Graphic Designer- (2-month Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - (2-month Contract)

Company: Messagepoint

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Contractor

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: April 27, 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (1-2 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This contract role focuses on creating and refining high-impact marketing assets for a growing SaaS company, directly influencing brand perception and product communication.

• The Graphic Designer will collaborate closely with the Chief Marketing Officer and Creative Director to ensure visual consistency and quality across all digital and print materials.

• Responsibilities include designing website graphics, sales collateral, presentations, product visuals, and supporting video production with editing and motion graphics.

• Success requires a strong eye for detail, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, and the ability to work within established design systems and templates.

• This position is crucial for supporting Messagepoint's growth and customer understanding during a key developmental phase.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly a 2-month contract with potential for extension, which is a key detail for candidates. The reporting structure to the CMO and daily collaboration with the Creative Director suggests a mid-level role with significant creative autonomy within established brand parameters. The emphasis on SaaS and B2B marketing materials indicates a need for industry-specific visual communication skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Create and meticulously refine a diverse range of marketing assets, including dynamic website graphics, compelling sales collateral, professional presentations, and clear product visuals, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and strategic objectives.

• Execute advanced compositing, precise masking, detailed retouching, and UI cleanup tasks using Adobe Photoshop to produce polished and professional visual assets.

• Design clean, scalable vector-based illustrations and conceptual icons in Adobe Illustrator, ensuring alignment with Messagepoint's established brand system and visual language.

• Update, adapt, and manage multi-page layouts in Adobe InDesign, including the efficient handling of translated or localized content to maintain brand consistency across global markets.

• Prepare and expertly export web-ready assets, meticulously adhering to proper sizing, naming conventions, file formats, and optimization techniques for optimal online performance.

• Actively collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, product, and content specialists, to translate campaigns and complex product stories into engaging visual narratives.

• Uphold and maintain unwavering consistency across all visual assets while thoughtfully contributing to the ongoing evolution and refinement of the brand system.

• Provide essential support for video production and post-production workflows, including the editing of webinars, screen recordings, and promotional marketing videos to enhance engagement.

• Enhance video content through the strategic integration of graphics, closed captions, and light motion elements using professional tools such as Adobe After Effects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a versatile designer capable of both static and dynamic content creation, with a strong emphasis on technical execution within the Adobe Suite and an understanding of web/video asset requirements. The mention of "translated or localized content" and "bilingual or French-language content" (in preferred skills) suggests a potential need for multilingual asset adaptation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring advanced proficiency in design software and principles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a strong focus on digital marketing assets and preferably within a SaaS or B2B technology environment. Experience managing multiple projects concurrently in a fast-paced setting is essential.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign, demonstrating mastery of their core functionalities for complex design tasks.

• Proven experience with advanced Photoshop compositing techniques, including sophisticated masking, detailed retouching, and seamless integration of UI elements into polished visual designs.

• Demonstrated ability to design clean, scalable vector graphics and conceptual illustrations that effectively communicate ideas and align with brand aesthetics.

• Substantial experience producing client-facing and marketing materials, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked in a SaaS or B2B environment, understanding its unique visual communication needs.

• Practical experience with video editing and post-production, particularly with webinar and screen recording content, including basic editing, color correction, and audio enhancement.

• Solid understanding of web versus print asset requirements, including knowledge of appropriate file formats, resolution standards, and responsiveness considerations for digital media.

• Proven experience working meticulously within established brand guidelines and structured design systems to ensure brand consistency and integrity.

• Exceptional attention to detail, encompassing a keen eye for typography, precise spacing, visual hierarchy, and overall aesthetic balance.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Webflow or similar Content Management System (CMS) platforms for website design and content integration.

• Experience with motion design principles and tools such as Adobe After Effects, Lottie, or similar animation software for creating dynamic visual elements.

• Experience working with bilingual or French-language content, including layout adaptation and typographic considerations for different languages.

• Understanding of how to effectively stage and simplify Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) user interface (UI) elements for marketing and promotional purposes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice to Have" section provides clear indicators of desired advanced skills that would make a candidate stand out, particularly motion design and CMS familiarity, which are increasingly relevant in digital marketing. The emphasis on SaaS UI simplification suggests a need for designers who understand how to translate complex technical interfaces into easily digestible marketing visuals.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of three distinct project types:
  • UI/Product Compositing: Examples demonstrating advanced Photoshop skills in retouching, masking, and integrating UI elements or product screenshots into cohesive marketing visuals.
  • Vector Illustration/Conceptual Imagery: Designs featuring vector graphics, icons, or conceptual illustrations that effectively communicate ideas and align with a structured brand system.
  • Multi-page Document Layout: Samples of well-designed brochures, reports, presentations, or other multi-page documents that highlight layout skills, typographic hierarchy, and brand consistency.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly requested as formal documentation, candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process for each portfolio piece, including:
  • Workflow Design: How they approach a new design brief, from initial concept to final execution.
  • System Implementation: How they ensure adherence to brand guidelines and design systems throughout the creation process.
  • Performance Analysis: How they consider asset optimization for web delivery or impact in marketing campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are specific and directly tied to the core responsibilities. Candidates should curate their portfolios to clearly highlight these specific skills. The expectation to discuss the design process implies a need for candidates to articulate their strategic thinking behind their creative output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a 2-month contract Graphic Designer in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with the described experience and skill set (mid-level, advanced Adobe Suite, SaaS experience), the estimated hourly rate would typically range from CAD $30 to CAD $45. This range can vary based on the specific depth of experience, the complexity of the projects, and the urgency of the contract.

Benefits: As this is a contract role, standard full-time employee benefits are typically not included. However, potential benefits or considerations may include:

• Flexible hybrid work arrangement, offering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work.

• Opportunity for potential extension of the contract based on performance and business needs.

• Exposure to a growing SaaS company and the opportunity to contribute to key marketing initiatives during a crucial growth phase.

• Potential for networking and professional development within the marketing and design fields.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are assumed to be 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time contract role. The hybrid model allows for flexibility, with 1-2 days per week required in the Toronto office and the remaining 3-4 days available for remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on industry benchmarks for contract graphic designers in Toronto, considering the mid-level experience and specialized SaaS marketing asset creation. Benefits for contract roles are generally limited, so the focus is on flexibility and potential for extension.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software (SaaS - Software as a Service), specifically focusing on AI-powered solutions for customer communication management and personalization. This industry requires clear, concise, and often sophisticated visual communication to convey complex technological benefits.

Company Size: Messagepoint is a privately-owned software company with employees located across Canada, the United States, France, and the UK. The exact size isn't specified, but it operates internationally and is described as "growing," suggesting a mid-sized company where individual contributions have visible impact.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company is described as having an "award-winning platform," indicating a degree of maturity and established product-market fit.

Team Structure:

• Marketing Department: The role reports directly to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), indicating a high level of visibility and strategic alignment.

• Creative Leadership: Daily collaboration will be with the Creative Director, suggesting a structured creative team with defined roles and quality control processes.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The Graphic Designer will work closely with marketing, product, and content teams, requiring effective communication and collaboration skills to translate technical information into compelling visuals.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, a SaaS company focused on AI and analytics likely values data-informed decisions. Designers are expected to support growth and customer understanding, implying a need to consider how visuals impact metrics.

• Brand System Adherence: A strong emphasis is placed on working within established design systems and brand guidelines, ensuring consistency and reinforcing brand identity.

• Agile Workflow: The mention of managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment suggests an agile or iterative approach to creative production.

Company Website: https://messagepoint.bamboohr.com/careers

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and SaaS suggests a culture that values innovation, technology, and clear communication. The hybrid work model indicates a modern approach to work-life balance, and the international presence means designers may encounter diverse project requirements.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer, focusing on execution and refinement of existing brand assets. It's a contract position, so it represents an immediate need for skilled creative output rather than a long-term career track within Messagepoint, though it can be a stepping stone.

Reporting Structure: Direct reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and daily collaboration with the Creative Director. This structure offers high visibility to senior leadership and a clear creative workflow.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts how Messagepoint's brand and product are perceived in the market. High-quality, brand-compliant assets are crucial for supporting growth, driving engagement, and improving customer understanding of their AI-powered SaaS solution. Effective visuals can clarify complex product features and enhance sales collateral effectiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to gain experience with a specific AI-powered SaaS product, potentially deepening understanding of technology marketing visuals. Exposure to video editing and motion graphics (After Effects) can expand skill sets.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Completing successful projects within a 2-month contract can add valuable, relevant work samples to a designer's portfolio, particularly in the SaaS/B2B sector.

• Potential for Extension: If performance is strong and business needs align, the contract may be extended, offering continued engagement and project involvement.

• Networking: Building professional connections with the marketing and creative teams at Messagepoint.

📝 Enhancement Note: While primarily a contract role, the opportunity to work closely with senior marketing leadership and contribute to a growing SaaS company's visual identity provides significant value for portfolio building and skill development. The focus on specific tools like Photoshop compositing and After Effects offers chances for specialized skill refinement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model, indicating a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. This suggests a modern work environment that values both team interaction and individual productivity.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario, Canada (specifically M5J 1A7). This location is in a major business hub, likely offering good accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model allows for structured in-office days for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and direct collaboration with the Creative Director and marketing teams.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) is expected. The company's focus on SaaS implies a tech-forward environment where digital tools are central to operations.

• Team Interaction: Designated in-office days facilitate direct interaction with colleagues, fostering a sense of team cohesion and enabling efficient feedback loops on design projects.

Work Schedule: The role requires 1-2 days per week in the Toronto office, with the remaining 3-4 days offering remote flexibility. This schedule allows for concentrated work on detailed design tasks at home, while utilizing office time for collaborative efforts and strategic alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup is a key aspect of the work environment, offering a balance that many professionals seek. The Toronto location places the role in a significant Canadian business center.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio by HR or a hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and creative output.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A dedicated session with the Creative Director and potentially the CMO to thoroughly review submitted work samples. This will involve discussing design choices, process, and technical proficiency.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Candidates may be given a small design challenge or asked to critique existing assets, demonstrating their problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.

• Cultural Fit & Logistics: A final interview to discuss the contract terms, hybrid expectations, and assess how well the candidate fits with the team's collaborative style.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that directly align with the job description's requirements: UI compositing/retouching, vector illustration, and multi-page layouts.

• Highlight SaaS/B2B: Clearly label or emphasize any projects completed for SaaS or B2B technology companies.

• Showcase Process: Be prepared to articulate your design process for each piece – the brief, your approach, challenges, and how you arrived at the final solution. Use brief case study formats if possible.

• Technical Detail: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Photoshop (compositing, masking), Illustrator (vector work), and InDesign (layout). Mention optimization techniques for web assets.

• Brand Adherence: If possible, show examples where you worked within strict brand guidelines, demonstrating your ability to maintain consistency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If a design challenge is given, carefully read and understand the objectives, target audience, and constraints.

• Focus on Core Skills: For a graphic design challenge, expect tasks related to asset creation, layout refinement, or visual problem-solving within the specified tools.

• Time Management: Be mindful of any time limits and prioritize completing the core requirements effectively.

• Presentation: Even for a short challenge, be ready to briefly explain your design choices and how they address the brief.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio showcasing specific technical skills (Photoshop compositing, vector illustration, InDesign layouts) and industry relevance (SaaS/B2B) is critical. Candidates should tailor their portfolio and be ready to discuss their design process in detail.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Photoshop: Essential for advanced compositing, masking, retouching, and UI cleanup. Mastery is a core requirement.

• Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for creating clean, scalable vector graphics, icons, and illustrations that align with brand guidelines.

• Adobe InDesign: Required for updating and adapting multi-page layouts, including documents with localized content.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Video & Motion:

• Adobe After Effects: Preferred for enhancing video content with graphics and light motion elements.

• Video Editing Software: Experience with tools for editing webinars and screen recordings is required.

CMS (Nice to Have):

• Webflow or similar CMS: Familiarity with content management systems for web design integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack is firmly within the Adobe Creative Suite. The "Nice to Have" skills in motion design (After Effects) and CMS (Webflow) indicate the company's direction towards more dynamic digital content and web presence.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Precision: A strong emphasis on detail, from composition and hierarchy to typography and spacing, is paramount for brand integrity.

• Brand Consistency: Upholding and contributing to the brand system, ensuring all assets are compliant and visually cohesive.

• Collaboration & Communication: Working effectively within a hybrid model and across multiple teams (marketing, product, content) to bring creative visions to life.

• Efficiency & Proactivity: Managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating a proactive approach to task completion.

• Adaptability: Comfort in working within established templates and taking direction, while also making thoughtful independent design decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Hybrid Teamwork: Balancing independent work with in-office collaboration for brainstorming and feedback sessions.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamlessly working with non-design teams to understand project needs and translate them into effective visual solutions.

• Feedback Loop: Openness to feedback from the Creative Director and CMO, and the ability to iterate on designs based on constructive criticism.

• Shared Vision: Contributing to a collective effort to enhance brand perception and product communication through high-quality visual assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values reflect a professional creative environment that balances independent work with strong team collaboration, emphasizing quality, brand adherence, and efficient execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Fast-Paced Contract Environment: The 2-month timeframe requires rapid adaptation, efficient workflow, and quick delivery of high-quality assets.

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Creativity: Working within established design systems and templates while still bringing fresh visual ideas and elevating the overall quality.

• Communicating Complex SaaS Concepts Visually: Translating technical product features and AI capabilities into clear, compelling graphics for a diverse audience.

• Managing Multiple Project Priorities: Juggling various asset requests from different teams under tight deadlines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Development: Gaining hands-on experience with specific video editing and motion graphics tasks using Adobe After Effects, if not already proficient.

• SaaS Marketing Insight: Deepening understanding of visual communication strategies within the SaaS and B2B technology sectors.

• Portfolio Enrichment: Adding robust, relevant projects to a design portfolio that showcase advanced technical skills and industry experience.

• Hybrid Work Acclimation: Refining skills in remote collaboration and time management within a hybrid work structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is the contract nature and the need for rapid, high-quality output. Growth opportunities are focused on skill enhancement and portfolio building within a specific industry context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating a new website graphic from brief to final asset." (Prepare to discuss research, conceptualization, tool usage, feedback incorporation, and optimization.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across different marketing materials, especially when working with templates?" (Focus on your understanding of brand guidelines, systematic approaches, and attention to detail.)

• "Walk us through a challenging UI compositing or retouching project you completed. What were the key challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Select a strong portfolio piece that showcases your Photoshop skills and problem-solving abilities.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Messagepoint and our AI-powered SaaS solutions?" (Research Messagepoint's product, mission, and recent news. Connect your design skills to their business goals.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with marketing and product teams to ensure your designs meet their objectives?" (Emphasize communication, understanding project goals, and iterative feedback.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: For each selected portfolio piece, create a mini-story: the challenge, your approach/solution, the tools used, and the outcome/impact (even if hypothetical for a contract role).

• Highlight Core Skills: Clearly demonstrate your Photoshop compositing, Illustrator vector work, and InDesign layout skills. Point out specific techniques used.

• SaaS Relevance: Explicitly mention how your work is relevant to SaaS or B2B marketing needs.

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your comfort level with each primary tool and any preferred workflows.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently within the allotted interview time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also technical proficiency, process understanding, and the ability to integrate into a hybrid team environment within the specific context of a SaaS company.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer contract position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Messagepoint careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature examples of UI/product screenshot retouching and compositing, vector illustration, and multi-page document layouts. Prioritize any SaaS or B2B technology marketing assets.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), experience with video editing, and any relevant SaaS/B2B marketing experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, technical skills, and portfolio highlights. Be ready to discuss your experience with hybrid work and your interest in Messagepoint's technology.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Messagepoint's AI-powered SaaS platform, target audience, and recent company news to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their business context.

⚠️ 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.