Sr. Graphic Designer

$77,900 - $82,000/Yr

National Geographic Society - Washington, DC

Full-time - Mid Level

Hybrid - Washington, DC

Publishing Industries

About the position

The Senior Graphic Designer will play a crucial role in the Brand and Creative team at the National Geographic Society, contributing to the development and execution of integrated communications and marketing strategies. This position focuses on maintaining the Society's brand standards through the creation of digital and print materials that promote its mission and engage audiences. The designer will collaborate with various stakeholders to produce visually compelling designs that align with the Society's goals and values, ensuring a unified visual identity across all projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as one of the design leads for assigned brand, marketing, and communications projects across various media platforms.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate content into visually engaging designs that meet thematic and project goals.
• Produce style guides, renderings, and other materials for project visualizations and presentations.
• Help guide the team in understanding brand standards and industry trends, focusing on processes and tools.
• Ensure compliance with corporate style guides and enforce established brand guidelines.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions to create high-level creative themes and messaging in support of the Society's divisional goals.
• Provide design support for internal and external presentations for senior leadership (Powerpoint, Keynote, Google Slides).
• Develop and refine creative concepts into workable elements, including sketches, illustrations, and mockups.
• Advise on and create design elements, typography, color, and finishes.
• Collaborate with external talent and internal team members on writing, illustrations, photo selection/shoots, and other needs and integrate it into finished work.
• Ensure a unified visual identity across National Geographic Society's projects and maintain strong brand equity.
• Design digital marketing materials such as emails, templates, website designs, and web banners; ability to code a plus.
• Provide the Communications division, as well as other divisions across the Society, with easy-to-use National Geographic branded templates.
• Support the Society's HQ redesign and Base Camp project, as needed.
• Monitor project schedules, providing updates and feedback to project managers and stakeholders through email and our Wrike project management platforms.
• Maintain digital archival of all produced and sample materials.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a creative field or relevant field is preferred.
• 5+ years of experience working on multi-platform marketing campaigns, preferably in an in-house agency, ad agency, or design firm.
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and other design programs (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Figma).
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs and Google Workspace.
• Working knowledge of web design, responsive design, and email design.
• Experience working in both print and digital design and production processes.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and produce on tight deadlines while paying close attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively (oral and written) across a large, diverse group of professionals from educators to scientists to fellow creatives.
• Creative thinker and curious learner, committed to iterative processes.
• Ability to take direction from senior level creatives and collaborate with a larger internal organizational creative community.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of digital marketing, animation, video editing, and Keynote/PowerPoint presentation skills are all a plus.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Engaging and comprehensive wellness program
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment
• Flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year
• 10 days of sick leave
• 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
• Fertility benefits
• Learning and development opportunities
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Pet adoption assistance and insurance
• Pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit
• Variety of National Geographic discounts and perks