Graphic Designer (Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (Contract)

Company: First Cash

Location: Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Job Type: Contract Position

Category: Creative & Media / Marketing / Retail / Art & Design

Date Posted: August 05, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: 100% Onsite

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and produce high-impact, customer-facing retail marketing materials for over 3,000 store locations nationwide, focusing on driving traffic and increasing conversion rates.

• Execute national and regional marketing campaigns by collaborating closely with cross-functional teams including Marketing, U.S. Field Operations, Print Vendors, and Field Leadership.

• Ensure strict brand consistency and uphold brand standards across all visual assets, from point-of-sale signage to digital screens and large-format graphics.

• Manage a high-volume design workload in a fast-paced corporate environment, requiring excellent project management and time-sensitive delivery of production-ready artwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a contract position, engaged through a staffing agency, and is not a direct employee role with FirstCash. The emphasis on "U.S. Field Operations marketing initiatives" and "retail store locations" strongly indicates a focus on in-store, point-of-sale (POS) marketing materials designed for a high-traffic retail environment, rather than purely digital or brand marketing. The "no defined contract end date" suggests potential for long-term engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and produce a wide array of retail marketing collateral, including:

  • In-store signage and promotional displays
  • Window graphics and large-format banners
  • Sales tags, pricing collateral, and flyers
  • Directional signage and operational/compliance notices
  • Digital screen content and in-store digital advertising assets
  • Print-on-demand marketing materials for localized use

• Develop creative assets that support seasonal retail promotions, major sales events, and holiday campaigns, ensuring alignment with overall marketing objectives.

• Prepare all artwork for production, meticulously adhering to technical specifications such as CMYK color models, bleeds, crop marks, fold marks, and material requirements (paper stocks, finishing techniques).

• Collaborate effectively with commercial printers and production partners to troubleshoot design and production issues, ensuring accurate and high-quality output.

• Review production proofs and final files to perform quality assurance checks, guaranteeing print accuracy and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Support the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of centralized marketing and print-on-demand systems to streamline asset distribution and management.

• Maintain a deep understanding of retail customer engagement strategies and how design elements influence purchasing decisions and store traffic.

• Proactively identify opportunities for design improvements and workflow efficiencies within the marketing production process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong need for production-level design skills and a practical understanding of the print production lifecycle, including large-format printing and various finishing techniques. The emphasis on "operational and compliance signage" suggests a need for clarity and precision in design, beyond purely aesthetic considerations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: [Specific degree requirements are not listed, but a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring 3-5 years of experience. Candidates with equivalent practical experience will also be considered.]

Experience: 3–5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a significant emphasis on retail in-store marketing and print production.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically:

  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator

• Demonstrated expertise in designing for retail environments, including POS signage, promotional materials, and large-format graphics.

• Strong portfolio showcasing successful retail promotional campaigns and high-quality print production work.

• Comprehensive understanding of design fundamentals:

  • Typography
  • Layout design
  • Visual hierarchy
  • Grid systems

• Proven ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven corporate setting.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills.

• Ability to review proofs and production files for quality assurance and print accuracy. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for multi-location retail environments.

• Familiarity with print procurement processes and print-on-demand workflows.

• Knowledge of large-format graphics, signage systems, and various print finishing techniques.

• Experience collaborating with commercial printers and production vendors.

• Understanding of retail compliance requirements and customer-facing marketing best practices.

• Experience working within a corporate retail marketing department.

• Experience supporting multi-location retail operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for "Extensive experience in retail in-store marketing" and a "Strong portfolio demonstrating retail promotional campaigns and print production work" are critical. The "Preferred Qualifications" section offers significant advantages for candidates who can demonstrate experience in print procurement, print-on-demand systems, and working with commercial printers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a minimum of 3–5 years of professional graphic design work.

• The portfolio must prominently feature examples of retail in-store marketing materials, including signage, promotional graphics, and any large-format applications.

• Evidence of successful print production projects, demonstrating understanding of CMYK, bleeds, and final artwork preparation for print vendors.

• Case studies or examples that highlight your ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines and maintain brand consistency across diverse retail assets.

• Visuals demonstrating your understanding of typography, layout design, visual hierarchy, and grid systems in practical retail applications. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a submission requirement, candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process from concept to final production.

• Be ready to articulate your workflow for managing multiple projects, collaborating with stakeholders (Marketing, Operations, Vendors), and ensuring quality assurance for print-ready files.

• Familiarity with print-on-demand systems and how you would contribute to their ongoing updates and improvements should be ready for discussion.

• Be prepared to explain how you approach troubleshooting design and production issues with print vendors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary mechanism for demonstrating the required retail marketing and print production experience. Candidates should curate their portfolios to highlight projects that directly align with the responsibilities, showcasing their ability to create impactful, production-ready assets for a retail environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry standards for contract Graphic Designers with 3-5 years of experience in Fort Worth, Texas, a competitive hourly rate would likely range from $25 to $40 USD per hour. This estimate considers the contract nature of the role, the required specialized retail marketing experience, and the cost of living in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Benefits: As a contract employee engaged through a staffing agency, benefits are typically provided by the agency and may include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance options (details vary by agency).

• Paid time off (accrual rates and policies vary by agency).

• Potential for 401(k) or retirement savings plans (details vary by agency).

• Access to agency-specific professional development resources.

Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, during normal business hours. This is a 100% on-site position.

📝 Enhancement Note: Since this is a contract role through a staffing agency, direct benefits from First Cash are unlikely. The compensation and benefits structure will be dictated by the staffing partner. The salary estimate is based on typical market rates for contract graphic designers with relevant experience in the specified location.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Pawn Stores) and Financial Services (Technology-driven point-of-sale payment solutions). FirstCash Holdings, Inc. operates approximately 3,000 retail locations across the United States and Latin America.

Company Size: Over 20,000 team members worldwide, with a significant retail presence. This indicates a large, established organization with complex operational needs.

Founded: The company's history and founding date are not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but its current scale suggests a long-standing presence in its markets.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will support the company’s U.S. Field Operations marketing initiatives.

• This role involves close collaboration with internal teams: Marketing, Operations, and external partners: Print Vendors and Field Leadership.

• The Marketing Department plays a critical role in supporting U.S. Field Operations through innovative retail campaigns and centralized marketing solutions. Methodology:

• The role emphasizes creating impactful customer-facing materials designed to drive traffic and increase conversion in a retail setting.

• A strong focus on maintaining strict brand standards and production accuracy is paramount.

• The work environment is described as high-volume and fast-paced, requiring efficient project management and the ability to meet aggressive deadlines.

• The team utilizes centralized marketing solutions and print-on-demand systems, indicating a structured approach to asset management and distribution.

Company Website: [FirstCash Holdings, Inc. website URL would typically be provided here. For enhancement, assume it's firstcash.com based on domain_derived.]

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on cash and credit-constrained consumers and its extensive retail footprint suggest a need for practical, direct-response marketing materials. The culture is likely results-oriented, with a strong emphasis on operational efficiency and brand consistency across a vast network of stores.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at an intermediate level for a specialized creative professional. It requires 3-5 years of experience and focuses on executing designs rather than high-level strategy, though creative input is valued. The "contract" nature means it's not a permanent role with FirstCash, but it offers valuable experience in a large retail organization.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to a manager within the Marketing Department, likely a Marketing Manager or Creative Director. They will receive direction and project assignments from this manager and collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the retail store experience and operational effectiveness by:

• Driving customer traffic and sales through compelling promotional materials.

• Ensuring brand consistency and professional presentation across all store locations.

• Supporting operational efficiency through clear signage and well-produced collateral.

• Contributing to the effectiveness of national and regional marketing campaigns. Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Enhancement: Deepen expertise in retail marketing design, large-format printing, and production workflows. Gain experience with print-on-demand systems and vendor management.

• Portfolio Development: Add significant, high-volume retail marketing projects to a professional portfolio, demonstrating capability in a large-scale operational environment.

• Industry Exposure: Gain insight into the operational challenges and marketing strategies of a major international retail chain.

• Potential for Extended Contract: While not a direct hire, a successful contractor may have opportunities for contract extensions or future engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a contract role, the experience gained in designing for a large, multi-location retail operation with a focus on production and operational impact is highly valuable for a graphic designer's career progression. The role offers practical, hands-on experience in a demanding environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate Office located in Downtown Fort Worth, Texas. The description emphasizes this is a 100% on-site position.

Office Location(s): Corporate Office, Downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

Workspace Context:

• The role is situated within a corporate marketing department, suggesting a professional office setting.

• Collaboration is key, involving frequent interaction with marketing team members, operations personnel, and potentially external print vendors.

• Access to standard office technology and design software (Adobe Creative Suite) is expected.

• The environment is described as fast-paced and high-volume, requiring focus and efficiency.

Work Schedule: Full-time, normal business hours, Monday through Friday. While not explicitly stated, the "contract position" nature might imply less flexibility than a permanent role, but the core hours are standard.

📝 Enhancement Note: The 100% on-site requirement is a critical detail for candidates. The downtown Fort Worth location implies accessibility via public transport or parking considerations for local candidates. The fast-paced nature suggests a dynamic and potentially demanding work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely conducted by the staffing agency to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review: A critical step where candidates will present their portfolio, focusing on retail marketing and print production examples. Be prepared to discuss specific projects, design choices, and production challenges.

• Skills Assessment: Potential for a practical design test or a deep dive into Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Questions may focus on production-specific knowledge (color models, bleeds, file preparation).

• On-site Interview: Likely with the hiring manager and possibly key team members at the Fort Worth corporate office. This will assess overall fit, communication skills, and understanding of the retail environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that directly align with retail in-store marketing and print production. Prioritize examples that demonstrate impact (e.g., driving traffic, supporting promotions).

• Showcase Production Expertise: Include examples that clearly show your understanding of print specifications (bleeds, CMYK, file prep). If possible, show mock-ups of how the final printed piece was used in-store.

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

• Highlight Retail Focus: Emphasize any experience with POS signage, window displays, large-format graphics, or direct mail campaigns.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your software proficiency, color management, and print production processes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential design challenge, likely focused on creating a retail marketing asset (e.g., a flyer, a POS sign concept) under a time constraint. This will test your speed, creativity, and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Production Scenario: Anticipate questions about how you would handle a production issue (e.g., a printer error, a file not printing correctly). Your ability to troubleshoot and communicate effectively with vendors will be assessed.

• Brand Consistency: Be ready to discuss how you maintain brand consistency across multiple assets and locations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily lean on demonstrating practical design skills and a proven track record in retail marketing production. The portfolio is paramount, and candidates should be ready to articulate their process and problem-solving abilities in detail.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Adobe InDesign: Essential for layout design of brochures, flyers, signage, and multi-page documents. Expect advanced usage for production files.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for image editing, manipulation, and creating raster graphics for various applications.
  • Adobe Illustrator: Key for vector graphics, logos, icons, and detailed illustrations used in signage and promotional materials.

• Print-on-Demand Systems: Familiarity with such systems (e.g., MarcomCentral, Brandfolder, or similar internal platforms) is preferred, and experience with their updates/improvements is a plus.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a primary focus for this role, understanding how design impacts metrics like foot traffic and conversion is beneficial. The designer may need to interpret basic performance data related to campaigns they support.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this design role, but an understanding of how marketing assets are distributed and managed through internal systems might be useful.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, is non-negotiable. The emphasis on "production-ready artwork" means deep technical knowledge of these tools is required, not just basic design capabilities. Experience with print-on-demand systems is a strong advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Brand Integrity: Maintaining strict brand consistency across all customer-facing materials is paramount. This implies a value placed on brand guidelines and visual identity.

• Customer Focus: Designs must be optimized for retail environments and customer engagement, indicating a value placed on understanding the end-user and driving business outcomes.

• Efficiency & Accuracy: The fast-paced, high-volume environment and the need for production accuracy suggest a culture that values speed, precision, and effective workflow management.

• Collaboration: Close collaboration with Marketing, Operations, and Print Vendors is essential, highlighting a value for teamwork and cross-functional communication.

• Results-Oriented: The focus on driving traffic and increasing conversion implies a results-driven culture where design efforts are measured by their business impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with diverse teams (Marketing, Operations, Field Leadership) and external partners (Print Vendors).

• Feedback Exchange: Be prepared to receive and incorporate feedback from various stakeholders on design concepts and production files.

• Problem-Solving: A collaborative approach to troubleshooting design and production issues with vendors and internal teams is expected.

• Process Improvement: Contributing to ongoing updates and improvements of marketing and print-on-demand systems suggests an openness to process enhancement discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be a blend of creative execution and operational rigor. While creativity is needed, it must be grounded in brand standards, production feasibility, and measurable business impact within a retail context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High Volume, Tight Deadlines: Managing a constant flow of design requests with aggressive deadlines for a large retail network can be demanding.

• Balancing Creativity with Brand Standards: Ensuring all designs are on-brand while still being creative and impactful for retail promotions.

• Production Complexity: Navigating the technical aspects of large-format printing, various substrates, and ensuring print accuracy across numerous vendors and locations.

• Remote Collaboration (Indirect): While the role is on-site, coordinating designs that will be deployed across many different retail locations nationally requires clear communication and understanding of diverse store environments.

• Adapting to Evolving Retail Promotions: Quickly understanding and visually translating new promotional campaigns and seasonal offers.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Retail Design: Deepen expertise in designing for the specific needs of a multi-location retail environment, focusing on point-of-sale effectiveness.

• Print Production Mastery: Gain extensive practical experience with large-format printing, material selection, and finishing techniques.

• Vendor Management: Develop skills in collaborating with and managing commercial print vendors, understanding their capabilities and limitations.

• Print-on-Demand Systems: Learn to work with and contribute to the optimization of centralized marketing asset management and distribution platforms.

• Brand Consistency Management: Hone skills in applying and enforcing brand guidelines across a vast array of marketing collateral.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the high-volume, production-focused nature of the role within a large retail organization. The growth opportunities are practical and skill-based, focusing on deepening expertise in a specific niche of graphic design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating a new in-store promotional graphic from brief to final artwork." Be prepared to walk through your workflow, including client communication, concept development, design execution, revisions, and final file preparation for print.

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple design projects for a large retail chain?" Discuss your methods for adhering to brand guidelines, using brand assets, and maintaining a unified visual identity.

• "Tell me about a time you encountered a significant challenge in a print production project. How did you resolve it?" Focus on your problem-solving skills, communication with vendors, and ability to ensure a successful outcome despite obstacles.

• "How do you balance creative design with the practical requirements of retail marketing and production constraints?" Highlight your ability to be creative while understanding the business objectives and technical limitations. Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about designing for the retail industry, specifically for a company like First Cash?" Research First Cash's business model and target audience to articulate your understanding and enthusiasm.

• "How do you approach working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment?" Provide examples of how you manage your time, prioritize tasks, and maintain quality under pressure.

• "Describe your experience collaborating with marketing teams and external vendors." Emphasize your communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team setting. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your strongest retail examples first.

• Highlight Key Projects: For each selected project, clearly state the objective, your role, the challenges, your creative solution, and the outcome (if known).

• Emphasize Production Details: Be ready to discuss the technical aspects of your print projects – file setup, color profiles, and how you prepared them for specific printing methods.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Present your work clearly and confidently, allowing time for questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating practical design and production skills, a strong understanding of retail marketing, and the ability to thrive in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment. Your portfolio is your primary tool for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer (Contract) position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.jobvite.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features your strongest work in retail in-store marketing and print production. Tailor the presentation to highlight examples relevant to signage, promotional materials, and large-format graphics.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly outline your 3-5 years of professional graphic design experience, specifically calling out your expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and any experience with retail marketing, print production, or print-on-demand systems. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review the "Interview Preparation" section above. Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and retail marketing experience. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with First Cash's business, its retail presence, and the types of marketing materials they might use. Understanding their operational context will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your suitability for the role.

⚠️ 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 or staffing agency before making application decisions. This role is a contract position through a staffing agency, not a direct hire by First Cash.