Athletics Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Athletics Graphic Designer

Company: Universities of Wisconsin

Location: Superior, WI, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Sports & Recreation / Art & Design / Education

Date Posted: April 22, 2026

Experience Level: 0-2 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Conceptualizes, plans, and executes digital and print design to support the strategic objectives of the institution and athletic department, ensuring brand consistency across all visual communications.

• Manages project workflow, creative feedback, and timing for design projects, adhering to established work unit processes and institutional brand guidelines.

• Creates compelling visual assets that inform, educate, inspire, and persuade stakeholders, with a specific focus on advancing the brand and creative strategies of the athletic program.

• Supports the content management of athletic department social media accounts, ensuring alignment with marketing and branding strategies, and assists with photography, videography, and digital media needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is crucial for the visual representation and communication strategy of the University of Wisconsin-Superior's athletic department. While not a traditional "operations" role in the sense of revenue or sales operations, it requires strong project management, process adherence, and cross-functional collaboration, which are core tenets of operations. The emphasis on brand management, content strategy, and digital asset organization directly supports GTM (Go-To-Market) strategies for athletic programs and university initiatives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and produce high-quality graphics and creative media for the athletic department and its programs, adhering to established brand and style guidelines.

• Collaborate with creative professionals, engage in and respond to creative feedback, manage project workflow and timing, and maintain digital asset libraries.

• Support the content management of athletic department social media accounts, ensuring alignment with department and university marketing, branding, and creative strategies.

• Assist in the development of creative concepts and integrated campaigns, evaluating and ensuring alignment with established brand standards and visual identity guidelines.

• Assist with photography, videography, and digital needs as part of the Athletics Communication team, ensuring all content adheres to NCAA, governing sport conference(s), and institutional policies.

• Analyze and identify cost-effective options to meet project requirements while maintaining design integrity and brand consistency.

• Schedule logistics, secure resources, organize, and monitor art production projects, adhering to established timelines and expectations.

• Promote the philosophy and objectives of the athletic program, including adherence to departmental policies and NCAA regulations.

• Provide additional departmental support and tasks as assigned by the Director of Athletics, demonstrating flexibility and a proactive approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The 'Additional duties specific to the position' and 'Other Duties' sections highlight a need for the candidate to be adaptable and willing to contribute beyond core design tasks. This includes promoting program philosophy, enforcing policies, and completing assigned training, which aligns with a supportive operational role within the department.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Associate’s Degree to be completed by May 31, 2026.

Experience:

• Minimum of one year of demonstrated experience working in graphic design or a related field.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.).

• Strong visual design and storytelling skills, with the ability to create compelling, on-brand graphics.

• Knowledge of brand management and maintaining visual identity standards.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency in motion graphics/video editing tools (e.g., After Effects, Premiere Pro).

• Familiarity with athletics culture, recruiting, and fan engagement strategies.

• Understanding of social media platforms and content trends, particularly in collegiate athletics.

• Experience with photography and videography.

• Ability to work independently while also contributing as part of a collaborative team.

• Ability to resolve complex problems and conflict management.

• Experience with digital asset management and organizing creative files.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills and strategic understanding of the athletics environment. The "Knowledge, Skills and Abilities" section provides a strong foundation for understanding the desired candidate profile, directly informing the required and preferred skills. The minimum education and experience align with an early-career professional, while desirable qualifications point towards candidates with specific collegiate athletics experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A design portfolio showcasing a minimum of five examples of graphic design and creative content, demonstrating a range of skills and applications relevant to athletic communications.

• Examples should highlight the ability to create compelling, on-brand graphics that support strategic objectives, inform, educate, inspire, and/or persuade.

• Visual evidence of understanding and application of brand management and visual identity standards.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their process for managing multiple projects simultaneously, including workflow, timing, and file maintenance.

• The ability to explain how they engage with and respond to creative feedback will be assessed.

• Demonstrate understanding of how to identify cost-effective solutions for design projects while meeting requirements.

• Ability to explain how they ensure content adheres to specific guidelines (NCAA, conference, institutional policies).

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a design portfolio with a minimum of five examples is critical. Applicants must curate their portfolio to showcase relevant work, focusing on projects that demonstrate brand adherence, strategic communication, and versatility. The ability to articulate their design process and project management methodology will be key during the interview stages.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $44,000 - $47,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package.

• Generous paid time off.

• Competitively priced health, dental, vision, and life insurance.

• Tax-advantaged savings accounts.

• Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

• Access to resources and information via the Wisconsin.edu benefits portal.

Working Hours: Full-Time (100%), 40 hours per week, with an ongoing 12-month appointment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided clearly. The benefits package is described as comprehensive and includes standard offerings for state employees in Wisconsin, with specific mention of the WRS pension fund, which is a significant long-term benefit. The working hours are standard full-time, indicating an on-site role with consistent weekly commitment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education / Public University System

Company Size: Part of the Universities of Wisconsin system, which comprises multiple campuses and a large employee base. UW-Superior specifically is a public, four-year institution.

Founded: University of Wisconsin-Superior was founded in 1913.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer reports to the Director of Athletics, indicating a direct line of leadership within the athletic department.

• The role involves collaboration with other creative professionals and various stakeholders within the athletic department and potentially across the university.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven creative execution, ensuring visual assets align with strategic objectives and support marketing/branding strategies.

• Workflow planning and optimization through managing project workflow, timing, and resource allocation.

• Automation and efficiency practices are implied through the need to work independently, manage multiple projects, and utilize digital asset management.

Company Website: https://www.uwsuper.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of a public university system implies adherence to specific state regulations, procurement processes, and a structured organizational hierarchy. The culture likely values collaboration, public service, and adherence to institutional mission and brand guidelines. The "Family Friendly Workplaces" certification suggests a supportive work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Early-career professional in a specialized creative role within a larger institutional framework. This role is focused on design execution and brand support rather than broad operational management.

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Director of Athletics, providing a clear line of communication and oversight for athletic department initiatives.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is primarily on the external perception, brand consistency, and communication effectiveness of the athletic department. This indirectly supports GTM strategies for athletic programs, recruitment efforts, and fan engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to hone graphic design skills, expand into motion graphics and video editing, and develop expertise in social media content strategy within collegiate athletics.

• Specialization: Potential to deepen knowledge in athletics branding, fan engagement design, and NCAA compliance visuals.

• Advancement: Potential to move into senior design roles, creative director positions within athletics or other university departments, or leverage experience for opportunities in professional sports organizations or related creative fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not a traditional "operations" career ladder, growth here involves deepening creative expertise and understanding the specific needs of collegiate athletics marketing and communication. Success in this role can lead to more senior creative positions or specialized roles within sports marketing.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site position within the Universities of Wisconsin system, likely within the athletic department facilities at UW-Superior.

Office Location(s): Superior, WI, United States. The specific location is listed as "Health And Wellness Center-0011A," though this might be a departmental office rather than a primary wellness center.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative environment expected, working with creative professionals and stakeholders within the athletic department and Athletics Communication team.

• Access to necessary design software and technology (Adobe Creative Suite, potentially motion graphics/video editing tools).

• Opportunities for team interaction and project collaboration are inherent in the role's description.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (40 hours/week), implying a consistent on-site presence during business hours. Flexibility may be required for events, though not explicitly stated.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is clear. The work environment is likely dynamic, especially during athletic seasons, requiring adaptability and responsiveness. The mention of "fast-paced environment" in the skills section reinforces this.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Focus on submitted resume, cover letter, transcripts, and critically, the design portfolio.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to walk through their portfolio, explaining their design process, rationale, and the impact of their work.

• Skills Assessment: Potential for a design challenge or discussion of technical proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and other relevant software.

• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Questions will assess collaboration, problem-solving, ability to work under deadlines, and understanding of athletics culture and brand management.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with the Director of Athletics or other key stakeholders to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select at least five strong, relevant examples that demonstrate versatility and adherence to brand guidelines. Include work that shows problem-solving and creative thinking.

• Showcase Process: Be prepared to articulate the "why" behind your design choices, including initial concepts, client feedback integration, and final execution.

• Highlight Impact: If possible, include metrics or outcomes related to your designs (e.g., engagement on social media graphics, effectiveness of print materials).

• Tailor to Athletics: Include examples that are relevant to sports, collegiate environments, or fan engagement to demonstrate understanding of the specific context.

• Organize Clearly: Ensure your portfolio is easily navigable, whether digital or physical.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with the UW-Superior athletics brand and visual identity.

• Review common NCAA and collegiate athletics visual trends.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing assets for specific athletic events, recruitment materials, or social media campaigns.

• Practice articulating your design process and problem-solving approach concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component for this role. Applicants must ensure it is polished, relevant, and accompanied by a clear narrative about their design process and strategic thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, photo editing, and potential video/motion graphics work. Specifics include Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign.

• Motion Graphics/Video Editing Tools: Proficiency in tools like After Effects and Premiere Pro is desirable and may be required for certain projects.

• Digital Asset Management Systems: Ability to organize and maintain digital asset libraries implies familiarity with file management best practices and potentially DAM software.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role's core responsibilities, but collaboration may involve working with systems used by marketing or communications departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The expectation is strong technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. Any experience with video editing or motion graphics will be a significant advantage. The ability to manage and organize digital assets is also a key operational skill for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Brand Integrity: Upholding and advancing the visual identity and brand standards of the UW-Superior Athletics department and the university.

• Strategic Communication: Creating visuals that effectively communicate messages, support objectives, and engage target audiences (students, athletes, fans, recruits).

• Efficiency and Organization: Managing multiple projects, maintaining organized files, and adhering to established processes and timelines.

• Collaboration and Feedback: Working effectively with colleagues, responding constructively to feedback, and contributing to a team environment.

• Compliance and Professionalism: Adhering to NCAA, conference, and institutional policies, and promoting the philosophy and objectives of the athletic program.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional integration with the Athletics Communication team, Director of Athletics, coaches, and potentially other university departments.

• A process of iterative design, involving feedback loops with stakeholders and creative professionals.

• Knowledge sharing, particularly regarding best practices in visual design for collegiate athletics and social media trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes a blend of creative excellence and adherence to institutional guidelines. Team members are expected to be proactive, collaborative, and committed to the success of the athletic program's brand.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Creativity: Meeting institutional brand guidelines while producing fresh, engaging designs.

• Managing Multiple Competing Priorities: Juggling design requests from various stakeholders within the athletic department, often with tight deadlines.

• Staying Current with Trends: Keeping up with evolving design trends and social media platform best practices in a fast-paced environment.

• Ensuring NCAA/Institutional Compliance: Diligently adhering to all relevant regulations in design output.

• Limited Resources: Potentially working with a lean team and budget, requiring resourcefulness and cost-effective solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Developing project management, workflow optimization, and digital asset management skills.

• Industry-Specific Learning: Deepening understanding of collegiate athletics marketing, fan engagement strategies, and NCAA compliance in design.

• Technical Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to master new design software features, explore motion graphics, or improve photography/videography skills.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced professionals within the university system and athletic department.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents an opportunity to grow within a specific niche (collegiate athletics design) while developing transferable operational skills in project management and brand stewardship.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for conceptualizing a new graphic for a major athletic event, from initial brief to final delivery." (Focus on methodology, stakeholder communication, and brand alignment).

• "How do you handle receiving critical feedback on a design you've worked hard on?" (Assesses collaboration, resilience, and problem-solving).

• "How would you ensure your designs adhere to both the institutional brand guidelines and NCAA regulations?" (Tests understanding of compliance and brand stewardship).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about designing for collegiate athletics at UW-Superior specifically?" (Assesses research and genuine interest).

• "How do you approach working within a team and collaborating with individuals who may have different creative visions?" (Evaluates teamwork and communication).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each portfolio piece as a mini-case study with a clear objective, your creative process, and the results achieved.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your problem-solving approach, how you interpreted briefs, and how you incorporated feedback.

• Showcase Brand Understanding: Point out how your designs align with brand guidelines, even when pushing creative boundaries.

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss the software and techniques used for each piece.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time and present the most impactful work efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should heavily focus on the portfolio and the ability to articulate one's design process and strategic thinking within the context of collegiate athletics.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Athletics Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Workday portal via the provided link or UW-Superior employment page.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your design portfolio contains at least five strong, relevant examples. Tailor the selection to showcase athletic or collegiate-style graphics, demonstrating versatility and brand adherence.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight experience in graphic design, brand management, Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, and any relevant experience in sports, social media, or project management. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Cover Letter Focus: Clearly articulate your passion for graphic design within the collegiate athletics context, your understanding of brand strategy, and your ability to manage projects efficiently.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with UW-Superior Athletics, its mission, recent campaigns, and visual identity. Understand the "Family Friendly Workplaces" certification and what it signifies.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding specific portfolio requirements and interview expectations, should be verified directly with the hiring organization or hiring manager, Nick Bursik, at nbursik@uwsuper.edu before making application decisions.