Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Newcastle University

Location: Newcastle, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary

Category: Marketing & Communications / Creative Services

Date Posted: 27 August 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive impactful creative communications by developing engaging and innovative content for prospective students, stakeholders, and global audiences.

• Produce a wide range of multimedia content, including digital campaigns, social assets, video, motion graphics, and print publications, to support ambitious marketing goals.

• Collaborate closely with marketing colleagues, creative partners, and external agencies to transform ideas into compelling visual content that enhances user experience and elevates the university's brand.

• Contribute to a 'digital first' approach within a comprehensive, world-class marketing team, embracing continuous learning and new digital marketing approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is for a Graphic Designer, the context of its placement within a university's Marketing, Global Recruitment, and Admissions Directorate signifies a strong focus on GTM (Go-To-Market) strategies, particularly in student recruitment and institutional branding. The emphasis on digital channels, engagement, and performance metrics aligns with typical GTM operations, even though the title is not explicitly "GTM Operations."

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver compelling, brand-aligned content and creative assets across digital and offline channels, including websites, social media, email marketing, video, presentations, advertising, and print, collaborating with internal stakeholders and external creative partners to drive engagement.

• Leverage motion design, video editing, and emerging creative technologies to produce impactful animated content for multi-channel marketing campaigns, ensuring all outputs are visually compelling, on-brand, and optimized for digital performance.

• Scope and create templates for the Marketing Team and wider university network colleagues to support their posting on social media, blogs, email, and other channels, fostering content consistency and efficiency.

• Proactively bring new ideas for design and content creation to the team, utilizing expertise and a keen eye for great design to innovate and enhance visual communications.

• Work collaboratively with external agencies and the university's retainer agency to develop and refine creative assets, providing clear direction and feedback to achieve high-quality design outcomes that align with brand guidelines and commercial objectives.

• Provide expert knowledge and intelligence to ensure the University is maximizing digital and print marketing opportunities, including identifying and analyzing emerging trends to deliver innovative and impactful multimedia marketing campaigns.

• Collaborate closely with other colleagues to ensure coordinated efforts in the promotion of the university, fostering a unified brand message across departments.

• Execute other duties as required to support online, digital, and print requirements as directed by the Head of Content, Media Services Team Leader, and Marketing and Production Manager.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a blend of creative execution and strategic input. The mention of "driving engagement," "optimizing for digital performance," and "supporting recruitment, reputation, and engagement objectives" suggests a need to understand marketing funnels and target audience segmentation, aligning with GTM principles. The creation of templates for wider university use also points to a scalable process design element.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Degree or equivalent relevant sector or industry experience; Chartered Institute of Marketing qualification or other relevant marketing/communication professional qualification is advantageous.

Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of experience as an in-house designer, freelancer, or at a marketing agency. Experience in designing for and using content management systems (CMS) to create mobile and desktop-friendly assets that enhance user experience.

Required Skills:

• Strong expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and Premiere Pro.

• Proven experience creating and editing original, creative content in a range of multimedia formats (graphics, video, animation, digital content).

• Understanding of digital marketing channels and how creative assets drive engagement and performance.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to tailor communication to different audiences.

• Demonstrable ability in graphic design for print, including brochure design and exhibition stands.

• Experience using digital analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to monitor, measure, and evaluate digital and social media performance for ongoing reporting.

• Strong understanding of brand guidelines and ability to ensure all creative outputs are visually compelling and on-brand.

• Excellent copywriting, editing, and proof-reading skills. Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• Experience with motion design and video editing for multi-channel marketing campaigns.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) and creating assets optimized for web and mobile.

• Experience in higher education marketing or a similar complex organizational structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio and the specific mention of "work samples" are critical for this role. The "Knowledge, Skills and Experience" section is a direct list of required proficiencies. The "Attributes and Behaviour" section outlines soft skills crucial for collaboration and project management within a university setting.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating exceptional design capability across both digital and print platforms is mandatory for application.

• Showcase a range of multimedia content creation, including examples of graphics, video, animation, and digital campaign assets.

• Highlight projects where creative assets were used to drive engagement and performance on digital marketing channels.

• Include examples of print design, such as brochure design or exhibition stands, to demonstrate versatility.

• Present case studies or project descriptions that explain the brief, your creative process, and the impact or results of your work. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in designing for and using Content Management Systems (CMS), showing an understanding of creating assets optimized for web and mobile responsiveness.

• Provide evidence of using digital analytics tools to monitor, measure, and evaluate the performance of digital and social media content, and for reporting on outcomes.

• Showcase the ability to scope and create templates for wider team use, indicating an understanding of scalable design processes and brand consistency.

• Explain your approach to collaborating with internal stakeholders and external agencies, detailing how you manage feedback and ensure high-quality, on-brand design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio and work samples is a key differentiator for creative roles. The "Process Documentation" section is inferred from the responsibilities and requirements related to CMS, analytics, template creation, and collaboration, emphasizing the operational aspects of design execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £32,080 to £34,610 per annum

Benefits:

• Generous holiday package, with the opportunity to buy more.

• Great pension schemes.

• A number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support employees.

• Access to university resources and professional development opportunities.

• Potential for extended professional engagement through access to university events and networks.

Working Hours: Full-time position, standard university working hours (likely 37 hours per week, based on typical UK university structures, though not explicitly stated).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is explicitly stated. The listed benefits are directly from the job description. The working hours are inferred to be standard full-time for a university role, which is typically around 37 hours per week in the UK. The "full-time position on a fixed term contract until 7th February 2027" is crucial employment detail.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education. Newcastle University is a research-intensive Russell Group university known for its academic excellence and global reputation.

Company Size: Large organization, typical of a major university with thousands of employees and students. This implies a structured environment with diverse departments and a broad range of internal clients and audiences.

Founded: Newcastle University was founded in 1834, with a long history of academic achievement and contribution to society. The Marketing Team is part of the Marketing, Global Recruitment, and Admissions Directorate.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the Marketing Team within the Marketing, Global Recruitment, and Admissions Directorate.

• They will report to the Media Services Team Leader and work closely with colleagues in the Marketing Team, creative partners, and external agencies.

• The team embraces a 'digital first' approach, encourages personal growth, and focuses on engaging with clients and audiences to deliver exceptional user content and experience.

• The team is described as highly collaborative and innovative, combining a wide range of planning, creative, and technical skillsets. Methodology:

• Embraces a 'digital first' approach to marketing and communications.

• Focuses on encouraging personal growth and development within the team.

• Emphasizes engaging with clients and audiences to understand their needs and deliver effective content.

• Strives for the delivery of exceptional user content and experience across all touchpoints.

• Utilizes a collaborative and innovative methodology, combining diverse skillsets.

• Leverages data analytics to inform creative decisions and measure campaign performance.

Company Website: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is derived from the university's established reputation and the specific description of its Marketing Team. The "Methodology" section synthesizes the stated vision and approach of the marketing team. The "Team Structure" clarifies the reporting lines and collaborative environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Creative Professional. This role sits within a larger marketing and communications department, offering opportunities to refine specialized design skills and contribute to significant university-wide initiatives. It's a position where practical experience is applied and expanded upon.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports to the Media Services Team Leader, who is part of the broader Marketing, Global Recruitment, and Admissions Directorate. This structure allows for clear direction and collaboration with management.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the university's brand perception, recruitment efforts, and overall engagement with prospective students, current students, faculty, and external stakeholders. By creating compelling visual content, they contribute to achieving key institutional objectives, including student acquisition and reputation enhancement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly in motion graphics and video editing, and explore emerging digital marketing technologies.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in specific areas of design relevant to higher education marketing, such as digital campaigns, video content, or brand identity.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Exposure to various university departments and projects, broadening understanding of institutional needs and communication strategies.

• Career Advancement: Potential to progress into senior design roles, team leadership within the media services team, or specialized roles within marketing and communications.

• Learning & Development: Access to university-provided training, workshops, and potentially professional qualifications (like CIM), as well as the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues and external partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Career Level" is inferred from the experience requirements and the role's placement within a larger department. The "Operations Impact" highlights how the design function contributes to broader organizational goals, similar to how operations roles impact revenue or efficiency. Growth opportunities are extrapolated from typical career paths in creative departments within large organizations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role within Newcastle University, likely situated within the main campus or a dedicated administrative/marketing hub. The environment is expected to be professional, academic, and collaborative.

Office Location(s): Newcastle, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Specific office location within Newcastle will be part of the university's campus or administrative facilities.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative workspace where interaction with marketing colleagues, creative partners, and potentially other university staff is encouraged.

• Access to standard office technology and likely specialized design hardware and software.

• Opportunities to work on diverse projects, from digital campaigns to print materials, providing a dynamic work experience.

• The university environment fosters a culture of learning and innovation, which can influence the creative process.

Work Schedule: Full-time position, expected to adhere to standard university working hours. While the core hours are likely fixed, the role's creative nature may allow for some flexibility in task management, provided deadlines are met. The fixed-term contract duration is until 7th February 2027.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Office Type" and "Workspace Context" are inferred based on the nature of university employment and the described team culture. The "Work Schedule" emphasizes the fixed-term nature of the contract.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Screening of CVs, cover letters, and mandatory portfolios for essential criteria.

• Portfolio Presentation/Review: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design choices, and their impact. This is a critical step for assessing design skills and process.

• Interview(s): Likely to involve discussions with the Media Services Team Leader and potentially other members of the marketing team or hiring managers. Questions will focus on technical skills, creative problem-solving, stakeholder management, and cultural fit.

• Skills Assessment: A practical design task or a case study may be part of the process to evaluate the candidate's ability to respond to a brief under timed conditions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select your strongest, most relevant work that showcases versatility across digital, video, motion graphics, and print.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, your creative process, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Use visuals to support your narrative.

• Highlight GTM Relevance: Where possible, demonstrate how your designs contributed to marketing objectives such as engagement, recruitment, or brand awareness.

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Clearly indicate the software and techniques used.

• Tailor to University Needs: Consider how your work aligns with the university's brand and target audiences.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve creating a concept for a campaign, designing a social media asset, or adapting existing materials.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely.

• Understand the university's brand guidelines and target audience segments.

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach creating templates for wider university use.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is constructed based on standard university hiring practices for creative roles and the explicit requirements for a portfolio and evidence of skills. The tips are tailored for a graphic design application within an academic institution.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro (Essential).

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience with university-specific or common CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) for web asset creation.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems: Familiarity may be beneficial for organizing and retrieving creative assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Digital Analytics Tools: Google Analytics, social media platform analytics (e.g., Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics) for monitoring and reporting on campaign performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how creative assets integrate with marketing automation platforms and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) for campaign delivery and tracking would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are directly mentioned in the job description. The CRM and Automation section includes tools that a graphic designer might indirectly interact with or whose output they support, common in marketing operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A drive to generate new ideas and explore emerging digital marketing approaches.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with marketing colleagues, creative partners, and external agencies to achieve shared goals.

• Impact & Engagement: A focus on producing work that connects with audiences and drives meaningful engagement.

• User Experience: Commitment to delivering exceptional content and user experiences across all touchpoints.

• Continuous Learning: Curiosity and a desire to continuously develop skills and explore new technologies.

• Brand Alignment: Adherence to brand guidelines and ensuring all creative outputs are consistent and on-brand.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative and innovative, combining a wide range of planning, creative, and technical skillsets.

• Open to two-way communication, valuing diverse skills, expertise, and opinions.

• Proactive in seeking and providing feedback to ensure high-quality design outcomes.

• Works effectively with both internal stakeholders and external creative partners/agencies.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are synthesized from the "Attributes and Behaviour" section of the job description and the overall description of the marketing team's ethos.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse Needs: Creating content that appeals to a wide range of university audiences (prospective students, current students, faculty, alumni, researchers, general public) while maintaining brand consistency.

• Rapidly Evolving Digital Landscape: Keeping pace with emerging digital marketing trends, social media platform changes, and new creative technologies to ensure content remains relevant and impactful.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholders: Effectively communicating with and incorporating feedback from various internal departments, each with potentially different priorities and creative visions.

• Fixed-Term Contract: Working within a defined contract period (until February 2027) requires efficient project delivery and adaptability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Software Training: Deepen expertise in After Effects, Premiere Pro, and potentially explore new creative tools and platforms.

• Digital Marketing Strategy Exposure: Gain insights into how creative assets contribute to broader marketing and recruitment strategies.

• Higher Education Marketing Best Practices: Learn from experienced professionals within a leading university marketing department.

• Networking: Build professional relationships within the university and with external agency partners.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Opportunity to build a robust portfolio with high-impact projects for a well-respected institution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are derived from the nature of the role within a large, multi-faceted organization like a university, and the inherent demands of creative work. Growth opportunities are extrapolated from the role's context and the stated values of continuous learning and innovation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to create a compelling visual for a complex audience. How did you tailor your approach?" (Focus on audience segmentation and creative strategy)

• "How do you ensure your creative work aligns with brand guidelines while still being innovative?" (Focus on brand adherence and creative problem-solving)

• "Walk us through a project from your portfolio where your design significantly contributed to a marketing or recruitment goal. What was your process, and what were the results?" (Focus on impact, process, and metrics) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Newcastle University's brand and its target audiences?" (Demonstrate research and understanding of the institution)

• "How do you approach collaboration with team members and external stakeholders to achieve creative objectives?" (Assess teamwork and communication skills)

• "Describe a situation where you had to adapt your design approach based on feedback or changing project requirements." (Evaluate flexibility and problem-solving) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Begin with an overview of your portfolio, then dive into 2-3 key projects. For each project, clearly state the brief, your role, your creative process, the tools used, and the outcomes or impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, click-through rates, conversion improvements).

• Showcase Versatility: Highlight examples of your work across digital, video, motion graphics, and print to demonstrate your breadth of skills.

• Explain Your "Why": Be ready to articulate the rationale behind your design decisions. Why did you choose specific colors, fonts, layouts, or media?

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and other relevant tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions are designed to probe the candidate's skills, experience, and cultural fit, mirroring typical questions for a creative role within a university marketing department. The portfolio presentation strategy focuses on effectively showcasing relevant work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Newcastle University jobs portal.

• Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Highlight your experience with Adobe Creative Suite, multimedia content creation, digital marketing channels, and stakeholder management. Emphasize any relevant experience in higher education or similar large organizations.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases your best work across digital, video, motion graphics, and print. Include case studies that explain your process and the impact of your designs. Make sure it's easily accessible (e.g., a link to a website or a well-organized PDF).

• Prepare for a Design Challenge: Be ready to demonstrate your creative problem-solving skills, potentially through a short, timed exercise or by discussing how you would approach a hypothetical university marketing task.

• Research Newcastle University: Familiarize yourself with the university's brand, its strategic goals, and its target audiences. Understand the vision and values of the Marketing Team as described in the job posting.

⚠️ 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.