Graphic Designer

SHALOM AUSTIN
Full-time$53k-55k/year (USD)Austin, United States

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: SHALOM AUSTIN

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing & Communications Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: July 29, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

  • Spearhead the creation of compelling visual assets for a diverse range of marketing and communications initiatives, ensuring brand consistency across all platforms.

  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate strategic objectives into impactful graphic designs for print, digital, and event collateral.

  • Manage the end-to-end design process for a quarterly magazine, from layout and content integration to print-ready delivery.

  • Leverage a strong understanding of design principles, typography, and print production to deliver high-quality, engaging visuals for a non-profit organization focused on community impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Graphic Designer," has significant overlap with Marketing Operations and Creative Operations due to its responsibility for managing brand assets, coordinating with vendors, and producing multi-channel marketing collateral within a non-profit setting. The emphasis on "visual storytelling" and community impact suggests a need for creative operation skills that align with an organization's mission.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute engaging print materials, including but not limited to brochures, event program booklets, mailers, flyers, banners, apparel designs, and large-format signage, managing projects from concept through to print-ready delivery.

  • Design and optimize digital assets for social media campaigns, email marketing, web pages, and digital displays, ensuring visual appeal and adherence to platform best practices.

  • Lead the layout and production of the organization's quarterly magazine, "The Jewish Outlook," in close collaboration with the marketing team, ensuring a polished final print and digital publication.

  • Uphold and enforce brand guidelines across all visual assets, ensuring consistency, quality, and a cohesive brand identity across all departments and external communications.

  • Collaborate directly with program leads and the marketing team to brainstorm creative concepts, interpret project briefs, and translate requests into effective visual solutions.

  • Prepare print-ready artwork, specify paper stocks and other technical requirements, and coordinate with external print vendors to ensure accurate and timely project delivery.

  • Maintain and organize a comprehensive digital asset library, including logos, photography, templates, fonts, and finished design files, ensuring easy accessibility for the entire team.

  • Provide supplemental photography coverage for events, programs, marketing initiatives, and social media campaigns as needed, capturing compelling visuals that align with organizational messaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strong project management skills, vendor management, and a deep understanding of production workflows, which are core to operations roles within a creative function. The hybrid nature and occasional after-hours event support also imply a need for flexible operational planning.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Art, or a closely related field.

  • Alternatively, an equivalent portfolio demonstrating extensive hands-on graphic design experience and strong visual communication capabilities will be considered. Experience:

  • 3-5 years of progressive, hands-on graphic design experience, preferably gained in an in-house marketing department, agency setting, or within a non-profit/association environment. Required Skills:

  • Graphic Design Proficiency: Mastery in creating compelling visual assets for both print and digital media.

  • Adobe Creative Suite: High-level proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop is essential for comprehensive design tasks.

  • Canva Expertise: Comfortable and efficient in utilizing Canva for rapid asset creation and managing team templates.

  • Typography & Layout: Solid understanding of typographic principles, hierarchy, and effective layout design for readability and aesthetic appeal.

  • Print Production Fundamentals: Deep knowledge of print pre-press processes, color management (CMYK vs. RGB), and specifications for preparing artwork for external print vendors.

  • Project & Time Management: Proven ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet strict deadlines within a consistent workflow.

  • Communication & Collaboration: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with an open, receptive, and collaborative approach to receiving design feedback.

  • Mac OS Proficiency: Comfortable and proficient in working within a Mac OS environment.

  • Standard Workplace Software: Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with project management tools such as Monday.com.

  • Photography and/or videography experience, including capturing and editing visual content.

  • Basic WordPress or other web content management system (CMS) experience for understanding digital asset integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for specific software proficiency (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva) and understanding of technical processes (print pre-press, color management) are critical for operations roles, ensuring efficient workflow and high-quality output. Experience with project management tools is a direct indicator of operational capability.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A curated portfolio showcasing a diverse range of design projects, including print collateral (brochures, event materials), digital assets (social graphics, web banners), and ideally, magazine layout experience.

  • Demonstrate an ability to adhere to and evolve brand guidelines, presenting examples of consistent branding across multiple applications.

  • Include case studies or project descriptions that highlight the design process, problem-solving, and the impact of the visual solutions provided.

  • Showcase proficiency in the required Adobe Creative Suite applications, with examples that clearly reflect mastery of InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Process Documentation:

  • Examples of how you've managed the workflow for print projects, from initial brief to final print-ready file and vendor coordination.

  • Demonstrate your approach to digital asset creation for various platforms, including optimization for social media and email.

  • Illustrate your process for developing and maintaining a digital asset library, ensuring organization and accessibility.

  • Provide insights into your collaboration process when working with stakeholders and incorporating feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Graphic Designer role with operational responsibilities, a portfolio must go beyond aesthetics to demonstrate the candidate's ability to manage processes, collaborate effectively, and deliver on project requirements within organizational constraints. This section emphasizes the need to showcase operational thinking within creative output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $53,000 - $55,000 annually.

Benefits:

  • Complimentary Membership: Free membership to the Shalom Austin fitness and aquatics center.

  • Program Discounts: Discounts on various programs, including personal training.

  • Professional Development: Regular opportunities for staff training and continuing education, fostering a learning organization environment.

  • Medical Insurance: Outstanding medical coverage through Cigna, with the organization covering over 80% of the premium cost for the base plan.

  • Retirement Savings: Option to contribute to a 403(b) retirement plan with the opportunity for a company match.

  • Insurance Coverage: 100% employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance.

  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): 18 days of PTO in the first year, plus more than 15 paid Jewish and Federal holidays.

  • Childcare Discount: Up to a 50% discount for children in the early childhood program, subject to enrollment availability.

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access to a comprehensive EAP for support services.

  • Work-Life Balance: Commitment to offering flexibility in work schedules to support employee commitments outside of the workplace.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. The role is hybrid, requiring at least two days per week in the office, with potential for attending events or programs outside of standard working hours as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided. The benefits package is comprehensive and aligns with typical offerings for full-time employees in the non-profit sector, with specific perks related to the organization's services. The working hours and hybrid arrangement are clearly defined, with an expectation of occasional off-hours availability.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Non-profit / Community Services / Jewish Community Organization. Shalom Austin is dedicated to enriching the lives of the Jewish community and the broader Austin area through a wide array of programs and services.

Company Size: The provided data does not specify exact employee count, but it implies a substantial organization with multiple departments (Dell JCC, JCamps, Early Childhood Program, Jewish Outlook magazine) requiring dedicated marketing and design support. This suggests a mid-to-large size non-profit with a structured operational framework.

Founded: While the founding date is not explicitly provided, the organization's established presence and diverse program offerings indicate a history of community engagement and growth.

Team Structure:

  • The Graphic Designer will be part of the Marketing team, which is described as a "passionate, collaborative group of storytellers, marketers, and creators."

  • This team likely works closely with various program leads and department heads across Shalom Austin, indicating a matrixed or project-based reporting structure for design requests.

  • Collaboration is a key theme, suggesting a team environment that emphasizes shared creativity and mutual support to achieve organizational goals. Methodology:

  • The organization emphasizes "visual storytelling" and turning "ideas into clean, engaging visuals," indicating a focus on impactful communication through design.

  • Brand consistency and quality are paramount, suggesting a structured approach to asset management and design review.

  • The need to coordinate with print vendors and manage digital assets points to systematic operational processes within the marketing function.

Company Website: https://shalomaustin.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Shalom Austin's mission as a community-focused non-profit is crucial. For a designer, this means aligning visual communication with community values and organizational impact. The "growing organization" mention suggests an environment ripe for process improvement and creative problem-solving.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an intermediate-level Graphic Designer, requiring 3-5 years of experience. It offers a significant opportunity to contribute to a variety of projects and gain broad exposure across different organizational facets. While primarily a design role, the responsibilities in managing assets, coordinating vendors, and ensuring brand consistency provide a foundation for growth into more operationally focused creative roles.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to the marketing team leadership, likely a Marketing Director or Manager. They will work collaboratively with various program leads, requiring strong stakeholder management and the ability to translate diverse departmental needs into cohesive design solutions.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts how Shalom Austin communicates its mission, values, and offerings to the community. High-quality, consistent visual assets are crucial for event promotion, membership engagement, program participation, and overall brand perception. Effective design operations contribute to the organization's ability to attract members, donors, and participants, thereby supporting its broader operational and programmatic goals.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas, such as magazine layout and production, digital campaign design, or event branding.

  • Skill Development: Access to training and continuing education can facilitate learning new design techniques, software, or even expanding into areas like basic web content management or photography.

  • Cross-Functional Exposure: Working with numerous departments provides a holistic understanding of the organization's operations, which can be valuable for future career paths within non-profits or operations management.

  • Process Improvement: As a "growing organization," there's potential to contribute to refining design workflows, asset management systems, and vendor relationships.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a blend of creative execution and operational responsibility. Growth opportunities are framed not just in design skills but also in understanding organizational operations and potentially moving into roles with more strategic oversight of creative processes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, requiring a minimum of two days per week in the office. This suggests a professional office environment designed for collaboration and focused work, alongside the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located at 7300 Hart Ln, Austin, TX 78731-2407. This location is in a specific area of Austin, TX, and candidates are expected to be local to the Greater Austin area.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Atmosphere: The marketing team is described as "passionate" and "collaborative," implying a supportive work environment where ideas are shared and creativity is encouraged.

  • Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, including computers (Mac OS), printers, and likely internal network infrastructure for file sharing and project management. The specific design software mentioned (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva) will be integral to the workspace.

  • Team Interaction: The hybrid model allows for in-person collaboration on key projects, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions, while remote days offer focused work time. The need to attend events outside of working hours indicates a dynamic environment.

Work Schedule: The standard work week is 40 hours. While hybrid, the expectation for attending events outside of regular hours suggests a need for flexibility and adaptability in managing one's schedule to meet organizational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work arrangement is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring candidates to be comfortable with both in-office collaboration and remote productivity. The mention of attending events outside of working hours underscores the operational requirement for flexibility and commitment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Likely a review of the resume and portfolio, focusing on design skills, relevant experience, and alignment with brand style.

  • Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through the candidate's portfolio, discussing specific projects, design choices, problem-solving approaches, and the candidate's understanding of brand consistency and operational execution.

  • Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: Candidates may be asked to complete a small design task or hypothetical project to assess their approach, speed, and ability to work within given parameters and brand guidelines. This could also involve demonstrating proficiency in specific software.

  • Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with members of the marketing team and potentially program leads to assess cultural fit, communication style, and collaboration capabilities.

  • Final Interview: A concluding interview with hiring management to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm understanding of the role's responsibilities and expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your versatility, technical skills (especially Adobe Suite), and understanding of non-profit/community-focused design. Ensure clear examples of print, digital, and ideally magazine layout work.

  • Highlight Process & Impact: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your creative process, any challenges encountered, how you ensured brand consistency, and the outcome or impact of your design. Quantify results if possible (e.g., increased engagement, successful event turnout).

  • Demonstrate Operational Awareness: Show how you managed project timelines, collaborated with stakeholders, and coordinated with vendors. Include examples that illustrate your attention to detail in preparing print-ready files.

  • Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to talk through your design choices, your understanding of typography and color theory, and your experience with print production and digital asset creation.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Brand: Thoroughly review Shalom Austin's website, "The Jewish Outlook" magazine, and any other available collateral to grasp their brand identity, tone, and visual language.

  • Practice Under Pressure: If a design challenge is expected, practice creating simple assets quickly, focusing on brand adherence and clarity.

  • Articulate Your Approach: Be ready to explain your thought process for any design task, focusing on how you'd meet the brief and align with the organization's mission and operational constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and potential design challenges highlights the need for candidates to demonstrate not only creative talent but also a structured approach to design projects, aligning with operational efficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for professional graphic design. Candidates must be highly proficient in:

    • Adobe InDesign: For layout, page design, and magazine production.
    • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustrations.
    • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, retouching, and digital asset creation.
  • Canva: Required for quick-turn assets and managing team templates, indicating a need for efficiency and accessibility in design tools.

Project Management & Collaboration:

  • Monday.com: Experience with this tool is a bonus and suggests a workflow that values structured project tracking and team collaboration.

  • Microsoft Office Suite / Google Workspace: Standard for general workplace productivity, communication, and documentation.

Web & Digital:

  • WordPress (Basic): Familiarity is preferred, indicating a need to understand how design assets integrate into web platforms.

Photography & Videography (Preferred):

  • Experience with cameras and basic photo/video editing software may be utilized for capturing supplementary content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily skewed towards design software, but the mention of Monday.com and WordPress indicates an operational awareness of project management and digital content integration, which are key in modern marketing operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Community Focus: A strong commitment to serving and enriching the Jewish community and the broader Austin area. This translates to creating visuals that are inclusive, respectful, and impactful.

  • Collaboration: The marketing team is described as "passionate" and "collaborative," emphasizing teamwork, shared creativity, and mutual support in achieving organizational goals.

  • Quality & Consistency: Maintaining brand guidelines and delivering high-quality visual assets across all platforms is paramount. This suggests a value placed on meticulousness and attention to detail.

  • Impact-Driven: The organization aims to make a difference through its programs; the design work should reflect and enhance this mission, connecting with audiences on an emotional and practical level.

  • Continuous Learning: As a "learning organization," there's an implied value on professional development and staying current with design trends and best practices.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires working closely with program leads and marketing team members, necessitating open communication and the ability to translate diverse needs into cohesive design solutions.

  • Feedback-Oriented: An "open, receptive approach to design feedback" is explicitly mentioned, indicating a culture where constructive criticism is welcomed and used to improve outcomes.

  • Shared Ownership: The emphasis on teamwork suggests a culture where project success is a shared responsibility, and individuals contribute to the overall effectiveness of the marketing and communications efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The cultural values highlight the importance of mission alignment and collaboration. For a designer, this means understanding that their work serves a larger purpose and requires strong interpersonal skills to navigate cross-functional relationships effectively.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Diverse Needs: Juggling design requests from multiple departments (JCC, camps, preschool, cultural programs) with varying priorities and brand interpretations.

  • Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring all visual output, from event flyers to digital ads, adheres strictly to brand guidelines across a wide range of applications and stakeholders.

  • Managing Print Vendor Relationships: Successfully coordinating with print vendors to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and timely delivery of materials.

  • Adapting to a Hybrid Model: Effectively collaborating and maintaining productivity across both in-office and remote work environments, with occasional off-hours event support.

  • Keeping Up with Design Trends: Continuously evolving design skills and techniques to create fresh, engaging visuals that resonate with the target audience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to refine skills in specific Adobe applications or explore new design software and methodologies.

  • Specialization: Potential to become the go-to expert for magazine layout, digital campaign design, or event branding within the organization.

  • Photography/Videography Skills: Developing supplementary visual content creation skills.

  • Understanding Non-Profit Operations: Gaining insight into the broader operational functions of a community-focused non-profit organization.

  • Process Improvement: Contributing to the refinement of design workflows, asset management, and vendor communication protocols.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges helps candidates prepare for the realities of the role. The growth opportunities are framed around both creative skill enhancement and broader operational understanding within the non-profit sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you had to balance competing design priorities from different stakeholders. How did you manage the requests and ensure successful outcomes?" (Assesses project management, communication, and prioritization skills.)

  • "How do you approach ensuring brand consistency across a wide range of marketing materials, especially in a multi-departmental organization?" (Evaluates understanding of brand operations and strategic design thinking.)

  • "Walk us through your process for preparing a complex print project, from initial brief to final print-ready file. What are the key considerations?" (Tests knowledge of print production operations and attention to detail.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What interests you about Shalom Austin's mission and its role in the community?" (Gauges cultural fit and alignment with non-profit values.)

  • "How do you approach receiving and incorporating design feedback, especially from non-designers?" (Assesses collaboration style and receptiveness to input.)

  • "How would your design work contribute to the success of our programs and community engagement efforts?" (Connects design skills to organizational impact and operational goals.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Storytelling: For each selected project, craft a brief narrative that outlines the challenge, your creative solution, the tools/processes used, and the impact.

  • Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized and easy to navigate. Use high-quality mockups or images of the final output.

  • Demonstrate Process: Be prepared to discuss your workflow, how you used specific software, and any technical considerations (e.g., print specs, digital optimization).

  • Highlight Collaboration: Mention instances where you worked with program leads or marketing teams, showcasing your ability to translate briefs and incorporate feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions for this role will likely probe both creative problem-solving and operational execution. Candidates should prepare to discuss their process, collaboration style, and how their design work supports organizational objectives.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on recruiting.paylocity.com.

  • Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating proficiency in print design, digital assets, and magazine layout. Ensure it clearly showcases your Adobe Creative Suite skills and understanding of brand consistency.

  • Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 3-5 years of graphic design experience, specific software proficiencies (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva), print production knowledge, and any experience with project management tools or non-profit environments. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to collaboration, and how you ensure brand integrity. Be ready to discuss your portfolio projects with specific examples of problem-solving and operational execution. Research Shalom Austin's mission and recent activities.

  • Company Research: Thoroughly review Shalom Austin's website, social media, and any available publications to understand their brand voice, target audience, and community impact. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, the team, and the organization's strategic goals.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates must have 3-5 years of graphic design experience and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. A degree in Graphic Design or a related field is required, or an equivalent portfolio demonstrating strong design capabilities.