Creative Content Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Creative Content Designer

Company: CONNEX CREDIT UNION INC

Location: North Haven, CT, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive compelling visual content creation across digital, print, social media, and video platforms to bring Connex Credit Union's brand, products, and member stories to life.

• Serve as the primary in-house creative resource, ensuring brand consistency, accuracy, accessibility, and regulatory compliance in all marketing materials.

• Develop integrated campaign concepts and adaptable designs that enhance production efficiency and maintain visual identity across various channels.

• Collaborate with marketing specialists and cross-functional teams to translate financial information into clear, engaging, and approachable content for diverse audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Creative Content Designer," the responsibilities and required skills clearly indicate a role that bridges marketing operations, creative services, and digital content strategy within a regulated industry. The emphasis on brand stewardship, asset management, and cross-functional collaboration within a structured approval process aligns with operations-focused roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop integrated campaign concepts and design creative assets for a wide range of channels including email, social media, digital advertising, direct mail, print collateral, branch signage, event materials, presentations, and internal communications.

• Create adaptable designs and branded templates to ensure visual consistency across all platforms, thereby improving overall production efficiency and brand recognition.

• Prepare all design materials for both digital publication and commercial printing, coordinating production specifications and liaising with external vendors as necessary.

• Partner closely with the Digital Marketing Specialist to conceptualize, script, film, edit, caption, and produce platform-native content, especially short-form videos for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

• Adapt existing campaign and long-form content into engaging, channel-specific formats such as educational pieces, promotional materials, community spotlights, and entertaining posts to bolster brand awareness and member engagement.

• Actively maintain and evolve Connex Credit Union's visual identity, brand voice, and creative standards, ensuring consistent application across all internal and external communications.

• Systematically manage the Marketing team's comprehensive library of creative assets, including photography, video footage, design files, templates, logos, and other brand elements for easy access and retrieval.

• Ensure meticulous adherence to all relevant disclosures, trademark usage, photography permissions, and mandatory brand elements in all creative outputs.

• Collaborate with copy owners to refine messaging, ensuring content is clear, engaging, and member-friendly across advertising, social media, email, web, print, and other marketing channels.

• Provide constructive feedback on messaging and creative approaches to guarantee alignment with target audiences, campaign objectives, the member journey, and established brand voice.

• Work cross-functionally with Marketing and other departments to interpret creative briefs, gather essential information, identify emerging content opportunities, and develop concepts that align with specific campaign goals.

• Actively participate in campaign planning sessions, brainstorming meetings, creative reviews, and post-campaign evaluations, integrating feedback from Marketing, Compliance, leadership, and other key stakeholders.

• Efficiently manage multiple creative assignments simultaneously, consistently meeting established priorities, deadlines, and high-quality standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative execution and operational management of creative assets and processes. The mention of "regulated review and approval processes" and "compliance" highlights the need for meticulous attention to detail and adherence to established workflows, which are critical in operations roles within financial services.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or a closely related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered as a substitute for formal education.

Experience: Minimum of two years of progressive experience in graphic design, content creation, advertising, or a comparable creative role.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency with the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, with a strong focus on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for developing and refining creative assets.

• Demonstrated expertise in using Canva for the efficient development and maintenance of branded templates and adaptable creative assets.

• Proven experience with video editing and motion content creation tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, or comparable platforms.

• Exceptional graphic design skills, with a deep understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, composition, and layout.

• Strong visual storytelling abilities, capable of translating complex information into clear and compelling visual narratives.

• Excellent editing, proofreading, and copywriting skills to ensure clarity, accuracy, and engagement in all content.

• Comprehensive understanding of print production processes, digital asset preparation, and best practices for various output formats.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, effectively prioritize tasks, and meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• High attention to detail, with a meticulous approach to ensuring accuracy and quality in all creative outputs.

• Willingness and ability to work within regulated review and approval processes, maintaining compliance and accuracy. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience within the financial services industry, credit unions, banking, healthcare, insurance, or another highly regulated sector.

• Familiarity with social media platform-specific content best practices and trends.

• Experience managing a digital asset management (DAM) system or creative asset library.

• Basic understanding of SEO principles as they relate to digital content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "strong portfolio demonstrating work across digital, print, social media, branding, and campaign development" is a key indicator of the practical application of skills. For operations roles, this portfolio should highlight not just creative output but also the process behind it, including efficiency gains, problem-solving, and adherence to brand guidelines or compliance. The preference for regulated industry experience is crucial for understanding operational constraints.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of three distinct projects that demonstrate integrated campaign development across multiple channels (e.g., digital ads, social media posts, email, print collateral).

• Include examples of adaptable design templates created for efficiency and brand consistency, with brief explanations of the problem they solved.

• Present at least one case study detailing the creation of social media or video content from concept to final production, highlighting the workflow and any challenges overcome.

• Demonstrate experience in preparing files for both digital use and commercial print, showcasing an understanding of technical specifications and vendor coordination. Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio piece, briefly outline the creative brief, the process followed, key tools used, and the final outcome or impact.

• Highlight any instances where your work involved navigating internal review and approval processes, demonstrating an understanding of operational workflows in a regulated environment.

• Be prepared to discuss how you manage creative asset libraries and ensure brand consistency and compliance in your workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "processes" and "workflows" within the portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should be ready to articulate not just the final creative output but the systematic approach taken to achieve it, including how they managed feedback, approvals, and asset organization, mirroring operational best practices.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $56,119.54 - $84,179.32 annually. This range reflects the experience level, responsibilities, and market value for a Creative Content Designer in the North Haven, CT area, considering the regulated financial services industry.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage to support employee health and well-being.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) to ensure work-life balance and provide opportunities for rest and rejuvenation.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match, supporting long-term financial security.

• Tuition reimbursement opportunities to foster continuous learning and professional development.

• Opportunities to participate in community outreach programs, contributing to local impact and employee engagement.

Working Hours: Standard full-time position, typically 40 hours per week, with a primary focus on day shifts. Some flexibility may be required for campaign launches or urgent projects, though consistent work hours are generally maintained.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and within the expected band for a Creative Content Designer with 2-5 years of experience in a moderately high cost-of-living area like Connecticut, especially within a financial institution. The benefits package is competitive and aligns with typical offerings for full-time employees in the credit union sector.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Credit Union). Connex Credit Union operates within the credit union sector, which is member-owned and community-focused, differentiating it from traditional banks. This often translates to a culture prioritizing member well-being, community involvement, and ethical practices over profit maximization.

Company Size: Connex Credit Union is a mid-sized organization, likely employing between 200-500 individuals. This size typically offers a balance between the resources of a larger corporation and the close-knit, collaborative environment of a smaller company, allowing for more direct impact and visibility.

Founded: Connex Credit Union has a strong history, implying a stable and established organization. While the exact founding date isn't provided, its established presence suggests a solid foundation and a long-term commitment to its members and community.

Team Structure:

• The Creative Content Designer will be a key member of the Marketing team, likely reporting to a Marketing Manager or Director. This team is responsible for all external and internal communications, brand management, and campaign execution.

• The role involves significant collaboration with other marketing specialists, such as Digital Marketing Specialists, Copywriters, and potentially product marketing teams.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected with various departments across the credit union, including Member Services, Operations, Compliance, and IT, to gather information and ensure alignment on marketing initiatives. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is likely employed, with marketing campaigns analyzed for effectiveness and ROI, requiring designers to create content that is both engaging and measurable.

• Workflow planning and optimization are crucial, especially given the need to manage multiple projects and adhere to brand and regulatory standards efficiently.

• Automation and efficiency practices are expected, particularly in template creation and asset management, to streamline content production.

Company Website: https://www.connexcu.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The credit union environment implies a culture of service, trust, and community involvement. For a Creative Content Designer, this means understanding the "member-first" ethos and translating it into authentic and relatable visual content, while also navigating the operational necessity of compliance within a regulated industry.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an intermediate-level creative position within the marketing operations function. It requires a solid foundation of technical design skills combined with an understanding of marketing strategy, brand management, and operational processes like content production workflows and compliance reviews. The designer is expected to work independently on assigned projects but also collaborate effectively within a team structure.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Content Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager or Director. This structure provides clear guidance and oversight, while also allowing for direct contribution to strategic marketing initiatives. The role is integral to the marketing team's ability to execute campaigns effectively.

Operations Impact: The Creative Content Designer's work directly impacts Connex Credit Union's brand perception, member engagement, and the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. By creating clear, compelling, and compliant content, this role helps drive member acquisition, retention, and the successful promotion of financial products and services, contributing significantly to the credit union's overall business objectives and member satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in specific areas like video production, motion graphics, or digital campaign design, potentially leading to senior or specialized creative roles.

• Leadership Potential: As experience grows, opportunities may arise to mentor junior designers, lead creative projects, or contribute more significantly to campaign strategy and brand development.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain exposure to other marketing functions (e.g., digital marketing, content strategy) and operational areas within the credit union, broadening understanding of business processes and potential career pivots.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on how a creative role integrates into broader operations. The potential for specialization in areas like video or digital campaigns, and the move towards project leadership or cross-functional understanding, are typical career progression paths for individuals in marketing operations and creative services roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an in-office position located at the North Haven HQ. The work environment is likely a professional office setting within a credit union branch or administrative building.

Office Location(s): 412 Washington Ave, North Haven, CT 06473. This location is the headquarters, suggesting access to all necessary facilities and direct interaction with key stakeholders.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed for collaboration, with opportunities for direct interaction with marketing team members and potentially other departments.

• Access to standard office technology, including computers, design software, and potentially video production equipment, will be provided.

• The environment encourages teamwork and the exchange of ideas, essential for developing integrated marketing campaigns.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with standard working hours typically falling within the business day (e.g., 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM or 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM), Monday through Friday. While flexibility might be needed for critical deadlines, the primary expectation is adherence to a consistent work schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration and immediate access to resources, which can be crucial for creative roles that benefit from spontaneous brainstorming and direct feedback loops.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative output. Be prepared to quickly articulate your experience and highlight relevant projects.

• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: You may be asked to complete a small design or video editing task, or a case study, to evaluate your proficiency with required software and your ability to translate briefs into creative solutions under time constraints. Focus on demonstrating your understanding of brand guidelines and compliance.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion about your experience, creative process, and how you handle collaboration, feedback, and deadlines. Be ready to walk through specific portfolio pieces and explain your design decisions.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with marketing team members and potentially representatives from other departments (e.g., Compliance, Member Services) to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and understanding of the credit union's mission and operational needs.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the required skills (graphic design, digital, print, social media, video). Prioritize work that demonstrates problem-solving and brand stewardship.

• Showcase Process: For each project, provide a brief overview of the objective, your role, the process (including any iterations or feedback received), the tools used, and the outcome. Highlight how you ensured brand consistency and met any regulatory considerations.

• Highlight Adaptability: Include examples showing how you adapted creative assets for different channels or formats, demonstrating efficiency and strategic thinking.

• Video Integration: If video work is included, ensure it's easily accessible and professionally presented, with clear descriptions of your contribution (scripting, filming, editing).

• Accessibility: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible online (e.g., personal website, Behance, PDF) and that links are functional.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Thoroughly read and understand any creative brief provided for a challenge. Ask clarifying questions if possible.

• Focus on Brand & Compliance: In your solution, pay close attention to maintaining brand consistency and incorporating any necessary disclosures or regulatory elements, as this is critical for Connex Credit Union.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your design choices, workflow, and how you approached the challenge, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and understanding of design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a role in a regulated industry like financial services will heavily emphasize process, compliance, and the ability to work within structured approval workflows. Candidates should prepare to discuss these aspects explicitly, not just their creative flair.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Advanced proficiency required, specifically:

  • Photoshop: For image manipulation, retouching, and digital asset creation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and complex illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout design of print materials, brochures, newsletters, and presentations.

• Canva: For efficient development, adaptation, and maintenance of branded templates and quick creative assets, particularly for social media.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly a primary tool for the designer, understanding how content performs on social media and digital platforms is beneficial. Familiarity with basic analytics dashboards (e.g., social media insights, Google Analytics) is a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact) for understanding how designed assets are implemented in email campaigns.

• Awareness of digital advertising platforms (e.g., Facebook Ads Manager, Google Ads) for designing assets optimized for these channels. Video Editing & Motion Content:

• Adobe Premiere Pro: For video editing, sequencing, and final production.

• Adobe After Effects: For motion graphics, animations, and visual effects.

• Comparable video editing software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and video editing tools (Premiere Pro, After Effects), alongside Canva, highlights the core technical requirements. For operations, understanding how these tools integrate into a broader marketing technology stack and contribute to workflow efficiency is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Member-Centricity: A core value that drives all decisions, ensuring that content is created with the member's financial well-being and experience in mind. Operations professionals must translate this into clear, trustworthy, and accessible communications.

• Integrity & Trust: Essential in the financial services industry. Operations professionals must uphold accuracy, compliance, and ethical standards in all their work, especially in content creation and asset management.

• Collaboration: The credit union emphasizes teamwork. Operations roles require effective communication and partnership with marketing, compliance, and other departments to achieve shared goals.

• Community Focus: Connex is dedicated to improving its local community. Operations professionals are encouraged to contribute to this mission through their work and potentially through volunteer initiatives.

• Efficiency & Accuracy: Given the regulated nature of the industry, a strong emphasis is placed on streamlined processes, meticulous attention to detail, and ensuring all communications are accurate and compliant.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with copywriters, digital marketers, compliance officers, and department heads. Open communication and a willingness to incorporate diverse feedback are crucial.

• Process-Oriented Feedback: A culture of constructive feedback is expected, particularly during review stages, to ensure content meets strategic objectives, brand standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices in design, content creation, and asset management within the marketing team and across departments to foster continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "integrity," "trust," "compliance," and "accuracy" alongside "efficiency" points to a culture that values meticulous process adherence, which is fundamental to operations roles in regulated environments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Compliance: A primary challenge will be to produce engaging and innovative creative content while strictly adhering to financial industry regulations, disclosures, and approval processes. This requires a strategic approach to design and messaging.

• Translating Financial Concepts: The complexity of financial products and services requires the ability to translate technical information into clear, approachable, and visually compelling content that resonates with a diverse member base.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing feedback and requirements from various departments, including Marketing, Compliance, Legal, and Senior Leadership, while maintaining project timelines and creative integrity.

• Staying Ahead of Digital Trends: Continuously adapting to evolving digital platforms, social media trends, and video production techniques to keep Connex's content fresh and engaging, while ensuring brand consistency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Workshops: Opportunities to attend workshops or online courses focused on advanced video editing, motion graphics, or specific digital design trends relevant to financial marketing.

• Industry Certifications: Pursuing certifications in digital marketing, content strategy, or project management that can enhance operational understanding and career progression.

• Mentorship Programs: Potential for mentorship from senior marketing leaders or operations professionals within Connex, offering guidance on career development and strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges identified are common in operations roles within regulated industries, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking, process adherence, and continuous learning to navigate complex requirements and evolving landscapes.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative vision with strict brand guidelines or regulatory requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and adherence to operational constraints).

• "Walk me through your process for creating a social media campaign or video from concept to final delivery. What are the key steps, and how do you ensure efficiency and quality?" (Highlight workflow, tool usage, and collaboration).

• "How do you approach translating complex financial information into engaging and easy-to-understand visual content for a diverse audience?" (Demonstrate understanding of audience segmentation and clarity in communication). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for a credit union like Connex, and how do you see your creative skills contributing to our member-centric mission?" (Research Connex's mission, values, and community involvement).

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your creative work, especially from non-creative stakeholders or compliance teams?" (Showcase adaptability, professionalism, and understanding of review processes).

• "Describe your experience working within a regulated industry. What are the key considerations you keep in mind when creating marketing materials?" (Emphasize awareness of compliance, disclosures, and accuracy). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each portfolio piece, frame it as a mini case study: the challenge, your solution (the creative work), and the results or impact.

• Highlight Process & Tools: Explicitly mention the tools you used and the process you followed, especially any steps taken to ensure brand consistency or compliance.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the effectiveness of your work.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Be ready to answer detailed questions about your design decisions, software usage, and workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will likely probe into the candidate's ability to manage processes, adhere to regulations, and collaborate effectively within a structured environment, in addition to their creative skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Creative Content Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Paycom.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, video editing software, and content creation across digital, print, and social media. Quantify achievements where possible, and emphasize any experience in regulated industries or with compliance.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your skills in graphic design, video production, and integrated campaigns. Ensure it's easily accessible online and highlights your process, adaptability, and attention to detail.

• Prepare for a Creative Challenge: Be ready to demonstrate your design and editing skills, potentially through a short assignment or case study, focusing on brand consistency and regulatory awareness.

• Research Connex Credit Union: Understand their mission, values, community involvement, and target audience to tailor your responses and demonstrate cultural fit.

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

---