Contract Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Contract Graphic Designer

Company: Compose.ly

Location: United States

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Graphic Design / Creative

Date Posted: 2026-08-04

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Role Summary

• This contract role is designed to provide essential graphic design support for Compose.ly's marketing and brand initiatives, focusing on creating high-quality visual assets across diverse digital and print channels.

• The primary objective is to ensure consistent, on-brand design execution for social media, web, email, and print materials, thereby enhancing turnaround times and alleviating capacity strain on the internal creative team.

• This is initially a pilot engagement with an estimated commitment of 10-15 hours per month, offering flexibility and the potential for an ongoing contractor relationship based on performance and evolving business needs.

• The ideal candidate will possess strong visual judgment, proficiency in multiple design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Figma), and the ability to manage a varied workload independently while maintaining brand guideline adherence.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Contract Graphic Designer," the responsibilities and required tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Canva) suggest a role that bridges traditional graphic design with digital asset creation and UI/UX-adjacent design for web and landing pages. The emphasis on "brand initiatives" and "marketing" strongly aligns it with a Go-To-Market (GTM) support function, common within operations or marketing departments.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design a wide range of social media graphics, including static posts, carousels, reels, and advertisements, ensuring alignment with brand aesthetics and platform-specific best practices.

• Create and lay out visually engaging website landing pages and digital campaign assets, working collaboratively with marketing and web development teams.

• Develop and format digital PDF documents, such as one-pagers, sales collateral, and informational guides, ensuring clarity and brand consistency.

• Produce print graphics including flyers, signage, and brochures, paying close attention to print-ready specifications such as bleed, CMYK color modes, and resolution requirements.

• Design and build email graphics and templates that are visually appealing and optimized for rendering across various email clients.

• Uphold and meticulously apply brand guidelines across all created deliverables to ensure a unified brand identity.

• Collaborate effectively with internal marketing teams and stakeholders through communication platforms like Slack and participation in internal meetings.

• Contribute to occasional internal discussions focused on refining brand standards and design processes.

• Provide proactive feedback on design briefs, templates, and overall design workflows to enhance efficiency and output quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for a versatile designer capable of handling a broad spectrum of creative tasks. For an operations-focused enhancement, it's important to highlight how these design tasks directly support GTM strategies by creating polished marketing collateral, driving engagement through social media, and ensuring brand consistency across all customer touchpoints.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and skill development is paramount. A background in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is beneficial. Experience:

• Proven experience as a graphic designer, with a portfolio showcasing a diverse range of work across social media, digital platforms, print, and email design.

• Experience operating in a contract or freelance capacity is advantageous, demonstrating an ability to manage workload and deliver independently. Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A robust and diverse portfolio is essential, clearly demonstrating proficiency and range across social media graphics, web design elements, print collateral, and email marketing visuals.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is critical for professional-grade asset creation.

• Canva: Working proficiency in Canva is required for rapid content creation, templated designs, and efficient turnaround on specific project types.

• Figma: Demonstrated working proficiency in Figma is necessary for web and landing page design, as well as for collaborative design workflows.

• Design Fundamentals: Strong understanding of typography, layout principles, color theory, and visual hierarchy.

• Print Production: Thorough knowledge of preparing print-ready files, including understanding bleed, trim, CMYK vs. RGB color spaces, and resolution requirements.

• Brand Management: Ability to understand, interpret, and consistently apply brand guidelines across all design outputs.

• Independent Work Ethic: Proven ability to work autonomously, manage time effectively, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.

• Collaboration & Communication: Effective communication skills, comfortable collaborating with distributed teams and providing constructive feedback.

Preferred Skills:

• Adobe XD or Premiere Pro: Familiarity with Adobe XD for UI/UX design or Premiere Pro for basic video editing/animation would be a plus.

• Project Management Tools: Experience using collaborative project management systems (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) and communication platforms like Slack.

• Content Marketing Understanding: Basic awareness of content marketing principles and how visual assets support SEO and engagement strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on specific software like Figma and Canva, alongside the Adobe Suite, points to a need for a designer who can adapt to different workflows and toolsets commonly found in fast-paced marketing and GTM environments. The "independent work ethic" and "collaboration" requirements are key for a remote contract role supporting internal teams.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Visual Range: Showcase a variety of projects demonstrating expertise in social media graphics (static, animated/reels), web landing page mockups, professional PDF documents (e.g., sales collateral, guides), and print materials (e.g., flyers, brochures).

• Brand Consistency: Include examples where you have successfully applied and maintained strict brand guidelines across multiple assets or campaigns.

• Tool Proficiency: Highlight projects that clearly utilize Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and Figma, ideally showing how you leverage each tool's strengths for different project types.

• Process & Efficiency: If possible, include a case study or description that outlines your design process for a specific project, emphasizing efficiency, problem-solving, or how you met tight deadlines.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their design process clearly during discussions or potentially through a brief presentation. This should cover:

• Brief Interpretation: How you break down and understand client briefs.

• Design Workflow: Your typical steps from concept to final delivery, including any iterative feedback loops.

• Tool Selection Rationale: Why you choose specific tools (Adobe, Canva, Figma) for different tasks.

• Quality Assurance: How you ensure final assets are error-free and meet all technical specifications (especially for print).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, a well-organized portfolio is critical as it serves as the primary evidence of capability. The emphasis here is on demonstrating not just aesthetic skill but also process efficiency and the ability to deliver client-ready assets with minimal hand-holding, which is a hallmark of effective operations support.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The estimated salary range for this contract position is $60 to $80 per hour, commensurate with experience and the specific scope of work. Benefits:

• As a contract role, standard employee benefits (health insurance, paid time off, retirement plans) are typically not provided.

• Potential for flexible work hours and the opportunity to work on diverse projects for a growing content marketing agency.

• Possibility of a long-term, ongoing contractor relationship based on performance and sustained business needs. Working Hours:

• This is a contract role with an estimated commitment of approximately 10-15 hours per month. The workload will fluctuate based on business needs and contractor capacity. This offers significant flexibility for individuals looking to supplement their income or manage their workload around other commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: For contract roles, transparency about the lack of traditional benefits is important. Highlighting the flexibility and potential for ongoing work provides context for the hourly rate. The limited hours per month suggest this is a supplementary role, not a full-time equivalent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Content Marketing / Digital Marketing Services

Company Size: Compose.ly is a growing agency, likely operating with a distributed team structure. The emphasis on "pod-based structure" suggests a model where small, cross-functional teams work together efficiently. This implies a culture that values autonomy, clear communication, and results.

Founded: While the founding date is not specified, Compose.ly positions itself as a modern agency focused on SEO content and digital marketing support, serving both enterprise and growth-stage clients.

Team Structure:

• Pod-Based Model: The company utilizes a pod-based structure, indicating small, agile teams focused on specific clients or service areas. This promotes efficient collaboration and ownership.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Graphic designers will work closely with internal marketing teams, web developers, and potentially content strategists, requiring seamless integration into project workflows.

• Distributed Workforce: As a remote-first or heavily remote organization, communication and collaboration rely on digital tools and asynchronous methods.

Methodology:

• Operational Efficiency: As a content marketing agency, efficiency in content production and delivery is likely a core operational tenet. Design support plays a crucial role in streamlining marketing collateral creation.

• Quality Focus: The description emphasizes "high-quality SEO content" and "thought leadership," suggesting a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their service delivery, including design.

• Data-Driven Approach: While not explicitly stated for design, marketing agencies often leverage data to inform creative strategies and measure campaign effectiveness, which designers may need to consider.

Company Website: https://compose.ly/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Compose.ly's pod-based and distributed structure is key. For a contract designer, this means being comfortable with asynchronous communication, self-management, and integrating into small, focused project teams. The emphasis on efficiency and quality directly impacts how design work is perceived and executed.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Contract Graphic Designer, focused on providing specific, task-based support. It's not a full-time, in-house operations role but rather a GTM support function executed by a specialized contractor. The experience level is mid-level, requiring demonstrable skill and independence.

Reporting Structure:

• The designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager, Creative Director, or a lead within a specific "pod" or project team. Communication will be primarily through project management tools and direct messaging platforms like Slack. Operations Impact:

• The graphic designer's output directly impacts the effectiveness of Compose.ly's marketing efforts and client-facing materials. High-quality visuals enhance brand perception, improve engagement rates on social media and web platforms, and support sales enablement through polished collateral. This role, while contract, is integral to the GTM engine by ensuring visual consistency and professional presentation. Growth Opportunities:

• Ongoing Contract Work: Successful performance in this pilot engagement can lead to a more consistent and potentially expanded role as a regular contractor, providing a stable stream of project-based work.

• Portfolio Expansion: Working with a variety of clients and marketing initiatives within Compose.ly offers opportunities to add diverse projects to the designer's portfolio.

• Skill Specialization: Exposure to different design challenges (social, web, print, email) can help refine existing skills and potentially lead to specialization in high-demand areas.

• Networking: Opportunities to collaborate with marketing professionals and potentially learn about broader GTM strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth here is primarily for the contractor's portfolio and potential for ongoing work, rather than traditional career progression within Compose.ly. The "operations impact" is tied to how well the design supports the agency's GTM goals and client success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This contract role is designed for individuals working from their own location.

Office Location(s): While the company is US-based, the role is fully remote, allowing designers located anywhere within the United States to apply.

Workspace Context:

• Digital Collaboration: The primary workspace will be digital, utilizing project management software, communication platforms (Slack), and cloud-based design tools.

• Tool Accessibility: Reliance on industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Figma) and collaboration tools is essential.

• Independent Work: The environment is structured for individuals who can manage their time and tasks autonomously, with communication occurring as needed for project clarity and feedback.

Work Schedule:

• The role requires approximately 10-15 hours per month, offering significant flexibility. While deadlines must be met, the specific hours of work can likely be managed around the contractor's schedule, provided availability for communication during core business hours for urgent needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote and flexible nature of this contract role is a key selling point. Candidates should be comfortable with asynchronous communication and self-management. The "work schedule" flexibility is a significant aspect for contractors balancing multiple clients or other commitments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application & Portfolio Review: Candidates will submit their resume and a link to their portfolio. This is the primary screening mechanism.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge (Potential): Compose.ly may issue a small, timed design challenge to assess proficiency with specific tools (e.g., Canva, Figma) or ability to interpret a brief and execute quickly.

• Video Interview: A brief interview to discuss portfolio examples, design process, experience with contract work, and availability. This may involve a discussion with a hiring manager or a member of the creative/marketing team.

• Contract Discussion: If selected, discussions will focus on rates, expected availability, and the terms of the contract.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select your strongest, most relevant work. Ensure it covers social, web, email, and print if possible. Highlight projects that demonstrate brand consistency and your ability to work with different tools.

• Showcase Process: For a few key projects, briefly explain your thought process, the brief, your solutions, and the outcome. This demonstrates your problem-solving skills.

• Organize Clearly: Make sure your portfolio is easy to navigate. Use clear headings and descriptions for each piece.

• Highlight Tool Proficiency: If you have specific examples of using Canva for efficiency or Figma for collaborative web design, make that clear.

• Quantify Impact (If Possible): While harder for a contractor role, if a design significantly boosted engagement or CTR, mention it.

Challenge Preparation:

• Tool Familiarity: Ensure you are comfortable with the latest versions of Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and Figma. Practice creating common assets quickly.

• Brief Interpretation: Be prepared to quickly understand a design brief and ask clarifying questions.

• Time Management: If a challenge is given, allocate your time wisely across concept, execution, and refinement.

• Brand Adherence: Pay close attention to any brand guidelines provided for a challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, the portfolio is king. The application process will heavily lean on its quality and relevance. Candidates should prepare to speak about their process and how they manage a flexible, remote workload.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for professional design work.

  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout and design of PDFs, brochures, and print collateral.

• Canva: Required for rapid, template-based design, social media graphics, and quick iterations.

• Figma: Necessary for web and landing page design, UI elements, and collaborative design workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, understanding how designs perform can be beneficial. Familiarity with metrics related to social media engagement, website CTR, and email open rates is a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but familiarity with how marketing assets are deployed via email platforms or integrated into web content management systems (CMS) is helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and Figma dictates the core technical requirements for this role. A candidate's ability to fluidly switch between these tools based on project needs is crucial for operational efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Efficiency: As a contract role supporting internal capacity, demonstrating efficiency in design execution and turnaround time is paramount.

• Quality: Maintaining high standards of design quality, brand consistency, and technical correctness (especially for print) is expected.

• Reliability: Being dependable in meeting deadlines and communicating availability is critical for a remote contractor.

• Proactiveness: Offering feedback on briefs and processes shows engagement and a desire to contribute beyond just task execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Asynchronous Communication: Primarily via Slack and project management tools, requiring clear and concise written communication.

• Feedback Integration: Ability to receive and incorporate feedback from internal marketing teams and stakeholders effectively.

• Independent Contribution: While collaborative, the role requires significant independent work and problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlighted are those most critical for a successful contract relationship: delivering quality work efficiently and reliably, while being a proactive and easy-to-collaborate-with remote team member.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Varied Workload: Balancing different project types and priorities with a flexible, part-time commitment requires strong organizational skills.

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with a distributed team without in-person interaction.

• Adhering to Brand Guidelines: Consistently applying brand standards across diverse assets and potentially for different clients managed by Compose.ly.

• Quick Turnaround Times: Meeting deadlines for fast-paced marketing initiatives.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Portfolio Diversification: Gaining experience across various design applications (social, web, print, email) for a content marketing agency.

• Tool Proficiency Enhancement: Deepening skills in Canva and Figma, which are increasingly important in digital design workflows.

• Industry Exposure: Understanding the visual needs of a content marketing agency and its clients.

• Flexible Work Management: Developing skills in self-management and time allocation for contract work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to contract and remote work, emphasizing the need for self-discipline and strong communication. The growth opportunities are focused on practical skill development and portfolio building, typical for contract roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Portfolio Walkthrough: Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects from your portfolio, explaining your design process, the challenges you faced, and how you achieved the final result. Focus on projects that showcase your versatility across social, web, print, and email.

• Tool Proficiency: Expect questions about your experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and Figma. Be ready to discuss how you leverage each tool for different tasks and your comfort level with each.

• Brand Application: How do you ensure brand consistency across various marketing materials? Be ready to give examples.

• Contract Work Experience: Discuss your experience working as a contractor, including how you manage deadlines, communicate with clients, and handle feedback.

• Availability: Clarify your current availability and capacity for 10-15 hours per month, and how you manage your schedule.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding Compose.ly: Research the company's services, client base, and overall brand. Be ready to articulate why you're interested in working with them.

• Collaboration Style: How do you prefer to collaborate with remote teams? How do you handle feedback and revisions?

• Problem-Solving: Describe a time you encountered a design challenge or a difficult client request and how you resolved it.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Narratives: For each portfolio piece, have a brief, impactful story about the project's objective, your role, the solution, and the outcome.

• Highlight Tool Usage: Clearly point out where you used specific tools like Canva for efficiency or Figma for collaborative elements.

• Demonstrate Brand Adherence: If possible, show examples of how you maintained brand guidelines.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized and visually appealing. Practice presenting it smoothly.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating practical skills, efficient workflow, and a professional, reliable approach to contract work. The ability to articulate design decisions and processes is as important as the visual output itself.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this contract graphic design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Compose.ly's Breezy HR portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight experience with social media graphics, web design elements, print-ready files, and email templates. Prioritize showcasing projects that demonstrate proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and Figma.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly state your experience as a contract designer, your hourly rate expectations (if not already specified), and your availability for approximately 10-15 hours per month. Use keywords from the job description such as "Graphic Design," "Adobe Creative Suite," "Canva," "Figma," "Brand Guidelines," and "Remote Work."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, how you manage your time and workload as a contractor, and your approach to brand consistency. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail and answer questions about your experience with collaborative, remote teams.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Compose.ly's services, client types, and overall brand presence to better understand their needs and how your design skills can contribute to their GTM strategies and client success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Compose.ly before making application decisions.