Graphic Designer (AI tools experience)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (AI tools experience)

Company: Ellucian

Location: Reston, Virginia, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-10T18:49:00

Experience Level: Mid-Level (4+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (On-site in Reston, VA, with remote flexibility)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive creative development and execution of high-quality visual assets across a multi-channel marketing and communications landscape.

• Leverage AI-powered creative tools to enhance design workflows, accelerate ideation, and maintain brand integrity.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business objectives into compelling visual solutions that elevate the Ellucian brand.

• Ensure brand stewardship and visual consistency across all digital, print, event, and internal communication touchpoints.

• Support the creation of impactful presentations and digital experiences aligned with strategic business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities and company context (SaaS for higher education) indicate a strong need for operations-minded individuals who can manage creative projects efficiently, integrate new technologies (AI), and collaborate across various departments to achieve business objectives. This role bridges creative execution with operational efficiency.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce on-brand visual assets for integrated campaigns, events, social media, presentations, email, web, and internal communications, ensuring alignment with business objectives and brand standards.

• Develop compelling creative for marketing campaigns and event experiences, including promotional materials, signage, and digital assets.

• Uphold and evolve Ellucian's brand identity and visual consistency across all creative deliverables, acting as a brand steward.

• Partner with marketing, communications, web, solutions marketing, and internal stakeholders to translate business goals into impactful visual design solutions.

• Create and enhance executive-level presentations, PowerPoint templates, and other business communications to be visually engaging and impactful.

• Design landing pages, web assets, and digital experiences that support conversion goals and adhere to user experience best practices.

• Utilize AI-powered creative tools (e.g., Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, ChatGPT) to support ideation, concept exploration, content generation, image creation, and production efficiencies.

• Organize and maintain design files, templates, brand assets, and creative resources to enhance team efficiency and scalability.

• Coordinate with print vendors, production partners, and internal teams to ensure the high-quality execution of creative deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize not just creative output but also brand management, cross-functional collaboration, and efficient project execution, all core tenets of operations roles. The explicit mention of AI tools highlights the need for adaptability and technical proficiency in leveraging new technologies for operational gains.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Communications, or a related field is typically expected for a mid-level role.

Experience: 4+ years of professional graphic design experience in-house, agency, or equivalent environments.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).

• Strong skills in typography, layout, color theory, visual hierarchy, branding, and web design principles.

• Experience with AI-powered creative tools such as Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Midjourney, or similar for design workflows and ideation.

• Proficiency in presentation software, particularly Microsoft PowerPoint, and template creation.

• Familiarity with collaborative design tools such as Figma and Canva.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present creative concepts and incorporate feedback.

• Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and build strong relationships.

• Experience in visual storytelling and translating complex ideas into clear, compelling visual content. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for B2B SaaS or technology companies.

• Knowledge of user experience (UX) principles for web design and digital assets.

• Experience with asset management systems and digital asset management (DAM) best practices.

• Familiarity with print production processes and vendor coordination.

• Understanding of marketing campaign development and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools, collaborative platforms (Figma, Canva), project management, and cross-functional collaboration strongly suggests a need for candidates who can operate efficiently within a structured, operations-oriented environment, rather than solely focusing on pure artistic creation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio demonstrating a strong foundation in visual communication, branding, and storytelling across various channels (digital, print, web, presentations).

• Case studies showcasing the design process from concept to execution, highlighting problem-solving approaches and creative solutions.

• Examples of on-brand visual asset creation for marketing campaigns, events, or internal communications.

• Demonstrations of proficiency in using core design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and collaborative tools.

• Specific examples or a section dedicated to the innovative use of AI tools in the design process, illustrating how they enhanced workflows, accelerated ideation, or improved outcomes.

• Visual examples of presentation design and digital asset creation (e.g., landing page mockups, social media graphics). Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate and demonstrate a structured design process, from brief intake and concept development to final asset delivery and revisions.

• Evidence of how design projects are managed, prioritized, and executed within deadlines.

• Examples of how feedback is incorporated and how collaboration with stakeholders is managed throughout the design lifecycle.

• Understanding of brand guidelines and how they are applied consistently across projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for AI tool experience in the portfolio is a significant differentiator. Candidates should prepare to showcase how they've integrated AI into their workflow, demonstrating efficiency gains and creative exploration. This aligns with an operations mindset focused on leveraging technology for better outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a mid-level Graphic Designer (4+ years experience) in the Reston, Virginia area, with a focus on AI tool proficiency, the estimated salary range is $70,000 - $95,000 per year. This estimate considers the cost of living in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and the specialized skill set required.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Flexible time off policy.

• Thrive Flex Lifestyle Account (LSA) for health, financial, or learning interests.

• 401k with employer match and BrightPlan for future savings.

• Parental Leave.

• 5 charitable days for community support.

• Telemedicine services.

• Wellness programs: Headspace Care (mental health) and Wellbeats (virtual fitness classes).

• Caregiver support through RethinkCare & Wellthy.

• Diversity and inclusion programs with access to Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

• Employee referral bonuses.

• Learning and development support: Education Assistance Program, professional development opportunities, and LinkedIn Learning access.

Working Hours: Typically a 40-hour work week, with potential for some flexibility depending on project needs and team collaboration schedules. The role is based in Reston, VA, suggesting a hybrid work model where some in-office presence is expected, balanced with remote work capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on general market data for similar roles and locations. Specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and negotiation. The benefits package is extensive and aligns with competitive offerings in the tech and SaaS industries.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Ellucian operates in the Software & Technology sector, specifically providing SaaS solutions for higher education institutions globally. This means the company is deeply embedded in the educational technology (EdTech) landscape, understanding the unique needs and challenges of universities and colleges.

Company Size: Ellucian is a large enterprise, with approximately 3,000 employees serving over 3,000 customers in 50 countries. This scale implies a structured environment with established processes and opportunities for broad impact.

Founded: Ellucian was founded in 1968, giving it decades of experience and deep domain expertise in serving the higher education market. This longevity suggests stability and a mature understanding of its customer base.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will join the Brand Team, which is likely part of a larger Marketing or Corporate Communications department.

• This team is expected to collaborate closely with various departments including Marketing (Product Marketing, Demand Generation), Communications, Web Development, Sales Enablement, and potentially IT.

• The role reports to a Design Lead or Brand Manager, who would oversee brand strategy and creative output. Methodology:

• Ellucian emphasizes an AI-powered platform, indicating a company culture that embraces innovation and technology to drive efficiency and personalized experiences.

• The company's focus on serving higher education suggests a mission-driven culture centered on improving student outcomes and institutional success.

• Design and marketing operations likely follow established brand guidelines and project management methodologies to ensure consistency and efficiency across a global organization.

Company Website: https://www.ellucian.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on higher education and its embrace of AI tools suggest a forward-thinking environment. For a designer, this means opportunities to work on impactful projects within a stable, established organization that values technological advancement and community impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer, requiring 4+ years of experience. It's a hands-on creative position with significant responsibility for executing brand assets and supporting key initiatives. The emphasis on AI tools indicates a forward-looking role that is adapting to new technological trends in creative operations.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to a manager or lead within the Brand Team, likely part of the broader Marketing or Communications function. They will collaborate with peers within the design and marketing teams, as well as stakeholders across various departments.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the company's external perception and internal communication effectiveness. Strong visual branding and compelling creative assets are crucial for marketing campaigns, lead generation, customer engagement, and maintaining a cohesive corporate identity. By efficiently producing high-quality designs, especially by leveraging AI tools, the designer contributes to smoother marketing operations and better resource utilization.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like digital design, presentation design, or AI-driven creative workflows.

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Senior Graphic Designer role, leading smaller projects or mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-functional Movement: Transition into related roles within marketing operations, content strategy, or digital marketing, leveraging design skills and understanding of marketing processes.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in new design software, AI creative technologies, and emerging design trends relevant to the SaaS and EdTech industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a solid foundation in creative operations within a large enterprise. Growth will likely involve mastering design execution, project management, and integrating new technologies like AI to enhance operational efficiency and creative output, aligning with typical career progression in marketing and creative departments.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Reston, Virginia, and is described as having remote flexibility, suggesting a hybrid work model. This means a mix of working from a physical Ellucian office and working remotely.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Reston, Virginia, at 2003 Edmund Halley Drive, 20191.

Workspace Context:

• The Reston office likely provides a professional and collaborative environment typical of a large technology company.

• Employees can expect access to standard office amenities, meeting spaces, and potentially dedicated creative resources.

• The hybrid nature allows for focused individual work at home and collaborative team sessions, brainstorming, and key meetings in the office.

• The emphasis on AI tools and digital collaboration platforms suggests that the team is equipped with modern technology to facilitate seamless remote and in-office work.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility to accommodate project deadlines and team needs. The hybrid model allows for some autonomy in structuring the work week, balancing in-office days with remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work arrangement offers a balance between in-person collaboration and the flexibility of remote work, which is common in modern creative and marketing operations roles. Candidates should be prepared to spend some time in the Reston office, coordinating with team members and participating in in-person meetings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review applications and conduct a brief phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and interest.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to submit a portfolio. This is a critical step where the hiring team evaluates the quality, range, and relevance of the candidate's work, with a specific focus on AI tool integration.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth interview with the hiring manager, focusing on design philosophy, creative process, project management skills, and experience with AI tools.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with other members of the Brand Team or key stakeholders from marketing or communications to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Design Challenge (Potential): While not explicitly stated, a small design exercise or case study related to Ellucian's brand or a specific marketing challenge might be given to assess practical skills and problem-solving abilities.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills and experience required for this role. Ensure a mix of digital, print, and presentation work.

• Highlight AI Integration: Dedicate a specific section or clearly label projects that showcase your use of AI tools (e.g., Adobe Firefly, Midjourney). Explain the problem, your approach using AI, the outcome, and the benefits (e.g., speed, creativity, efficiency).

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly outline the brief, your creative process, challenges faced, and how you overcame them.

• Demonstrate Brand Alignment: Include work that shows an understanding of brand consistency and how you adapt design for different channels while maintaining brand integrity.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or results related to your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, successful campaign reach).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Ellucian's Brand: Research Ellucian's current branding, website, marketing materials, and target audience (higher education institutions).

• AI Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with specific AI design tools, their capabilities, limitations, and how you envision using them to support Ellucian's marketing goals.

• Creative Problem-Solving: Prepare to discuss how you approach design challenges, particularly those involving tight deadlines, evolving requirements, or the need for innovative solutions.

• Collaboration Scenarios: Be ready to articulate how you collaborate with non-designers and incorporate feedback effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools means candidates should be prepared to demonstrate this experience not just in their portfolio but also in their interview responses, explaining the "why" and "how" behind their AI usage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency required in Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, illustrations), Photoshop (image editing, manipulation, digital assets), and InDesign (layout, print collateral, presentations).

• Microsoft Office Suite: Strong proficiency in PowerPoint for presentation design and Word for document creation.

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and UI/UX elements, especially for web-based assets and landing pages.

• Canva: Useful for quick design tasks, social media graphics, and potentially for empowering non-designers with templates.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary responsibility, understanding how design impacts metrics (e.g., website engagement, campaign performance) is beneficial. Awareness of analytics platforms might be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tools are listed as primary requirements for this design role, but an understanding of how design assets are used within marketing automation platforms (e.g., for email campaigns) is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The listed tools are standard for graphic design roles, but the explicit inclusion of Figma and Canva, alongside AI tools, points towards a modern, collaborative, and efficient creative workflow. Candidates should be comfortable working with digital collaboration platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: Embrace and utilize new technologies, particularly AI tools, to enhance creative processes and outcomes.

• Collaboration: Work effectively with cross-functional teams, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering strong relationships.

• Brand Stewardship: Uphold and champion the Ellucian brand identity, ensuring consistency and quality across all touchpoints.

• Efficiency & Impact: Focus on delivering high-quality creative solutions that meet business objectives and contribute to institutional success.

• Customer Focus: Understand the needs of higher education institutions and design solutions that resonate with their audience.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close partnership with marketing, communications, and other departments, necessitating clear communication and a team-oriented approach.

• Feedback & Iteration: A willingness to receive and incorporate feedback from stakeholders to refine designs and ensure alignment with project goals.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a team environment where best practices, design trends, and AI tool insights are shared to elevate the collective skill set.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on AI and its mission-driven approach to higher education suggest a culture that values both technological advancement and purposeful work. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to adapt, collaborate, and contribute to a positive, results-oriented team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing AI and Human Creativity: Effectively integrating AI tools without compromising unique artistic vision or brand integrity.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a unified brand look and feel across a wide range of diverse marketing materials and channels.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Needs: Juggling design requests and feedback from various departments with competing priorities.

• Rapid Technological Evolution: Staying current with the fast-paced advancements in design software and AI creative technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Mastery: Becoming an expert in leverage AI for various design tasks, from ideation to asset generation.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to refine skills in specific design disciplines relevant to SaaS marketing.

• Cross-Departmental Exposure: Gaining insights into different areas of marketing and communications through collaboration.

• Professional Development: Access to LinkedIn Learning, educational assistance, and other programs to enhance design and operational skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of integrating AI into creative operations within the higher education sector, offering both challenges and significant growth potential for motivated designers.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for using AI tools like Midjourney or Adobe Firefly to generate initial design concepts or assets. How do you ensure brand consistency and quality?"

• "Walk us through a complex design project from initial brief to final delivery. How did you manage stakeholder feedback and ensure the final output met business objectives?"

• "How do you approach designing for a specific audience, such as university administrators or students, within the higher education sector?"

• "Imagine we need a visual campaign to promote a new AI-powered student success platform. What would be your initial creative approach, and what AI tools might you leverage?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Ellucian and our mission to empower higher education?"

• "How do you see your role contributing to Ellucian's brand and overall marketing efforts?"

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration with your team?"

• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and emerging technologies like AI?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your digital portfolio logically. Start with your most relevant and impressive AI-integrated projects.

• Storytelling: For each project, tell a clear story: the problem, your role, your process (especially AI usage), the solution, and the results.

• Highlight AI: Verbally emphasize how AI tools were used, the benefits they provided (e.g., faster iteration, novel ideas), and your critical role in refining and directing the AI's output.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss the specific AI tools you used, their strengths and weaknesses, and your ethical considerations regarding AI-generated content.

• Showcase Versatility: Demonstrate your ability to work across different formats (digital, print, presentation) and adapt your style to meet brand requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare specific examples that showcase their ability to blend creative talent with operational efficiency and technological adoption, particularly in the realm of AI.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Visit the Ellucian Careers website (https://careers.ellucian.com/) and locate Job ID 7576.

• Submit your application, ensuring your resume highlights relevant experience, especially with AI tools and design software.

• Prepare a strong portfolio: Curate projects that demonstrate your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and Canva, with a dedicated focus on showcasing your innovative use of AI creative tools and their impact.

• Tailor your resume: Emphasize keywords from the job description, such as "AI tools," "graphic design," "brand stewardship," "cross-functional collaboration," and specific software proficiencies.

• Practice your interview answers: Prepare to discuss your design process, AI integration strategies, and collaborative experiences using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Research Ellucian: Understand their mission, target audience, and recent marketing efforts to articulate your interest and how you can contribute effectively.

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