Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: NorQuest College

Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Category: Marketing & Communications Operations

Date Posted: July 30, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office per week)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in translating institutional messages into compelling visual narratives that enhance NorQuest College's brand presence and marketing efforts.

• The Graphic Designer will be responsible for the end-to-end creation of diverse digital and print assets, ensuring adherence to institutional brand guidelines and accessibility standards.

• This position demands a blend of creative conceptualization and technical execution, focusing on producing high-quality, inclusive, and effective visual communications.

• Collaboration is key, as the designer will work closely with internal stakeholders, project managers, and marketing teams to deliver design solutions that meet strategic objectives and support recruitment and engagement initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Graphic Designer, the context of an educational institution and the emphasis on brand consistency, strategic communications, and asset creation places it within the broader operational framework of marketing and communications. The operations aspect is in the systematic creation, management, and deployment of visual assets that drive institutional goals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute creative concepts for a wide array of digital and print design projects, including social media graphics, digital advertisements, print collateral, presentations, and signage.

• Ensure all design outputs strictly adhere to NorQuest College's visual identity standards, brand guidelines, and accessibility requirements, promoting an inclusive and cohesive institutional image.

• Translate complex information, institutional priorities, and marketing messages into clear, engaging, and effective visual communication materials for diverse audiences.

• Manage the full design lifecycle for assets, from initial concept and creative development through to final production-ready file preparation for both print and digital distribution.

• Maintain organized digital asset management, including version control and asset libraries, to ensure efficient retrieval and consistent application of brand elements.

• Collaborate closely with internal clients, project managers, and marketing partners to thoroughly understand project briefs, objectives, and strategic needs, providing design recommendations and technical support.

• Continuously research and stay updated on emerging design trends, accessibility best practices, relevant technologies, and industry standards to foster continuous improvement in design output and processes.

• Review, update, and refine existing design assets to ensure ongoing accuracy, compliance with current standards, and brand alignment.

• Prepare production-ready files for print and digital platforms, ensuring optimal quality and compatibility.

• Contribute to the enhancement of design processes, templates, workflows, and user experience to improve efficiency and consistency in visual communications across the college.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a structured approach to design, emphasizing process adherence (brand guidelines, accessibility), systematic asset creation, and collaborative project management, which are core operational functions within a marketing and communications department.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Diploma in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or an equivalent post-secondary program.

• For international candidates, an assessment of credentials from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator (e.g., IQAS, WES) is recommended. Experience:

• 2-4 years of professional experience in graphic design, with a strong portfolio showcasing a range of digital and print work.

• Experience working within established brand standards and producing high-quality assets for institutional or corporate environments. Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

• Strong understanding of fundamental design principles: typography, layout, color theory, visual hierarchy, and composition.

• Proven ability to create accessible and inclusive design solutions, with experience applying accessibility standards to visual communications.

• Demonstrated experience in conceptual thinking, creative problem-solving, and project management, with the capacity to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with experience in client-facing roles or working with internal stakeholders to deliver design solutions.

• Experience producing production-ready files for both print and digital platforms. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with HTML and CSS for web-based design applications.

• Experience with motion graphics and Adobe After Effects.

• Knowledge of content management systems (CMS) and digital asset management (DAM) systems.

• Understanding of marketing and recruitment strategies as they relate to visual communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is framed as "2-4 years," but the AI analysis suggests a broader "2-5 years" for candidate consideration, which is a common range. The inclusion of HTML/CSS and After Effects as preferred skills indicates a forward-thinking approach to digital asset creation, common in modern marketing operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a diverse range of design projects across digital and print media.

• Include examples demonstrating application of brand guidelines, accessibility standards, and inclusive design principles.

• Showcase projects that illustrate conceptual thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to translate complex information into clear visual narratives.

• Highlight examples of producing production-ready files for various platforms and the ability to manage version control and asset organization. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate understanding of workflow processes for design projects, from brief intake to final delivery.

• Illustrate experience with file preparation for print (e.g., CMYK, bleed, resolution) and digital (e.g., RGB, file formats, optimization).

• Show evidence of how accessibility and brand consistency are integrated into the design workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio is critical for design roles and serves as a primary "process output" demonstration. The AI note emphasizes how this portfolio acts as proof of operational design capabilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• $67,351 - $87,454 annually (AUPE Band Level 8 | Analyst III).

• Salary placement within this range will be determined by education and experience. Benefits:

• Full-time, permanent position with benefits as per the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) Collective Agreement.

• Union membership with AUPE.

• Flexible work options, balancing remote work with campus presence.

• Recognition as one of Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures. Working Hours:

• Full-time position, typically 40 hours per week.

• Details on specific daily hours are not provided but are expected to align with standard professional work schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided and falls within typical ranges for experienced graphic designers in a major Canadian city. The inclusion of AUPE benefits and union membership is specific to this role and location. The AI analysis accurately captured the provided salary range and benefits.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Post-secondary Education. NorQuest College is a public community college focused on career, technical, and vocational education, serving a diverse student population.

Company Size: Large (likely over 500 employees based on typical college structures). This implies a structured organization with established processes and multiple departments.

Founded: 1965. With a long history, NorQuest College likely has well-defined brand standards and operational procedures.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer reports to the Manager, Visual Communications, within the Strategic Communications department.

• This structure suggests a dedicated team focused on brand, marketing, and institutional communications, with potential for collaboration across other communications, marketing, and student services departments.

• The role emphasizes collaboration with internal clients and project managers, indicating a matrixed or project-based workflow common in communications operations. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on strategic priorities, brand consistency, and measurable communication goals implies a data-informed approach to design.

• Brand Stewardship: A core operational function is the consistent application of brand guidelines to maintain institutional integrity and recognition.

• Inclusive & Accessible Design: This is a critical operational component, ensuring communications are effective for all audiences.

• Collaborative Project Management: Projects are managed through clear briefs, client interaction, and delivery within timelines, reflecting operational efficiency.

Company Website: https://www.norquest.ca/

📝 Enhancement Note: The AI analysis correctly identifies NorQuest College's industry and size. The inferred team structure and operational methodologies are based on standard practices within educational institutions and marketing departments, emphasizing how design functions as an operational support mechanism for broader institutional goals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is an intermediate-level graphic design role, focusing on executing design strategies and maintaining brand integrity. It sits within the broader "Analyst III" classification, suggesting analytical and problem-solving aspects beyond pure creative output.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Manager, Visual Communications, and collaborates with project managers and internal clients. This indicates a clear reporting line within a specialized communications team.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is measured by its contribution to institutional goals through effective visual communication. This includes supporting marketing campaigns, recruitment efforts, student engagement, and overall brand perception. High-quality, accessible, and on-brand design directly influences how the college is perceived and how effectively its messages are received.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas like digital design, accessibility standards, motion graphics, or branding.

• Project Leadership: Opportunities to take on more complex or lead design projects, increasing responsibility.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Working with various departments can broaden understanding of institutional operations and different communication needs.

• Potential Advancement: Progression to Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, or roles within broader marketing or communications management, depending on performance and career aspirations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The analysis frames the role's growth within a typical operations career path for creative professionals, emphasizing how design execution contributes to strategic operational outcomes and offers avenues for skill development and advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, requiring 2 days per week in the office. This suggests a balance between remote flexibility and in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (T5J 1L6). The college campus provides the physical workspace.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The expectation of 2 days in the office points to a desire for in-person collaboration, team meetings, and informal idea-sharing.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, design software (Adobe Creative Cloud), and potentially a digital asset management system.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to connect with colleagues in Strategic Communications, Visual Communications, and other departments during in-office days.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week), with flexibility offered. This allows for efficient management of design tasks and project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, influencing how operations are conducted and team collaboration occurs. The note highlights how this blend impacts daily work for a design professional.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume, cover letter, and mandatory portfolio. Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be assessed on the quality, diversity, and relevance of their submitted work, particularly how it demonstrates required skills (brand adherence, accessibility, conceptualization).

• Interview(s): Likely involves discussions about design philosophy, problem-solving approaches, experience with specific tools and processes, and how they handle client feedback and project challenges. Behavioral questions assessing collaboration and communication skills will also be present.

• Potential Skills Assessment: A small design task or case study may be presented to evaluate practical application of skills under timed conditions.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with senior leadership or a broader team to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your skills relevant to the job description (e.g., institutional branding, digital assets, accessible design).

• Tell a Story: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, the creative process, design challenges, and the outcome/impact.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out how your work demonstrates proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, typography, layout, accessibility, and brand application.

• Quality Over Quantity: A focused selection of high-quality work is better than a large, unfocused collection.

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

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize Yourself: Understand NorQuest College's brand, mission, and current communications.

• Review Design Principles: Refresh your knowledge on typography, color theory, layout, and accessibility standards.

• Practice Problem-Solving: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical design brief or solve a design challenge.

• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to clearly explain your design process, from concept to execution, for specific portfolio pieces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on the portfolio is paramount for this role. The enhancement note focuses on how candidates should strategically present their work to demonstrate operational competence in design execution and process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential suite including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop for all design tasks.

• Microsoft Office Suite: For creating presentations (PowerPoint) and documents (Word), likely involving integration with design assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly used by the designer, understanding how assets perform (e.g., digital ad click-through rates, social media engagement) can inform future design decisions. Familiarity with analytics platforms like Google Analytics or social media insights may be beneficial for understanding user engagement with digital assets. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role, but an awareness of how marketing automation platforms (e.g., for email campaigns) utilize design assets is helpful. Other Potential Tools:

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: For organizing and storing final design assets.

• Project Management Software: (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) for tracking project progress and deadlines.

• Web Content Management Systems (CMS): For understanding how digital assets are deployed on websites.

• HTML/CSS Editors: For basic web design or understanding web constraints.

• Adobe After Effects: For motion graphics and animated content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools are the Adobe Creative Suite. The note acknowledges that while the designer may not directly use analytics or CRM, understanding their output and how design integrates into broader marketing operations is advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: A core value reflected in the job requirements, emphasizing the creation of materials that serve all individuals.

• Brand Consistency: Upholding and strengthening the NorQuest College brand through meticulous design application.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively with colleagues and internal clients to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Staying current with trends and seeking ways to enhance design processes and outputs.

• Student-Centricity: Ultimately, all communications and designs serve to support the student experience and institutional mission.

Collaboration Style:

• Client-Focused: Responding to the needs of internal stakeholders and translating their objectives into effective visual solutions.

• Process-Oriented: Adhering to established workflows, brand guidelines, and project management principles.

• Feedback-Driven: Open to constructive criticism and revisions to improve design outcomes.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working with marketing, communications, and other departments to ensure cohesive messaging and brand representation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The analysis connects the college's stated values (Inclusivity, Anti-racism, Decolonization) to the operational expectations of the Graphic Designer role, framing design as a tool for enacting these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Freedom with Brand Constraints: Delivering innovative designs while strictly adhering to institutional brand guidelines and accessibility standards.

• Managing Competing Deadlines: Juggling multiple projects from various internal clients with differing priorities and timelines.

• Translating Complex Information: Effectively visualizing abstract concepts or technical information for diverse audiences.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Digital Trends: Ensuring designs are current and effective across a rapidly changing digital landscape.

• Integrating Feedback: Incorporating revisions from multiple stakeholders while maintaining design integrity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Deepening skills in Adobe Creative Cloud or exploring new design and motion graphics software.

• Accessibility Certifications: Pursuing formal training or certifications in accessible design principles.

• Brand Strategy Workshops: Gaining a deeper understanding of brand management and marketing strategy.

• Cross-Departmental Projects: Working on initiatives that expose the designer to different facets of the college's operations.

• Mentorship: Learning from senior designers or managers within the Strategic Communications team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies common operational challenges faced by designers in such roles and maps them to specific learning opportunities that align with career growth within the operations of a marketing and communications department.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a design concept from a brief." (Focus on your conceptualization and workflow).

• "How do you ensure your designs are both on-brand and accessible?" (Highlight your understanding of brand guidelines and WCAG).

• "Walk us through a project where you had to balance conflicting stakeholder feedback with design integrity." (Demonstrate problem-solving and communication).

• "How do you stay current with design trends and incorporate them into your work?" (Showcase continuous learning). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about NorQuest College and its mission?" (Research the college's values and strategic goals).

• "How do you see your design skills contributing to our commitment to inclusivity and decolonization?" (Connect your work to institutional values).

• "How would you approach collaborating with non-designers on a project?" (Emphasize communication and translating technical needs). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Have 3-5 key projects ready to present in detail, covering objectives, your role, process, challenges, and outcomes.

• Highlight Key Skills: For each project, explicitly point out how you applied typography, color, layout, accessibility, and brand standards.

• Demonstrate Problem-Solving: Explain how you overcame design challenges or translated complex information.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have metrics on engagement or effectiveness for a digital piece, be prepared to share them.

• Be Ready for Live Critiques/Tasks: Some interviews may include a short design exercise or a request to critique a sample asset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are tailored to assess not just design skill but also the candidate's operational approach, understanding of institutional context, and ability to embody company values through their work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit Your Application Online: Upload your resume and cover letter combined as a single document via the application portal.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is polished, easily accessible (e.g., a link to a personal website or a well-organized PDF), and showcases your best work relevant to the role.

• Tailor Your Resume & Cover Letter: Highlight your experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, brand guidelines, accessibility standards, and project management. Use keywords from the job description.

• Research NorQuest College: Understand their mission, values, target audience, and current visual communications to demonstrate your understanding and fit.

• Practice Your Portfolio Walkthrough: Be ready to articulate your design process, creative decisions, and the impact of your work for key portfolio pieces during an interview.

⚠️ 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.

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