Specialist - Graphic Design

Mercer•Urbandale, IA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a creative, organized Graphic Designer with strong direct mail experience to support our Voluntary Benefits Communications Team. The ideal candidate produces high-quality, print and digital assets, specializes in direct mail design and production, and thrives managing multiple projects from several communications specialists at different stages of the project lifecycle.

Requirements

5+ years of professional graphic design experience, with demonstrable direct mail work.
Expert-level skills in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop); familiarity with Acrobat preflight and PDF/X standards.
Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or related field — or equivalent professional experience
Strong understanding of prepress, print production, and direct-mail manufacturing (dielines, scoring, perforations, inks, CMYK vs. spot, trapping, color management), plus a working knowledge of mail regulations and USPS requirements (mail sortation, IMb/barcodes, indicia).
Proficient in digital production workflows, Microsoft PowerPoint, and basic HTML/CSS; able to create and edit presentation-ready slide decks, export assets for web and print, and support email/landing-page handoffs or simple front-end edits.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering error-free, production-ready files.
Excellent communication skills; comfortable corresponding with internal stakeholders and external vendors.
Portfolio demonstrating direct mail projects, typography, layout, and problem-solving across print and digital.

Responsibilities

Design and produce compelling creative assets for direct mail (postcards, letter packages, self-mailers, dimensional mailers), plus supporting digital and print collateral (email banners, landing pages, brochures, ads).
Maintain templates for recurring direct mail programs and multi-channel campaigns.
Juggle multiple concurrent projects originating from multiple communications specialists — prioritize requests, track status, and deliver on time while maintaining quality.
Revise promotional materials at every stage of the approval and print cycle, ensuring accuracy, brand fidelity, and production-readiness.
Prioritize and manage multiple incoming requests from different stakeholders, staying highly organized and flexible so you can re-prioritize quickly as needs change.
Collaborate closely with copywriters, communications specialists, and print production vendors to align creative, messaging, and timelines.
Contribute constructively in creative reviews, incorporate stakeholder feedback, and iterate rapidly to meet project goals.
Anticipate and solve production challenges—identify potential print or delivery issues early and propose practical, cost- and time-sensitive solutions.
Maintain high creative and quality standards under tight deadlines while balancing speed and attention to detail.
Enforce and apply client and internal brand guidelines across all touchpoints; recommend and implement template or workflow improvements to boost consistency and efficiency.
Organize and maintain project assets, version history, proofs, and production specifications for easy retrieval and auditability.