Graphic Designer - Freelance

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - Freelance

Company: Sinclair Broadcast Group (Tennis Channel)

Location: Santa Monica, CA

Job Type: Full-time Contract

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Sports & Recreation

Date Posted: June 10, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This freelance Graphic Designer role is pivotal in managing the execution of visual assets for Sinclair Broadcast Group's Tennis Channel, focusing on social media and YouTube content.

• The position requires a strong understanding of digital platform best practices, particularly for YouTube thumbnails and bespoke social-first graphics across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X.

• The designer will collaborate closely with content specialists, editors, and marketing teams to translate creative briefs into high-quality, engaging visual assets that align with brand voice and performance objectives.

• This role demands a blend of creative execution, strategic thinking around content performance (e.g., A/B testing thumbnails for CTR), and efficient workflow management under tight deadlines, especially during live tournament periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly defined as a freelance, on-site position in Santa Monica, CA, with an anticipated duration through December 2026, potentially extending to the end of 2027. The description highlights a significant focus on performance metrics like YouTube thumbnail Click-Through Rate (CTR) and on-time delivery, indicating a data-driven approach to creative execution within a fast-paced media environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• YouTube Thumbnail Design: Lead the design of compelling YouTube thumbnails for all Director of Video Content-owned uploads, including linear re-edits, long-form content, serialized programming, branded series, and original concepts. This includes owning composition, typography, hierarchy, and ensuring brand voice consistency.

• Social-First Graphics Creation: Develop bespoke graphics for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X. This encompasses tournament hype graphics, player win/milestone graphics, storyline-driven graphics, and the utilization and maintenance of templated designs within the Slate platform.

• Cross-Platform Adaptation: Ensure all designed assets are adapted for relevant platform aspect ratios and sizing standards (e.g., 1:1, 4:5, 9:16, 16:9, YouTube thumbnail), delivering native-feeling executions for each platform.

• Workflow Management: Efficiently manage the brief-to-execution workflow, taking creative briefs from the Social Graphics Content Specialist and thumbnail direction from the YouTube Editor and Director of Video Content, delivering final, publish-ready assets.

• Performance Iteration: Conduct A/B testing on thumbnails and titles as directed by the YouTube Editor and Director of Video Content, iterating based on CTR data to optimize content performance.

• Brand Consistency & Evolution: Maintain and evolve a YouTube thumbnail style guide and the Slate template library to reflect current channel performance, emerging trends, and evolving brand voice.

• Content Quality & Pitching: Flag any content quality concerns early and proactively pitch new visual ideas, template designs, or graphic formats to the Social Graphics Content Specialist and Senior Social Media Manager.

• Campaign Execution: Lead design execution for major campaigns, tournament tentpoles, sponsor activations, and branded series, adhering to strict deadlines outlined in the Tournament Coverage Plan and Master Cross-Platform Content Calendar.

• Platform Trend Analysis: Stay current with visual trends, best practices, and new features across social media platforms and YouTube to inform design strategies.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Social Graphics Content Specialists, YouTube Editors, Directors of Video Content, on-shift coordinators, brand managers, ad sales, and PR teams to ensure seamless asset delivery and campaign execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a dual focus on creative output and measurable results. The explicit mention of A/B testing thumbnails for CTR and maintaining performance-driven style guides highlights the strategic aspect of this design role, moving beyond pure aesthetics to impact audience engagement and growth.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Communications, or a related field is often preferred in creative roles within media organizations.

Experience:

• 3-5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a strong preference for experience within sports, live event broadcasting, or news media brands.

• Proven ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines, especially under live-event pressure. Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Hands-on fluency with Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop and Illustrator. Experience with After Effects is also required for potential motion graphics elements.

• Platform-Specific Design: Demonstrated expertise in designing YouTube thumbnails, with an understanding of what drives engagement (CTR).

• Social Media Graphics: Proven ability to create compelling, platform-native graphics for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X, adapting designs for various aspect ratios.

• Typography and Layout: Strong sense of typography, layout, color theory, and visual hierarchy to create impactful and aesthetically pleasing designs.

• Brand System Application: Ability to work within and evolve an established brand system, maintaining brand voice and visual standards across all assets.

• File Management: Meticulous file management discipline, including versioning, naming conventions, library hygiene, and preparing assets for hand-off.

• Workflow Management: Skill in managing the creative brief-to-execution process, from receiving direction to delivering final, publish-ready assets.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot design challenges and adapt to evolving project requirements under pressure.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Experience with Figma is considered a plus for collaborative design workflows.

• Slate or Broadcast Graphics Platform: Hands-on experience with Slate or a comparable sports-broadcast graphics platform is highly advantageous. Training on Tennis Channel's specific Slate instance will be provided if direct experience is lacking.

• Video Editing Software: Familiarity with video editing software (e.g., Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro) can be beneficial for understanding video assets and end cards.

• Motion Graphics: Basic understanding or experience with motion graphics and animation principles (e.g., using After Effects) to create dynamic visual elements.

• Tennis/Sports Knowledge: A genuine interest in or knowledge of tennis and the broader sports landscape is a strong advantage for understanding context and audience.

• A/B Testing & Analytics: Experience or understanding of A/B testing principles and interpreting performance data (like CTR) to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "hands-on fluency" with Adobe Creative Suite and specific platform graphics (YouTube thumbnails, Slate) suggests the need for a designer who can quickly produce polished work without extensive onboarding on core tools. The preference for sports/live event experience and sports knowledge indicates a desire for someone who understands the fast-paced, high-stakes nature of sports media.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Design Examples: The portfolio must showcase a strong range of work across all core areas:

  • YouTube Thumbnails: Include examples with demonstrable results, such as CTR improvements or audience growth metrics, if available.
  • Tournament/Sports Graphics: Showcase dynamic graphics relevant to live sports events, including hype graphics, matchup visuals, and player spotlights.
  • Player/Milestone Graphics: Present examples of graphics celebrating player achievements, wins, and significant career milestones.
  • Brand-Led Social Design: Demonstrate expertise in creating visually cohesive and engaging graphics for social media campaigns that align with brand identity.

• Platform Adaptability: Evidence of adapting designs for various social media and digital platforms, showcasing an understanding of different aspect ratios and native-feeling executions.

• Brand System Adherence: Examples that clearly illustrate the ability to work within and effectively extend an established brand system.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Clarity: The portfolio should implicitly or explicitly demonstrate an understanding of the design workflow, from brief to final delivery, highlighting efficiency and quality control.

• Performance Metrics Integration: Where possible, include case studies or project descriptions that detail how design decisions were informed by or contributed to performance metrics (e.g., CTR, engagement rates).

• System Utilization: If specific graphics platforms like Slate were used, showcasing work created within or adapted for such systems is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role heavily focused on performance metrics like CTR and fast-turnaround content, the portfolio needs to go beyond purely aesthetic showcases. Candidates should be prepared to articulate the strategic thinking behind their design choices and, crucially, present any available data that supports the effectiveness of their work, especially for YouTube thumbnails.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The specified base salary compensation range for this freelance role is $70,350 to $80,000 USD per year. This range is an estimate and the final compensation will be determined by factors including relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location.

Benefits: As this is a freelance position, the standard benefits package for full-time employees is not directly applicable. However, the description mentions that full-time positions are eligible for:

• Participation in a retirement plan

• Life and disability insurance

• Health, dental, and vision plans

• Flexible spending accounts

• Sick leave, vacation time, and personal time

• Parental leave

• Employee stock purchase plan

Working Hours: This freelance engagement is expected to be approximately 40 hours per week. Schedules may require flexibility, including potential weekend work, particularly during key tournaments and high-volume event periods to align with tournament coverage needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for the full freelance engagement, which is anticipated to last through December 2026, with a potential extension through 2027. It's important for candidates to understand they are being compensated for their time and expertise on a contract basis, and the listed benefits apply to permanent employees, not typically to contractors. The "40 hours per week" is an estimate, and actual hours may fluctuate based on event schedules.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media and Broadcasting, specifically sports media with a strong focus on tennis and related content. Sinclair Broadcast Group is a diversified media company, and Tennis Channel is its premium sports network.

Company Size: Sinclair Broadcast Group is a large media organization, indicated by its extensive portfolio of TV stations and multicast networks. Tennis Channel, as part of Sinclair, benefits from this larger corporate structure while maintaining its specialized focus.

Founded: Sinclair Broadcast Group was founded in 1986. Tennis Channel was launched in 2003. This history suggests a company with established operational frameworks and a significant presence in the media landscape.

Team Structure:

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close partnership with various internal teams, including the Social Graphics Content Specialist, YouTube Editor, Director of Video Content, Senior Social Media Manager, and on-shift coordinators. This indicates a highly collaborative and integrated content production environment.

• Specialization: Within the broader marketing and content team, there are specialized roles such as Social Graphics Content Specialist, YouTube Editor, and the Graphic Designer, each focusing on specific aspects of content creation and optimization.

• Reporting: The graphic designer works downstream from content specialists and editors, executing their briefs. They also partner with senior management (Senior Social Media Manager, Director of Video Content) for strategic direction and approvals, suggesting a clear, albeit collaborative, hierarchy.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creative: The role explicitly calls for A/B testing thumbnails based on CTR data and maintaining performance-driven style guides, indicating a methodology that prioritizes measurable results.

• Agile Content Production: The need for fast-turn output during live events and adherence to tight deadlines points towards an agile and responsive content production process, common in live sports broadcasting.

• Platform-Centric Design: A core methodology involves adapting creative assets for specific platform nuances and best practices to maximize native engagement.

Company Website: https://www.sbgi.net/ (Sinclair Broadcast Group) and implicitly Tennis Channel's digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Sinclair Broadcast Group suggests a large, established media entity with robust operational processes. Tennis Channel, as a specialized sports network, likely operates with a fast-paced, deadline-driven culture, especially during major tournaments. The emphasis on cross-functional partnerships is crucial for candidates to understand; success will depend on effective communication and collaboration across different specialized teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Freelance Graphic Designer role, positioned as an execution-level contributor. It requires specialized creative skills and the ability to work independently on defined tasks under direction. The focus is on delivering high-quality design assets efficiently and effectively meeting performance targets for social and video content.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer works closely with and reports indirectly to the Social Graphics Content Specialist for social briefs and the YouTube Editor/Director of Video Content for YouTube thumbnail direction. They collaborate with the Senior Social Media Manager on broader social strategy and content quality. The on-shift coordinator is a peer for asset hand-off. This structure highlights a matrixed environment where execution is guided by multiple stakeholders.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to the performance of digital content.

• YouTube Thumbnail CTR: Directly influences video discoverability and viewership, a key metric for channel growth and ad revenue.

• Social Media Engagement: Bespoke graphics drive user interaction, shares, and overall brand presence on social platforms.

• Brand Consistency: Ensures a unified and professional visual identity across all digital touchpoints, reinforcing brand perception.

• Campaign Success: Contributes significantly to the visual appeal and effectiveness of marketing campaigns, sponsor activations, and branded series.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development in Digital Media: Deepen expertise in social media graphics, YouTube optimization, and broadcast graphics platforms like Slate.

• Performance-Driven Design: Gain experience in a results-oriented creative environment, learning to translate design into measurable outcomes (e.g., CTR optimization).

• Industry Exposure: Work within the dynamic sports media industry, gaining insights into live event coverage and digital content strategy.

• Potential for Extension/Future Roles: Successful performance in this freelance role could lead to contract extensions or potentially open doors to other creative opportunities within Sinclair Broadcast Group or Tennis Channel, depending on business needs and individual performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a freelance role, it offers significant opportunities to refine specialized digital design skills within a high-profile sports media environment. The emphasis on performance metrics provides a pathway to developing a results-oriented design portfolio, which is highly valuable for future career progression in digital marketing and media production.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA. This suggests a traditional office setting where the designer will be part of a physical team, facilitating direct collaboration and access to company resources.

Office Location(s): Santa Monica, California. This location is a hub for media and entertainment companies, offering a vibrant professional environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close partnership with various teams, indicating a workspace designed for collaboration, potentially with shared creative spaces or regular team meetings.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary hardware (computers) and software (Adobe Creative Suite, Slate) will be provided or expected to be utilized. The description mentions training on their specific Slate instance, implying a dedicated tech environment.

• Team Interaction: The designer will engage daily with content specialists, editors, and managers, fostering a dynamic and communicative work atmosphere. The need for fast-turnaround and live event support suggests a high-energy, responsive team culture.

Work Schedule: The standard expectation is approximately 40 hours per week. However, flexibility is crucial, with the potential for weekend work during peak tournament coverage and high-volume periods. This implies a schedule that can adapt to live sports broadcasting demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Santa Monica means candidates must be able to commute to this location. The flexible schedule, while centered around a 40-hour week, is a key aspect for candidates to consider, as it requires adaptability to meet the demands of live sports event coverage.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: While not explicitly detailed, a typical process for a creative role like this would likely involve:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and creative style.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A more in-depth review of the candidate's portfolio, focusing on specific projects, design process, and problem-solving approaches. This may be a dedicated interview stage.

• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: A practical test or a short creative exercise to evaluate design skills, speed, and ability to work within brand guidelines. This could involve designing a sample thumbnail or social graphic.

• Team/Manager Interviews: Meetings with the hiring manager, Senior Social Media Manager, Social Graphics Content Specialist, and potentially the YouTube Editor to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and understanding of the role's demands.

• Final Offer: Discussion of contract terms, compensation, and start date.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select your strongest work that directly aligns with the responsibilities outlined, particularly YouTube thumbnails, social-first graphics, and sports-related designs.

• Showcase Process: For key projects, briefly explain your design process, the brief you received, your creative decisions, and any measurable results (e.g., CTR improvements).

• Highlight Platform Adaptability: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates your ability to design for various platforms and aspect ratios.

• Include Brand System Examples: Show how you've worked with existing brands and maintained visual consistency.

• Quantify Achievements: Whenever possible, use data (CTR, engagement lift) to support the effectiveness of your designs.

• Organize Clearly: Make it easy for reviewers to navigate your portfolio and find relevant examples quickly.

Challenge Preparation:

• Analyze Tennis Channel's Digital Presence: Study their current YouTube thumbnails, social media graphics, and overall brand aesthetic. Identify what works well and potential areas for creative innovation.

• Understand Performance Metrics: Be ready to discuss how you approach design with performance goals in mind, especially CTR for thumbnails.

• Practice Design Speed: If a creative challenge is given, be prepared to work efficiently under a time constraint.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your design thinking and problem-solving approach for any given task.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "YouTube thumbnail CTR" and "fast-turn output" suggests that candidates should be prepared to discuss how their creative decisions impact performance and how they manage their workflow under pressure. A portfolio that clearly demonstrates these capabilities will be highly advantageous.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential fluency in Photoshop and Illustrator for graphic creation.

• Adobe After Effects: Required for motion graphics elements, transitions, and animated graphics.

• Slate: Direct experience with this sports-broadcast graphics platform is preferred. Training will be provided, indicating its importance within the workflow.

• Figma: Experience with Figma is a plus, suggesting its use for collaborative design or prototyping.

Analytics & Reporting:

• YouTube Analytics: Understanding how to interpret CTR data is crucial for thumbnail optimization.

• Social Media Analytics: Familiarity with engagement metrics across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X to assess the performance of social graphics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly listed as a design tool, CRM or project management tools may be used for brief intake and asset tracking. The "on-shift coordinator" role suggests a system for managing asset hand-offs and publishing schedules, implying a need for organized digital asset management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. The specific mention of Slate indicates that candidates should either have this experience or be prepared to undergo training quickly. The ability to interpret analytics, particularly YouTube CTR, is a key differentiator for this role, as it ties design directly to performance outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Excellence: A commitment to delivering high-quality, premium design assets that meet established brand standards and creative briefs.

• Performance-Driven: A culture that values measurable results, with a focus on improving metrics like YouTube thumbnail CTR and social media engagement.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams, fostering open communication and mutual support.

• Adaptability & Speed: The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, responding quickly to live event demands and tight deadlines.

• Innovation & Proactivity: Encouragement to pitch new visual ideas and stay ahead of platform trends to keep content fresh and engaging.

Collaboration Style:

• Brief-to-Execution Partnership: The designer works closely with content specialists and editors, taking direction and executing designs, then closing the feedback loop.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Active collaboration with teams across social media, video production, brand, and ad sales to ensure cohesive campaign execution.

• Feedback Culture: An environment where feedback is exchanged constructively to refine creative output and improve processes.

• Shared Goal Orientation: A collective focus on driving engagement, viewership, and brand presence for Tennis Channel.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be a blend of creative artistry and performance-driven analytics, common in modern digital media. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to be both a creative contributor and a collaborative team player who understands the business impact of their design work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Fast-Paced Live Event Production: The need to produce high-quality graphics rapidly during live tournaments and high-volume periods can be demanding, requiring efficient workflow and stress management.

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand/Platform Constraints: Adhering to established brand guidelines and platform-specific best practices while still producing innovative and engaging designs.

• Data-Informed Iteration: Effectively interpreting and acting upon performance data (like CTR) to iterate on designs without compromising creative integrity.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholders: Coordinating with various teams and individuals (Social Graphics Specialist, YouTube Editor, Director of Video Content) who may have different priorities or feedback.

• Maintaining Template Libraries: Keeping graphics templates updated and relevant with evolving brand voice and platform features.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Digital Design Skills: Deepen expertise in creating high-performance digital assets for social media and video platforms.

• Sports Media Industry Insights: Gain invaluable experience within a dedicated sports media organization, understanding the nuances of live event coverage and audience engagement.

• Performance Analytics Integration: Develop a stronger understanding of how design directly impacts key performance indicators (KPIs) like CTR and engagement rates.

• Broadcast Graphics Systems: Hands-on experience with industry-standard broadcast graphics platforms like Slate.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Experience: Enhance skills in collaborating with diverse teams, including content creators, editors, marketers, and sales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dynamic nature of sports media, emphasizing the need for resilience, adaptability, and a strong understanding of performance metrics. The growth opportunities are significant for a designer looking to specialize in high-impact digital content creation within the sports industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a YouTube thumbnail. How do you ensure it's engaging and drives clicks?" (Focus on your approach to composition, typography, color, and how you use data like CTR to inform your choices.)

• "How would you approach creating a series of social media graphics for a major tennis tournament, ensuring consistency across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok?" (Discuss your strategy for adapting visuals, maintaining brand voice, and catering to platform nuances.)

• "Walk me through a time you had to work under a tight deadline for a live event or a critical launch. How did you manage your workflow and ensure quality?" (Highlight your organizational skills, ability to prioritize, and methods for maintaining quality under pressure.)

• "How do you balance adhering to brand guidelines with pushing creative boundaries?" (Provide examples of how you've successfully navigated this in past projects.)

• "What's your experience with A/B testing design elements, and how do you interpret the results to make improvements?" (Be ready to discuss specific examples and your analytical approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Tennis Channel and Sinclair Broadcast Group?" (Research their recent content, major tournaments they cover, and their role in the sports media landscape.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and platform best practices for social media and YouTube?" (Mention specific resources, publications, or communities you follow.)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you prefer to receive feedback?" (Align your answer with the collaborative nature described in the job posting.)

• "How do you view the relationship between design and measurable performance metrics like CTR?" (Emphasize your understanding that design serves business objectives.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each project, tell a brief story: the objective, your role, the challenges, your creative solution, and the outcome (especially if performance data is available).

• Focus on Relevance: Prioritize projects that directly match the requirements: YouTube thumbnails, social graphics, sports-related designs.

• Demonstrate Versatility: Showcase your ability to adapt to different styles and platforms.

• Highlight Process: Briefly explain your workflow, from brief to final asset.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, present metrics (CTR, engagement increases) to support the effectiveness of your designs.

• Be Prepared for Specifics: Anticipate questions about your technical process, software choices, and design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the focus on performance metrics and fast-turnaround, interviewers will likely probe your ability to deliver results quickly and efficiently. Be prepared to discuss your workflow, how you handle pressure, and how you use data to drive design decisions. Showcase projects that demonstrate these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this freelance Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud portal link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 3-5 years of graphic design experience, emphasizing roles in sports, live events, or media. Clearly list your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) and any experience with Slate or Figma.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest, most relevant work. Ensure it prominently features YouTube thumbnails with any available performance data, social-first graphics for various platforms, and sports-related designs. Organize it for easy navigation and include brief case studies for key projects.

• Prepare Your Cover Letter (if applicable): Briefly articulate your passion for sports media, your understanding of the role's demands (performance, speed), and why your skills are a strong match for Tennis Channel.

• Research Tennis Channel: Familiarize yourself with their current social media presence, YouTube channel, and the types of graphics they use. Understand their brand voice and the sports they cover.

• Practice Your Pitch: Be ready to discuss your portfolio, your design process, and how you approach performance-driven design during an interview.

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