Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: The Standard

Location: Portland, OR, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-06-08

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote OK within the United States)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to the creation and delivery of high-quality marketing and sales collateral, directly impacting brand consistency and sales enablement efforts.

• It requires a blend of creative design expertise and meticulous project management to guide assets from concept to final production, ensuring alignment with established brand and compliance standards.

• The position demands strong collaboration skills, working closely with internal stakeholders across Marketing, Sales, and Compliance, as well as external vendors, to produce accurate and effective materials.

• Successful candidates will leverage proficiency in design software and a deep understanding of print and digital production processes to manage multiple projects effectively within defined timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Graphic Designer," the description emphasizes "marketing and sales collateral," "brand standards," "compliance review," and "stakeholder collaboration" with Marketing and Sales teams. This indicates a strong connection to Go-To-Market (GTM) operations and marketing operations functions, focusing on the operational execution of creative assets to support business objectives. The remote flexibility within the US suggests a distributed team environment common in modern operations roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop a comprehensive range of print and digital marketing collateral, including brochures, flyers, sales enablement materials, and other visual assets, strictly adhering to company brand guidelines and visual standards.

• Manage the end-to-end project lifecycle for design requests, from initial intake and concept development through creative execution, compliance review coordination, and final production, ensuring timely delivery.

• Maintain and enforce brand consistency across all created collateral by meticulously adhering to established brand guidelines, templates, and visual identity standards.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal departments such as Marketing, Sales, and Compliance, as well as external vendors (e.g., print shops), to ensure the accuracy, regulatory compliance, and effective delivery of all designed materials.

• Organize, manage, and maintain a centralized library of creative assets, including image libraries and design files, while simultaneously managing multiple concurrent projects with exceptional attention to detail and rigorous timeline adherence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a structured workflow crucial for operations roles, emphasizing project management, stakeholder coordination, and quality control (compliance review). This points to a need for process-oriented thinking in managing creative output for business impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Digital Media, or a closely related field.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in graphic design, digital media creation, or a similar creative role, with a proven track record of producing high-quality marketing and sales collateral.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in visual design principles and a strong portfolio showcasing creative work.

• Adobe Creative Suite Mastery: Advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop is essential for executing design tasks efficiently.

• Print Production Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of the print process, including file setup, prepress checks, color modes, resolution requirements, vector vs. raster graphics, bleed and margin specifications, crop marks, and file packaging for output.

• Brand Management: Ability to understand, apply, and maintain established brand guidelines and visual standards consistently across all collateral.

• Project Workflow Management: Experience managing design projects from initiation to completion, including intake, scheduling, and stakeholder coordination.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including Marketing, Sales, and Compliance, to achieve project objectives.

• Time Management & Organization: Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other Adobe Creative Suite applications (e.g., Illustrator, Acrobat Pro).

• Familiarity with digital design principles and asset creation for web and social media.

• Experience working within a corporate marketing or GTM operations environment.

• Understanding of legal and compliance review processes for marketing materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "portfolio demonstrating relevant experience, including project overviews and outcomes" is critical. For operations roles, this translates to showcasing not just aesthetic design but also how the design supported a business objective, process improvement, or sales outcome. Candidates should prepare case studies that detail the challenge, their process, and the measurable results.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Design Execution: A curated selection of high-quality print and digital design projects that showcase creative talent and technical skill.

• Project Overviews: For each portfolio piece, provide a concise overview of the project's objective, the target audience, and the scope of work.

• Outcome Documentation: Crucially, include details on the project's outcomes or impact. This could involve increased engagement, improved brand perception, successful sales conversions supported by the collateral, or efficiency gains in the production process. This demonstrates an understanding of how design contributes to business goals.

• Process Walkthrough: Be prepared to articulate your design process, from brief interpretation and concept development to revisions and final delivery, highlighting how you manage workflow and stakeholder feedback.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Adherence: Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to work within established design and production workflows, including intake procedures, brand review, compliance checks, and final output.

• Asset Management: Showcase experience in organizing and managing creative assets, ensuring accessibility and version control for design files and brand elements.

• Collaboration Protocols: Be ready to discuss how you engage with stakeholders and manage feedback loops to ensure project alignment and successful output, reflecting operational communication best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operational roles, a portfolio isn't just about aesthetics; it's about demonstrating process, problem-solving, and impact. Candidates should focus on projects where they improved a process, solved a specific business challenge through design, or contributed to measurable results. Quantifiable achievements are key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $66,000 - $96,250 annually This range reflects the market value for a mid-level Graphic Designer in the Portland, OR area, considering the required experience, skills, and the responsibilities associated with supporting marketing and sales operations.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company matching contributions to support long-term financial planning.

• Performance Incentives: Annual incentive bonus plan, recognizing both individual and organizational performance.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Includes 11 paid holidays, 2 wellness days, and 8 volunteer hours annually, with PTO increasing based on tenure.

• Work-Life Support: Paid parental leave and adoption/surrogacy assistance to support employees during significant life events.

• Community Engagement: Employee giving program that matches donations to eligible nonprofits and schools, fostering a culture of social responsibility.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for career growth and advancement within the organization.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week.

• The role offers flexibility with remote work options within the United States, allowing for a hybrid work environment. This structure is designed to support operational efficiency and employee well-being, accommodating various work styles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level designer in a major metropolitan area like Portland, OR. The benefits package is robust, emphasizing employee well-being and long-term support, which is attractive to operations professionals seeking stability and a good work-life balance. The mention of "customer-first commitment" and "high-performance culture focused on operational excellence" in the company description suggests that efficiency and customer satisfaction are key drivers, aligning with GTM and marketing operations goals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Insurance)

Company Size: Large (The Standard is a well-established financial institution with a significant employee base, indicating a structured corporate environment with established processes and opportunities for specialization.)

Founded: The Standard was founded in 1906, signifying a long history of stability, financial strength, and a deep understanding of its market. This legacy suggests a culture that values experience, reliability, and long-term strategic thinking.

Team Structure:

• Creative Services/Marketing Operations: This role is likely part of a dedicated creative services team or a broader marketing operations function. The team size would typically range from a few specialists to a larger department, depending on the company's marketing and sales output.

• Reporting: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Manager, a Marketing Operations Lead, or a Director of Marketing/Communications.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires extensive collaboration with Marketing, Sales, Product, and Compliance departments, emphasizing a matrixed and project-driven work environment common in operations.

Methodology:

• Brand-Centric Design: Design processes are heavily guided by established brand guidelines to ensure consistency and compliance.

• Project Management Frameworks: The team likely utilizes project management methodologies to handle intake, track progress, and manage deadlines for design requests.

• Data-Informed Decisions (Implicit): While not explicitly stated for design, The Standard's emphasis on "customer-first commitment" and "operational excellence" suggests that design decisions, where possible, may be informed by customer feedback, sales performance data, or marketing campaign effectiveness.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry (Financial Services) implies a strong emphasis on compliance, security, and accuracy in all communications. This means the design role is not purely creative but heavily operational, requiring strict adherence to regulations and internal policies. The company's long history suggests stability and a commitment to long-term value, which can translate into a stable work environment for operations professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Graphic Designer. This position is designed for an individual who has moved beyond entry-level tasks and can independently manage design projects from conception to completion, demonstrating a solid understanding of design principles, production processes, and cross-functional collaboration. The focus on collateral for marketing and sales indicates a direct contribution to GTM efforts.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a design or marketing leadership position, with significant interaction with project stakeholders across different departments. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance while also fostering autonomy in project execution.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and sales enablement by ensuring that all collateral is visually appealing, on-brand, compliant, and effectively communicates key messages to target audiences. High-quality, consistent collateral can improve lead generation, customer engagement, and sales conversion rates, making this a crucial operational function within GTM.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in specific types of collateral (e.g., digital advertising, sales presentations, financial reporting graphics) or deepen expertise in particular design software or animation.

• Senior Designer/Lead Designer: Advancement to a senior role with increased project complexity, mentorship responsibilities for junior designers, and greater involvement in strategic creative planning.

• Marketing Operations Integration: Transition into broader marketing operations roles, leveraging design and project management skills to manage campaign execution, process optimization, or martech stack contributions.

• Cross-functional Movement: Opportunities to move into related roles in marketing, communications, or even product marketing, depending on skill development and career interests.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations-minded candidates, highlighting how design contributes to business outcomes (e.g., "improving sales conversion rates," "enhancing brand perception," "streamlining collateral production") will resonate. The growth path suggests a career within a stable industry that values structured processes and clear contributions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The Standard offers a hybrid work model, allowing employees to work remotely within the United States while also maintaining an office presence in Portland, OR. This blended approach aims to balance flexibility with in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Portland, OR.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely includes collaborative work areas, meeting rooms, and potentially a design studio space equipped with necessary hardware and software.

• Technology Integration: Access to industry-standard design software, project management tools, and internal communication platforms is expected. The company's commitment to "innovative technologies" suggests a modern tech stack.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for in-person ideation, feedback sessions, and team-building activities when working from the office, complementing remote collaboration tools.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week.

• The hybrid model provides flexibility in scheduling, allowing designers to manage their workload effectively, balance remote and in-office days, and potentially adapt hours to project demands while ensuring operational coverage and responsiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with remote collaboration tools and strategies for maintaining productivity and connection across distributed teams, a common requirement in operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and creative fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, understanding of design principles, and alignment with company culture and values. Be prepared to discuss your motivations for seeking this role at The Standard.

• Portfolio Review & Skills Assessment: A dedicated session where you present your portfolio. This is crucial for demonstrating your design process, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of project outcomes. You may be asked to walk through specific case studies, explaining your approach to challenges, stakeholder management, and how your design contributed to business goals.

• Cross-functional Stakeholder Interview: You may meet with representatives from Marketing, Sales, or Compliance to assess your collaboration style and ability to understand and meet diverse departmental needs.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, long-term aspirations, and alignment with the company's strategic direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills in creating marketing and sales collateral, and ideally, those with demonstrable outcomes.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the design process, the challenges you overcame, and the results achieved (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, positive client feedback). Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Process: Be prepared to discuss your workflow, how you incorporate feedback, and your understanding of print production specifics.

• Highlight Brand & Compliance: Emphasize projects where you successfully adhered to brand guidelines and navigated compliance requirements, demonstrating your operational rigor.

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to answer questions about specific software features, print specifications (bleed, CMYK, resolution), and file preparation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: You might be given a small design task or a case study to solve within a specific timeframe. Focus on understanding the brief, applying brand guidelines, and presenting a clear, well-reasoned solution.

• Process Articulation: Prepare to talk about your project management approach, how you handle multiple deadlines, and your strategies for effective communication with non-design stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "portfolio demonstrating relevant experience, including project overviews and outcomes" is paramount. Candidates should prepare to discuss their design process as a form of operational execution, highlighting efficiency, collaboration, and measurable results.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Adobe InDesign and Photoshop. Adobe Illustrator and Acrobat Pro are also highly valuable.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or internal company systems for managing design requests, workflows, and deadlines.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Experience with DAM platforms for organizing, storing, and retrieving creative assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics): Basic understanding of how digital collateral performance is tracked might be beneficial, though not a primary requirement.

• Reporting Dashboards: Experience viewing or contributing to reports that track marketing campaign performance can provide context for collateral effectiveness.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce): While not a direct user, understanding how sales collateral is used within the CRM context can be advantageous.

• Marketing Automation Platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo): Familiarity with how digital assets are deployed through marketing automation can aid in designing for specific campaign needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong understanding of the Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign and Photoshop, is non-negotiable. Beyond design software, familiarity with project management tools and asset management systems indicates operational preparedness. Candidates should highlight any experience with tools that facilitate collaboration and workflow efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A genuine desire to understand and meet the needs of both internal (Sales, Marketing) and external customers, ensuring collateral is effective and user-centric.

• Winning Together: Emphasizing collaboration, trust, and the inclusion of diverse perspectives to achieve shared outcomes, fostering a team-oriented environment.

• Adaptability: Embracing change and adjusting behaviors and approaches as circumstances evolve, a critical skill in dynamic GTM environments.

• Operational Excellence: A commitment to high performance, efficiency, accuracy, and quality in all aspects of work, particularly in adhering to brand standards and compliance requirements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Proactive engagement with various departments to ensure design solutions align with broader business objectives and regulatory requirements.

• Feedback-Oriented: Openness to constructive criticism and iterative design processes, working collaboratively to refine assets.

• Process-Driven: Adherence to established workflows and a willingness to contribute to process improvements for greater efficiency and effectiveness in collateral production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated company values ("Adaptability," "Customer Focus," "Winning Together") directly map to key operational competencies. Candidates should prepare examples of how they embody these values in their work, especially in managing projects and collaborating with diverse teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Compliance: The primary challenge will be creating visually engaging designs that strictly adhere to the financial industry's stringent regulatory and compliance requirements.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Needs: Effectively managing competing priorities and feedback from various departments (Sales, Marketing, Compliance) while maintaining design integrity and project timelines.

• Adapting to Evolving Brand Standards: Keeping up-to-date with and implementing any changes to brand guidelines or new product offerings that require collateral updates.

• Optimizing Production Workflows: Continuously seeking ways to improve the efficiency and speed of the design and production process without compromising quality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to hone skills in specialized areas of graphic design, digital media, or motion graphics.

• Industry Best Practices: Learning the nuances of design for the financial services sector, including compliance considerations and effective communication strategies for complex products.

• Project & Workflow Management: Developing stronger project management skills, potentially through formal training or by taking on more complex project leadership roles.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gaining deeper insights into marketing strategies, sales enablement tactics, and compliance protocols through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should frame challenges as opportunities for growth and demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving. Highlighting how they leverage their operational mindset to overcome these challenges will be beneficial.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative requirements with strict brand guidelines or compliance regulations. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and adherence to operational standards.)

• "Walk me through your process for managing a complex design project with multiple stakeholders. How do you ensure all needs are met and deadlines are met?" (Highlight project management, communication, and workflow strategies.)

• "How do you ensure consistency in your design work across various collateral types and platforms? What is your approach to asset management?" (Focus on organizational skills and brand stewardship.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about The Standard, and how do you see your role contributing to our mission of 'making a difference'?" (Research the company's history, values, and commitment to customers.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-design teams like Sales and Compliance? Give an example of a successful cross-functional project." (Demonstrate your ability to work in a team and understand diverse perspectives.)

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and production technologies, and how do you incorporate them into your work?" (Showcase a commitment to continuous learning and operational efficiency.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the challenge, your design process (including any tools or methods used), the solution, and most importantly, the results or impact.

• Quantify Results: Use numbers and data whenever possible to showcase the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., "led to a 15% increase in brochure downloads," "improved engagement rates by 10%").

• Explain Your Process: Be ready to discuss why you made certain design choices, how you incorporated feedback, and your understanding of production requirements.

• Connect to Business Value: Explicitly link your design work to business objectives such as sales enablement, brand perception, or operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent, but also operational discipline, a problem-solving mindset, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a structured corporate environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned Graphic Designer position:

• Submit Application: Complete the online application through the provided link on The Standard's career portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that showcase your skills in marketing and sales collateral design. For each project, prepare a brief overview of the objective, your role, the challenges faced, and critically, the outcomes or impact achieved. Focus on projects that demonstrate brand adherence and operational efficiency.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, your experience with print production, and any project management or cross-functional collaboration experience. Use keywords from the job description such as "marketing collateral," "sales materials," "brand standards," "compliance review," and "project workflow."

• Practice Your Portfolio Presentation: Rehearse walking through your selected portfolio pieces, focusing on telling a clear story about the project's journey from challenge to resolution, emphasizing quantifiable results and your collaborative process. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of the print production process in detail.

• Research The Standard: Familiarize yourself with The Standard's history, values (especially "Customer Focus," "Winning Together," and "Adaptability"), and its role in the financial services industry. Understand how your design contributions support their mission and operational goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with The Standard before making application decisions.