Graphic Designer

Description

• The scope of this project involves a junior-level graphic designer position with a strong foundation in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, focusing on a balance between graphic production, design, and team support tasks.
• This role aims to grow someone with foundational production skills into a more creatively skilled designer, able to work beyond routine production tasks.
• The designer will produce and design various print and digital collateral, support senior team members, and manage tasks within the project management system.
• Graphic Production (approx. 33%): Perform graphic production tasks efficiently, ensuring high-quality outputs for print collateral, ads, and digital graphics.
• Design Work (approx. 33%): Create visually appealing and effective designs for various marketing materials. This includes enhancing creativity in their work, as the role seeks someone who can contribute to innovative design beyond basic production.
• Team and Project Management Support (approx. 33%): Assist in team tasks, manage personal tasks within the project management system, and support senior members with ongoing projects.
• The ideal candidate is expected to demonstrate flexibility, independence, and a team-oriented attitude, contributing to a positive and motivated work environment.
• A typical day in this graphic designer role includes a mix of project management, production work, and creative tasks: Morning Traffic Meeting: Start the day with a daily traffic meeting, reviewing tasks within the project management system to prioritize the day's work.
• This provides an overview of incoming requests and any immediate needs.
• Production Tasks: Handle transactional requests that come through, such as: Creating or modifying materials like local print ads (e.g., a 1/4-page ad), ensuring adherence to brand standards and Making edits to existing assets, like information sheets or direct mail pieces, to maintain consistent branding and fulfill custom requests.
• Creative Design Tasks: Tackle more creative assignments that may come up, like: Assisting in developing new marketing collateral, such as brochures, with opportunities to bring in original design elements and contributing to larger, more involved projects, like the annual report, which requires both production and creative input.
• Additional Support Tasks: As needed, provide general team support by helping schedule tasks or communicating with other teams or departments to align on project requirements and deadlines.
• This role offers a variety of tasks throughout the day, with a balance between routine production work and opportunities for creative design.
• The designer will use both organizational skills and design expertise to meet team and company goals.
• This graphic designer role will be supporting a team of seven, which includes both senior designers and specialists in other areas.
• The graphic designer may offer occasional support, especially if there's overflow work or a need for custom graphics in presentations. In this collaborative team, the designer will interact closely with both senior designers and specialists, contributing to a variety of creative and production tasks across different media.
• Collaborative and Supportive Team Environment: Working within a team of seven, the designer will collaborate with senior designers and specialists, benefiting from a supportive environment that values teamwork and individual contributions.
  
  

Qualifications

• 3-4 years of experience with the following: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud: Advanced skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are essential, as these will be the primary tools used for both production and creative tasks.
• The main technology and software skills required for this graphic designer role focus primarily on the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.
• Adobe Creative Cloud: Photoshop: Proficiency for photo editing and graphic creation.
• Illustrator: Strong skills in creating vector graphics and illustrations.
• InDesign: Essential for designing and laying out print and digital materials, likely the most critical tool in the role.
• Adobe Acrobat: Familiarity with Acrobat for reviewing, editing, and preparing files for print and digital distribution.
• Microsoft Office: Basic proficiency in Word and Excel to navigate, review, or make simple edits as needed, though advanced skills in Excel are not required.
• The role includes mentorship opportunities from both senior designers and the team lead, allowing for growth in both technical and creative skills.
• Proficiency with Project Management tool Lytho or other PM tool familiarity.
• Strong Production and Design Skills: A solid foundation in graphic production, with an eye for detail, alongside the ability to contribute creatively to design projects like brochures, ads, and reports.
• The role seeks someone who can grow creatively beyond routine production.
• Adaptability and Team-Oriented Attitude: The designer should be flexible in handling varied tasks, from production to creative projects and general team support.
• A collaborative, team-player mentality is essential to thrive within this close-knit team.
• Basic Microsoft Office Skills: Familiarity with Word and Excel is needed to navigate basic functions, though no advanced proficiency is required.
• Desire for Growth and Mentorship: This role is ideal for someone looking to develop their design skills, with opportunities for mentorship from senior designers and the team lead, making it a great fit for a candidate eager to learn and advance.
• Candidates with backgrounds in either B2B (business-to-business) or B2C (business-to-consumer) design work are suitable, as long as they have the necessary design and production skills.
• This flexibility allows for a variety of candidates, provided they meet the core design and production requirements outlined for the role.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree is preferred, though not required.
• While video skills aren't required, having them could add value and provide opportunities to assist on video projects.
• Presentation Skills: Confidence and ability to present ideas or designs effectively to team members and stakeholders.
• Industry Awareness and Passion: A proactive interest in design trends, especially someone who stays current and is genuinely passionate about the design field.
• Openness to New Technology: A fearless attitude towards emerging tools and trends, such as AI in design, showing an eagerness to explore and adapt to new technologies.
• Enthusiasm and Positivity: A strong motivation for the role itself, with a positive, "can-do" attitude that aligns well with the team and company culture.
• These qualities reflect a candidate who is not only skilled but also highly engaged, adaptable, and excited to contribute creatively.
  
  

Benefits

Healthcare Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees and their dependents healthcare coverage through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics. Premiums are subsidized by Synectics.

Dental Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees and their dependents a dental plan through MetLife. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics.

Vision Insurance: Synectics offers eligible employees vision insurance through VSP. Eligibility begins on the 1st day of the calendar month following 60 days of continuous full time employment with Synectics.401(k) Plan: The Synectics Inc. Investment Savings Retirement Plan. Synectics offers all employees who are 21 years of age or older the opportunity to invest in the 401(k) Plan on the first enrollment date that is at least 30 days after employment begins. Enrollment dates are each January 1st, April 1st, July 1st, and October 1st.

Technical Certification Bonus: Synectics is pleased to award its employees a bonus of up to $500 for an approved professional certification. In determining the bonus amount, Synectics will consider the cost of the test(s) for any certification relating to your current position, achieved during your employment with us. Only one Certification Bonus per calendar year may be awarded per employee. Only current, active employees will be eligible to receive this bonus. It will be awarded 90 days after the Synectics office has received documentation confirming the successful completion of the certification.

Synectics is an equal opportunity employer.