Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Kimley-Horn

Location: Warrenville, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: August 13, 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on creating compelling visual assets and collateral to support Kimley-Horn's proposal, marketing, and client communication efforts.

• The Graphic Designer will be instrumental in translating technical information into visually engaging formats, ensuring brand consistency across all materials.

• This position requires a blend of creative design skills and technical proficiency in industry-standard software to produce high-quality print and digital outputs.

• The role involves close collaboration with technical teams and marketing professionals to deliver impactful design solutions that enhance project proposals and marketing campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided job title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into supporting proposal development and technical documentation, placing this role within a specialized segment of Marketing Operations or Creative Services, particularly within an engineering or consulting firm context. The emphasis on proposals and technical staff interaction suggests a strong need for understanding how design supports business development and project delivery.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design visually appealing covers, templates, and layouts for complex proposals and technical reports, ensuring adherence to corporate branding guidelines.

• Develop engaging presentations and multimedia graphics that effectively communicate project scope, technical details, and client benefits.

• Create before-and-after photo simulations and detailed aerial map exhibits to visually represent project impact and site conditions.

• Produce a variety of marketing collateral, including unique brochures (print and digital), trade show graphics, and digital assets for e-blast campaigns and social media.

• Manage large format printing and production processes, ensuring quality and timely delivery of physical materials.

• Collaborate effectively within a large, creative, and specialized marketing team, contributing to a dynamic and productive work environment.

• Interface directly with engineers, project managers, and technical staff to understand project requirements and translate complex information into clear visual narratives.

• Consistently apply and maintain corporate and client branding guidelines across all design outputs to ensure brand integrity and recognition.

• Potentially engage in video filming/editing and motion graphics creation, as well as explore web design contributions, particularly with WordPress.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can bridge the gap between creative execution and technical/business requirements. The mention of proposals, technical staff interaction, and visual simulations points towards a role that requires not just aesthetic skill but also an understanding of how design supports business development and project communication in a technical industry.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a closely related field.

Experience: An estimated 2-5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a demonstrated ability to handle complex projects and tight deadlines. Experience in a professional services environment (e.g., engineering, consulting, architecture) is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level skills in Adobe InDesign (crucial for complex document layout), Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.

• Adobe Acrobat: Strong proficiency for document management, editing, and PDF creation.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced skills in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as Kimley-Horn operates on a PC-based platform.

• Layout and Template Design: Proven ability to create and maintain sophisticated layouts and templates for proposals, reports, and marketing materials.

• Visual Communication: Excellent ability to translate complex technical information into clear, concise, and visually compelling graphics.

• Brand Management: Demonstrated understanding and application of corporate and client branding guidelines.

• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with technical and marketing teams.

• Problem-Solving & Responsibility: A professional demeanor with a positive, solution-seeking attitude and a high sense of personal responsibility.

• Time Management: Ability to manage simultaneous, varied assignments under tight deadlines while maintaining high quality and accuracy.

Preferred Skills:

• Video Production: Experience with video filming, editing, and motion graphics using software like Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects.

• 3D Modeling/Rendering: Familiarity with 3DS Max or SketchUp for creating 3D visualizations.

• Web Design: Experience with web design, particularly WordPress, including knowledge of HTML and CSS.

• Interactive Design: Experience creating interactive PDFs or digital publications.

• Large Format Printing: Understanding of pre-press requirements and best practices for large format printing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on InDesign for complex documents, alongside the need to work with engineers and project managers, suggests that candidates with experience in proposal graphics or technical report layout will be highly preferred. The "Required" section should prioritize core design software and transferable skills, while "Preferred" can cover more specialized areas like video or 3D.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive online portfolio is required for application.

• Showcase a diverse range of design projects, with a strong emphasis on proposal graphics, technical report layouts, and marketing collateral.

• Include examples demonstrating proficiency in Adobe InDesign for complex document creation.

• Highlight projects that involved translating technical or complex information into visually understandable graphics (e.g., data visualizations, infographics, technical illustrations).

• Demonstrate experience working within established brand guidelines and ability to create consistent visual identities.

• Include examples of print and digital collateral, such as brochures, social media graphics, or e-blast designs. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated, candidates are expected to understand and articulate their design process, from brief interpretation and concept development to final production and delivery.

• Be prepared to discuss how you manage feedback from multiple stakeholders, including technical staff and marketing managers, to refine designs.

• Demonstrate an understanding of workflow management, particularly in handling multiple concurrent projects with varying deadlines and priorities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is a critical component for this role. The enhancement focuses on directing candidates to showcase projects most relevant to the specific responsibilities, such as proposal design and technical communication, rather than just general creative work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $60,000 - $65,000 per year.

Explanation: This range is based on the provided information and reflects a mid-level graphic designer position in the Warrenville, Illinois area, considering the specific software proficiencies and responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to-1 company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus), plus an additional profit-sharing contribution.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.

• Generous Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling options, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.

• Financial Wellness: Student loan matching within the 401(k) plan and performance-based bonuses.

• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs to support continuous learning and skill enhancement.

• Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and access to childcare resources.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility to periodically work outside normal working hours as required for business needs, particularly for proposal deadlines or client-driven projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided. The benefits are extensive and detailed, reflecting Kimley-Horn's strong employee-centric culture and commitment to work-life balance and financial well-being. The note on working hours highlights the need for flexibility common in proposal-driven roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Engineering, Design, and Construction Consulting. Kimley-Horn is a prominent firm providing a wide range of services across various sectors, including transportation, environmental, land development, and more. This context means the graphic design team supports highly technical projects and professionals.

Company Size: Large. Kimley-Horn is a significant national and international firm with a substantial employee base, indicating a well-established structure and numerous internal departments and project teams.

Founded: 1967. With a long history, Kimley-Horn has cultivated a stable and experienced corporate culture, emphasizing long-term client relationships and employee growth.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Design team is part of a larger, specialized marketing team within the firm.

• It likely operates with a hierarchical structure, potentially with senior designers and leads overseeing junior designers and specific project types.

• Collaboration is expected across various disciplines, including engineers, project managers, technical staff, and other marketing specialists (e.g., writers, proposal managers). Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While creative, the design output must serve a functional purpose, often supporting technical data and business development objectives. Expect a focus on clarity, accuracy, and effectiveness in communication.

• Workflow Optimization: Given the volume of proposals and reports, the team likely employs streamlined processes for project intake, design execution, review cycles, and final delivery to ensure efficiency and meet stringent deadlines.

• Brand Consistency: A strong emphasis on maintaining consistent branding across all internal and external communications is paramount in a large, established firm.

Company Website: www.kimley-horn.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is crucial for understanding the role's demands. Kimley-Horn's industry requires designers to be adept at visualizing complex technical information. The "large company" aspect suggests established processes and a need for strong internal collaboration skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Designer. This role is positioned for an individual who has moved beyond entry-level tasks and can independently manage design projects from concept to completion, demonstrating a solid understanding of design principles and software proficiency. The role requires contributing significantly to key business materials like proposals.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager, Creative Director, or Lead Graphic Designer within the firm's marketing department. This structure provides guidance and oversight while allowing for independent work.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the firm's ability to win new business by creating compelling and professional proposals. High-quality design enhances the perceived value and credibility of Kimley-Horn's technical expertise and project solutions. Their work also supports brand awareness and client engagement through marketing collateral and digital assets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop expertise in specific areas like proposal graphics, data visualization, motion graphics, or web design within the firm's context.

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior Graphic Designer role, leading projects, mentoring junior designers, and potentially managing design workflows.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Gain deeper understanding of engineering and project management processes, becoming a more valuable asset in translating technical content.

• Skill Expansion: Opportunities for advanced training in emerging design technologies, software, or areas like UI/UX design if applicable to future firm needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis focuses on how a graphic design role within a technical firm contributes to "operations" by supporting business development and internal processes. Growth paths are framed within the context of a large, established professional services organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site position at the Chicago West office in Warrenville, Illinois. The environment is likely a professional office setting typical of a large engineering consulting firm.

Office Location(s): Warrenville, Illinois. This location offers access to the Chicago metropolitan area's business and cultural resources while potentially providing a suburban work environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The workspace will foster interaction with a diverse team of engineers, project managers, technical staff, and fellow marketing professionals. Expect a dynamic environment where design needs arise from various project teams.

• Technology-Rich: Access to a PC-based computer system equipped with the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite and Microsoft Office, along with potentially specialized software for video, 3D, or web design.

• Team Integration: Opportunities to be part of a dedicated graphic design and marketing team, facilitating knowledge sharing, peer feedback, and collaborative problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. However, the role requires flexibility to occasionally work outside normal hours and travel, as necessary for business needs, particularly to meet critical proposal deadlines or support events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on the on-site nature of the role and the collaborative, professional setting within a large consulting firm, highlighting the interaction with technical staff.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and, crucially, your online portfolio to assess qualifications and creative capabilities.

• Technical Assessment/Skills Test: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or skills test to evaluate proficiency in required software (e.g., InDesign, Photoshop) and ability to interpret a design brief.

• Interviews: Expect one or more interviews with members of the marketing team, potentially including a design lead, marketing manager, and possibly a project manager or technical lead to assess your understanding of their needs.

• Portfolio Presentation: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio, discussing your design process, creative choices, and how you've solved specific design challenges for past clients or projects.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select projects that best demonstrate your skills in proposal graphics, technical report layout, marketing collateral, and corporate branding. Showcase your InDesign capabilities prominently.

• Highlight Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your design process, the challenges you faced, and the outcome. Quantify results where possible (e.g., "helped secure X project," "increased engagement by Y%").

• Showcase Software Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly reflects your mastery of Adobe CC and Microsoft Office Suite.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your online portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually polished.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brief Interpretation: Practice quickly understanding design briefs and identifying key requirements, target audience, and desired outcomes.

• Software Proficiency: Be ready to demonstrate your ability to execute design tasks efficiently within tight timeframes using the required software.

• Communication: Prepare to articulate your design rationale clearly and concisely, especially when explaining how your design supports technical content or business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a graphic design role, emphasizing the portfolio's importance and the need to demonstrate technical software skills and communication abilities relevant to a business context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Software:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Expert proficiency required in Adobe InDesign (for complex document layouts like proposals and reports), Adobe Photoshop (for image editing and manipulation), and Adobe Illustrator (for vector graphics and illustrations).

• Adobe Acrobat: Essential for managing, editing, and exporting PDF documents, a critical format for proposals and reports.

Productivity & Collaboration Tools:

• Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint (for presentations), Word (for document integration), and Excel (for data visualization support). Kimley-Horn is a PC-based company, so Windows OS proficiency is assumed.

• Project Management Tools: While not explicitly listed, familiarity with common project management or task tracking software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira) may be beneficial for managing multiple assignments.

Preferred & Specialized Tools:

• Video Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects for motion graphics.

• 3D Modeling: 3DS Max, SketchUp.

• Web Design: WordPress, HTML, CSS.

• Collaboration Platforms: Microsoft Teams or similar for internal communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the specific software critical for the role, distinguishing between required and preferred tools, and contextualizing their use within the firm's operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client Focus: A commitment to understanding and meeting client needs, reflected in the quality and effectiveness of design deliverables for proposals and project communications.

• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to producing high-quality, accurate, and visually compelling work that upholds the firm's reputation.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and mutual support across departments, especially between design, technical, and marketing teams.

• Innovation & Resourcefulness: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the adoption of new design techniques or technologies to enhance deliverables.

• Integrity & Responsibility: Operating with a high degree of personal responsibility, professionalism, and ethical conduct in all aspects of work.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with engineers and project managers, requiring clear communication to translate technical requirements into visual solutions.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: A culture that values constructive feedback from peers and stakeholders to refine designs and improve project outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share best practices, design techniques, and insights to foster collective growth and efficiency within the design and marketing departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values are inferred from the company's description and the nature of the role within a professional services firm, emphasizing collaboration, quality, and client service.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Technical Constraints: Effectively translating complex engineering data and technical jargon into visually appealing and understandable graphics while adhering to strict brand and client requirements.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholders and Deadlines: Juggling numerous projects simultaneously, each with unique requirements and often tight turnaround times, necessitating strong organizational and prioritization skills.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with design software updates, new creative tools, and emerging digital design trends to maintain a high level of output and relevance.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring that all design outputs, across various project types and teams, consistently reflect Kimley-Horn's brand identity and quality standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe CC, and potentially explore training in video editing, 3D modeling, or web design software.

• Industry Best Practices: Access to internal training programs and potentially external workshops or conferences focused on proposal design, technical illustration, or marketing collateral creation.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced designers and marketing professionals within the firm, gaining insights into project management and client communication strategies.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Building a robust portfolio through diverse project exposure, contributing to career advancement within Kimley-Horn or the broader design industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed around the specific demands of graphic design in a technical consulting environment, while growth opportunities are aligned with skill development and career progression within such a firm.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a complex proposal cover or report layout. How do you ensure it aligns with technical content and client needs?" (Focus on InDesign workflow, stakeholder input, and strategic design thinking.)

• "How do you approach translating complex technical information into easily understandable visual graphics, such as infographics or data visualizations?" (Prepare examples of data simplification and visual storytelling.)

• "Walk us through a challenging design project where you had to manage multiple stakeholders with differing opinions. How did you navigate the feedback process to achieve a successful outcome?" (Demonstrate collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Kimley-Horn and our services? How do you see your design skills contributing to our success in the engineering consulting industry?" (Research the company's projects and values; connect your skills to their business objectives.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across various design projects, especially when working with different internal teams?" (Discuss your understanding of brand guidelines and your methods for maintaining them.)

• "Describe your experience working with technical professionals like engineers. How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration?" (Highlight your ability to work cross-functionally and translate technical needs.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each selected project, clearly state the objective, your role, the process, the tools used, the challenges, and the final outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, mention the positive results of your design work (e.g., successful proposal win, increased engagement, improved clarity).

• Showcase InDesign Mastery: Be prepared to discuss specific InDesign features or techniques you used to manage complex layouts and typography.

• Tailor to Kimley-Horn: Emphasize projects that demonstrate experience relevant to proposal graphics, technical reports, or marketing collateral for professional services firms.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are designed to probe the candidate's technical skills, strategic thinking, collaborative abilities, and understanding of the firm's industry and operational needs.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through the Kimley-Horn careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating proficiency in Adobe InDesign for complex document layouts, proposal graphics, and technical report design. Include examples of translating technical information into visuals.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight relevant software proficiencies (Adobe CC, Microsoft Office), years of experience, and any experience in professional services or proposal development. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, software skills, and ability to collaborate with technical teams. Be ready to discuss your portfolio and how your skills align with Kimley-Horn's needs.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Kimley-Horn's services, recent projects, and company culture to demonstrate genuine interest and understand their operational 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.