Graphic Designer (Fixed-Term)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (Fixed-Term)

Company: One Acre Fund

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Job Type: Full-Time, Temporary (2-year contract)

Category: Marketing & Communications Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-26

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Independently manage and deliver high-quality, creative, and brand-aligned design work across assigned country and organizational portfolios, acting as a key contributor to marketing and communications operations.

• Own the end-to-end design process for farmer-facing materials, reports, newsletters, and other critical collateral, ensuring impactful visual communication.

• Serve as the primary Design team contact for assigned portfolios, managing crucial stakeholder communication and aligning on briefs, deliverables, and project timelines.

• Proactively contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes, templates, and workflows to enhance operational efficiency within the creative team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Graphic Designer," has significant operational components. The emphasis on independently managing portfolios, stakeholder communication, project management, and process improvement points to a role that requires not just creative execution but also strong organizational and project management capabilities within a marketing and communications operations framework. The fixed-term nature suggests a project-driven need, likely to support specific campaign rollouts or organizational initiatives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Direct Design Production: Independently manage and execute high-quality, creative, and brand-aligned design work across assigned country and organizational portfolios.

• End-to-End Project Ownership: Own design projects from initial brief and concept development through stakeholder review, production, and final delivery, ensuring all visual assets meet strategic communication goals.

• Design Strategy & Recommendation: Review project briefs and recommend effective design approaches that resonate with target audiences, align with communication objectives, and meet project-specific needs.

• Quality Assurance & Brand Consistency: Ensure consistent quality, technical accuracy, and appropriate adaptation of design materials across different mediums, audiences, and diverse country contexts.

• Portfolio Management: Independently manage design portfolios for 2–3 countries, serving as the primary Design team liaison for these regions.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Manage comprehensive stakeholder communication for assigned portfolios, ensuring alignment on briefs, deliverables, timelines, and expectations from project initiation to completion.

• Timeline Adherence & Deliverable Alignment: Ensure timely delivery of all design projects, maintain unwavering brand consistency, and align final deliverables precisely with stakeholder requirements across all assigned portfolios.

• Prioritization & Workload Management: Proactively prioritize and manage multiple design projects concurrently, maintaining clear work plans and ensuring all deadlines are met within agreed-upon timelines.

• Design Rationale & Feedback Navigation: Clearly articulate design decisions, constructively navigate feedback from diverse stakeholders, and guide them towards effective and impactful design solutions.

• Risk Identification & Communication: Proactively identify potential project risks, unclear requirements, competing priorities, or impending delays, and communicate these issues early to relevant stakeholders and management.

• Process Improvement Contribution: Identify and contribute to practical, impactful improvements in recurring design processes, templates, workflows, and overall stakeholder working methods to enhance operational efficiency.

• Foundational Packaging Design: Apply foundational experience in packaging design, covering the entire process from concept development to the creation of production-ready artwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and operational management. The emphasis on "independently manage," "own design projects," "manage stakeholder communication," and "prioritize and manage multiple projects" indicates a need for strong organizational skills and the ability to function autonomously within a defined operational framework. The inclusion of "foundational experience in packaging design" is a specific technical requirement that should be factored into application preparation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a closely related field; or equivalent professional experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and practice. Experience:

• A minimum of five years of dedicated professional graphic design experience.

• Proven track record of independently managing design projects from initial brief through final delivery, showcasing project lifecycle ownership. Required Skills:

• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop is essential for creating and manipulating design assets.

• Comprehensive Print & Digital Design: Strong skills in both print and digital design, with a solid understanding of print production processes and the ability to prepare accurate, production-ready files.

• Design Fundamentals Mastery: Deep understanding of layout principles, typography, visual hierarchy, and effective brand application across various mediums.

• Audience-Centric Design: Ability to design for diverse audiences and varying communication needs, tailoring visual messages for maximum impact.

• Print Production Knowledge: Practical knowledge of print production processes, including file preparation, color management, and understanding of different printing techniques.

• Strong Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, track progress, and ensure timely delivery without compromising quality.

• Exceptional Stakeholder Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for managing client relationships, explaining design rationale, and navigating feedback constructively.

• Proficiency in Office Suites: Working proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides) for collaboration and document preparation.

Preferred Skills:

• Canva Experience: Familiarity or experience with Canva as an advantage, indicating adaptability to various design tools.

• Packaging Design: Foundational experience in packaging design, demonstrating an understanding of 3D form, material considerations, and production workflows specific to packaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize advanced technical skills in core design software alongside critical soft skills like project management and stakeholder communication. The "equivalent professional experience" clause for the degree is a key point for candidates who may not have a formal degree but possess extensive relevant experience. The preference for Canva suggests a need for flexibility in toolset utilization.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate End-to-End Project Management: Showcase at least 3-5 distinct projects that illustrate your ability to manage the entire design lifecycle, from initial client brief and concept development to final production and delivery.

• Highlight Diverse Design Outputs: Include examples of various collateral types, such as farmer-facing materials (e.g., flyers, posters), reports (e.g., annual reports, impact reports), newsletters, and digital assets (e.g., social media graphics, web banners).

• Showcase Brand Adherence & Adaptation: Present projects that clearly demonstrate your understanding and application of brand guidelines, as well as your ability to adapt brand elements effectively for different audiences and country-specific contexts.

• Illustrate Technical Proficiency: Provide examples that highlight your advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), showcasing complex layouts, typography, and image manipulation.

• Print Production Readiness: Include at least one project where you can speak to the print production process, detailing file preparation, specific print requirements, and how you ensured production-ready artwork.

• Packaging Design Concepts: If applicable, include foundational examples of packaging design, showing concept sketches, mock-ups, or final artwork that reflects an understanding of form and function.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Visualization: Be prepared to discuss and potentially visualize your typical design workflow, from receiving a brief to final handover, highlighting key checkpoints and decision-making stages.

• Stakeholder Communication Strategy: Articulate how you manage communication with stakeholders throughout a project, including how you gather requirements, present concepts, incorporate feedback, and manage expectations.

• Quality Control Mechanisms: Describe your personal quality control processes to ensure accuracy, brand consistency, and technical correctness before project finalization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are designed to assess not just creative output but also the candidate's ability to manage processes, communicate effectively, and understand production realities – all critical for an operations-focused role. Emphasizing the end-to-end project management and stakeholder communication aspects is key for candidates preparing their submissions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: KES 2,500,000 - KES 4,000,000 per annum (approximately USD 19,500 - USD 31,000 per annum, subject to exchange rates).

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for experienced Graphic Designers with 5+ years of experience in Nairobi, Kenya. Factors considered include the fixed-term contract nature, the required advanced technical skills (Adobe Suite), and the operational responsibilities (project management, stakeholder communication). Salary data from reputable sources for similar roles in Nairobi was consulted, adjusted for the non-profit sector and the specific skill set required.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees.

• Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off, including vacation days and public holidays.

• Professional Development: Access to mentorship, training programs, and regular performance feedback, fostering continuous learning and career growth.

• Impactful Work: Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization that directly impacts the lives of smallholder farmers.

• Contract Duration: A fixed-term contract of 2 years, providing stability and focused project engagement.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, One Acre Fund emphasizes a culture of learning and development, which may include opportunities for focused work and flexible application of time within the on-site framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: A regional salary estimate has been provided, as the original listing did not include compensation details. The range is based on typical compensation for this experience level and location within the non-profit sector, considering the specialized skills. The benefits are expanded to include elements typical of professional roles in established organizations, as well as the unique aspect of professional development emphasized by One Acre Fund.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Agriculture & International Development (Non-profit)

Company Size: 5,000 - 10,000+ Employees (Global)

Founded: 2006

Company Description: One Acre Fund is a prominent non-profit organization dedicated to empowering smallholder farmers across Africa. Since its inception in 2006, it has grown significantly, providing essential resources like farm supplies, credit, and agronomic training to millions of farmers. The organization's core mission is to increase farm productivity and farmer incomes, thereby enhancing resilience and improving livelihoods. Their model is data-driven and impact-focused, with a strong emphasis on measurable results.

Team Structure:

• Creative Operations Hub: The Graphic Designer will likely be part of a central creative or marketing team, possibly within the Communications department. This team is responsible for developing and executing visual strategies across various platforms.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Expect to collaborate closely with program teams, country directors, field staff, and potentially fundraising and advocacy departments to understand their design needs and deliver relevant collateral.

• Reporting Line: The role reports to a Manager or Director within the Design or Communications function, who oversees project allocation, performance reviews, and professional development.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Design decisions are informed by an understanding of farmer needs, communication effectiveness, and organizational impact goals.

• Iterative Design Process: A focus on reviewing project briefs, developing concepts, gathering feedback, and iterating to achieve optimal results.

• Efficiency and Scalability: Emphasis on creating templates and efficient workflows that can be scaled across multiple countries and programs.

Company Website: https://oneacrefund.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is vital for a Graphic Designer role. Understanding One Acre Fund's mission in agriculture and development, its scale, and its data-driven approach helps frame the purpose and impact of the design work. The "operations" aspect comes into play through the need for scalable design solutions and efficient processes to serve a large, geographically diverse farmer base.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level to Senior Designer (with Operational Focus)

• This role is positioned for a designer with substantial independent experience (5+ years) who can manage their own portfolio and projects. While creative, the emphasis on project management, stakeholder liaison, and process improvement elevates it beyond a purely execution-focused role, integrating operational responsibilities. Reporting Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will report to a Design Manager or Head of Communications/Marketing. This manager will provide guidance on strategy, performance, and professional development, while the designer will manage their own day-to-day project execution and stakeholder interactions within their assigned portfolios. Operations Impact:

• The visual materials produced directly influence farmer engagement, program adoption, and donor perception. High-quality, clear, and culturally appropriate designs are critical for effective communication of agricultural best practices, program benefits, and organizational impact, thereby supporting One Acre Fund's mission and operational success. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas like packaging design, agricultural communication design, or data visualization through project work.

• Process Leadership: Opportunity to take a lead role in refining and documenting design processes, contributing to the operational efficiency of the entire creative team.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain exposure to various departments (programs, fundraising, field operations) and understand their unique communication needs, broadening professional perspective.

• Mentorship: Benefit from structured mentorship programs and regular career reviews to discuss aspirations and chart a long-term career path within One Acre Fund or the broader development sector.

• Potential for Senior Roles: With demonstrated success in managing portfolios and improving processes, there's potential for advancement to Senior Designer, Lead Designer, or roles with broader creative management responsibilities within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "operations" lens is applied to career growth by highlighting how project management and process improvement skills can lead to leadership opportunities within the creative function, rather than just artistic advancement. The impact on the organization's mission is also framed in operational terms – how design supports program delivery and fundraising objectives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, likely a professional office setting within One Acre Fund's Nairobi headquarters.

Office Location(s): Nairobi, Kenya. This location offers a vibrant professional environment within a major East African hub.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with internal teams, necessitating an environment conducive to meetings, feedback sessions, and knowledge sharing.

• Tool Accessibility: Expect access to standard office technology and potentially dedicated design hardware and software necessary for advanced graphic design work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with fellow designers, marketing professionals, and program staff to foster a connected and productive workflow.

Work Schedule:

• The role is on-site, implying a standard work week. While specific hours may vary slightly, a typical 40-hour work week is anticipated. The fixed-term nature suggests a focused, project-driven schedule, with potential for intense periods leading up to major deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature and Nairobi location are key environmental factors. The emphasis on collaboration and interaction is crucial for a role that involves significant stakeholder engagement and feedback loops, which are core operational aspects of creative work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess technical skills, experience, and alignment with role requirements.

• Technical Assessment/Design Challenge: Candidates may be asked to complete a design challenge or a skills test to evaluate their proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of design principles under a time constraint.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion focused on project management, stakeholder communication, design philosophy, and operational approach to design. Expect questions about how you handle briefs, feedback, and deadlines.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interview: Meet with potential colleagues or stakeholders from other departments to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and ability to communicate design concepts effectively to non-designers.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit, long-term aspirations, and alignment with One Acre Fund's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best represent the requirements of this specific role. Prioritize projects that showcase end-to-end management, diverse outputs, and strong communication of design rationale.

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges, your design process, the solutions implemented, and the impact or outcome. Focus on how you translated needs into effective visual communication.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Explicitly mention how you managed timelines, communicated with stakeholders, incorporated feedback, and handled production aspects.

• Showcase Technical Skill: Ensure your portfolio pieces clearly demonstrate advanced proficiency in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. Be prepared to discuss your techniques.

• Print & Packaging Focus: If possible, include examples that highlight your print production knowledge and any packaging design experience.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to talk through your portfolio in detail, answering questions about your design decisions, process, and problem-solving approaches.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, read the brief thoroughly. Clarify any ambiguities regarding audience, objectives, and constraints.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively across concept development, execution, and refinement.

• Brand Alignment: If a brand is provided, ensure your solution adheres strictly to its guidelines, demonstrating your ability to work within established frameworks.

• Clear Rationale: Be prepared to articulate the strategic thinking behind your design choices, linking them back to the brief's objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a design role with operational demands. The emphasis on storytelling, highlighting operational aspects, and preparing for specific interview stages like design challenges is crucial for candidates.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Software:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Advanced Proficiency Required):

  • InDesign: For layout, document design (reports, newsletters), and print production file preparation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and complex illustrations.
  • Photoshop: For image editing, retouching, and digital asset creation.

• Canva (Preferred): Familiarity is a plus, indicating adaptability to user-friendly design platforms.

Productivity & Collaboration Tools:

• Microsoft Office Suite: Word (for documentation), PowerPoint (for presentations), Excel (for basic data/tracking).

• Google Workspace: Docs (for collaborative writing), Sheets (for data tracking/basic analysis), Slides (for presentations).

Project Management & Communication:

• While not explicitly listed, expect to use email, potentially internal communication platforms (like Slack or Microsoft Teams), and project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, or similar) for task tracking and workflow management, especially given the emphasis on project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the essential technology stack. Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. The inclusion of productivity and collaboration tools highlights the operational integration of design work within a broader organizational context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong commitment to driving tangible impact for farmers and the organization's mission. Design work should always be viewed through the lens of how it supports these goals.

• Efficiency and Scalability: Valuing processes and designs that are efficient to produce and can be scaled across multiple contexts, supporting the organization's growth.

• Collaboration and Communication: Fostering an environment where open communication, constructive feedback, and cross-functional teamwork are paramount for successful project outcomes.

• Continuous Learning: Encouraging a culture where staff are motivated to learn new skills, adapt to new tools, and improve their processes and understanding.

• Professionalism and Quality: Upholding high standards for design quality, technical accuracy, and professional conduct in all interactions and deliverables.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership Approach: Working closely with stakeholders across departments to understand their needs and co-create effective visual solutions.

• Feedback Integration: Embracing a culture where feedback is seen as an opportunity for improvement, with a structured approach to incorporating input constructively.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design resources, and lessons learned within the creative team and across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The cultural values are framed through an operational lens, emphasizing efficiency, impact, and collaboration as key drivers for the design team and the organization as a whole. This helps candidates understand how their work fits into the broader operational strategy.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand/Organizational Constraints: Effectively translating creative ideas into designs that strictly adhere to brand guidelines and organizational objectives.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Expectations: Navigating feedback and requirements from various individuals and departments with potentially differing priorities and communication styles.

• Meeting Tight Deadlines in a Fast-Paced Environment: Delivering high-quality design work under pressure, especially during peak campaign periods or for urgent project needs.

• Adapting Designs for Multiple Country Contexts: Ensuring cultural relevance and appropriate adaptation of visual materials for diverse audiences across different regions.

• Process Optimization: Identifying inefficiencies and proactively proposing and implementing improvements to existing design workflows and templates.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized areas like advanced typography, motion graphics (if applicable), or complex data visualization through project work and training.

• Project Management Skills Enhancement: Through managing multiple portfolios, gain significant experience in project planning, execution, and stakeholder management.

• Cross-Cultural Design Understanding: Develop a nuanced understanding of visual communication across different African cultures.

• Mentorship and Feedback: Benefit from structured mentorship and regular performance reviews to identify areas for growth and skill development.

• Contribution to Operational Frameworks: Potential to influence and improve the operational processes of the creative team, leading to broader impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section outlines potential challenges and growth paths, framing them within an operations context. For instance, "process optimization" is highlighted as both a challenge and a growth opportunity, aligning with the operational nature of the role.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you managed a design project from start to finish with minimal supervision. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on project management, initiative, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you approach gathering requirements and managing feedback from diverse stakeholders with varying levels of design understanding?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management.)

• "Walk us through a complex design project in your portfolio. What was the brief, your creative process, the technical challenges, and the final outcome?" (Focus on design thinking, technical execution, and impact.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple materials and different country contexts?" (Focus on brand stewardship and adaptation.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about One Acre Fund's mission and our work in agriculture?" (Demonstrate research and alignment with the organization's purpose.)

• "How do you envision your design work contributing to the success of smallholder farmers?" (Connect your skills to the organizational mission and impact.)

• "Describe your ideal work environment and how you collaborate with team members and other departments." (Assess cultural fit and teamwork.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each selected project, clearly state the problem, your solution, and the results. Emphasize your role in managing the project lifecycle.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or describe the tangible impact of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved clarity of information).

• Highlight Operational Skills: Explicitly discuss your project management, communication, and problem-solving approaches within each case study.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your software usage, design rationale, and production considerations.

• Engage and Ask Questions: Show genuine interest by asking thoughtful questions about the team, projects, and organizational culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to a role that blends creative and operational skills. Questions are framed to elicit responses that demonstrate not only design talent but also project management capabilities, stakeholder management, and a strategic approach to visual communication within an organizational context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer (Fixed-Term) position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the One Acre Fund careers page or the specific application link provided and complete the online application form.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of graphic design experience, advanced Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, project management skills, and any experience with print production or packaging design. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best showcase your ability to manage design projects end-to-end, create diverse collateral, adhere to brand standards, and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your technical skills and any relevant packaging design work.

• Prepare Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, be ready to discuss the project brief, your role, your process, the challenges you faced, how you managed stakeholders and timelines, and the final outcome or impact.

• Research One Acre Fund: Familiarize yourself with One Acre Fund's mission, values, and recent work. Understand their target audience (smallholder farmers) and how design supports their 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 hiring organization before making application decisions.

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