
Uses on-the-job experience to complete a variety of assignments, such as coordinating production support with outside vendors, as needed.
Performs other related work as needed.