Graphic Designer, K-12 Education

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer, K-12 Education

Company: DLR Group

Location: Overland Park, Kansas, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-04-13T22:24:16

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Focus on creating compelling B2B visual narratives and marketing assets for the K-12 Education sector, crucial for Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.

• Champion and maintain brand integrity across diverse marketing communications, ensuring a unified brand identity for the K-12 sector.

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Graphic Designer, marketing teams, and other sector-specific designers to deliver high-quality visual content.

• Manage a portfolio of diverse design projects, from long-form reports to digital assets, ensuring timely delivery and design excellence within defined deadlines.

• Support the transformation of marketing communications within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry through impactful visual design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within an in-house marketing communications team, suggesting a focus on internal client support and brand consistency, rather than external agency work. The emphasis on B2B visual narratives and K-12 sector support indicates a need for strategic design thinking aligned with specific business objectives and industry nuances. This is not a traditional Revenue Operations or Sales Operations role but a critical support function for GTM efforts.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design a wide array of marketing and communication deliverables, including long-form brochures, reports, infographics, diagrams, social media assets, interactive web content, presentations, and trade show materials.

• Develop production-ready artwork and design assets to support the Senior Graphic Designer and broader marketing initiatives.

• Engage in proactive client communication, using thoughtful questioning to fully understand project objectives and stakeholder needs.

• Partner with marketing professionals to identify and translate storytelling opportunities into effective visual communications.

• Clearly articulate the value and rationale behind design concepts and solutions to internal clients, ensuring alignment with communication goals.

• Creatively adapt and apply a unified brand palette to various marketing materials, pushing design boundaries within established brand guidelines.

• Demonstrate a passion for both iterative concept development and meticulous production detail in design asset creation.

• Effectively manage multiple, diverse, concurrent projects, prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines while maintaining a high standard of design quality and brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative design, client management (internal), and project management. The need to "partner with marketing" and "identify storytelling opportunities" highlights a strategic component, where the designer contributes to the narrative construction for the K-12 sector's GTM efforts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience.

Experience: 2-4 years of professional graphic design experience, preferably within an in-house marketing team or a creative agency environment. Experience within the AEC industry is a significant plus.

Required Skills:

• A compelling and diverse portfolio showcasing strong graphic design principles across print and digital mediums.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign; essential for creating marketing collateral and reports.

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator and Photoshop, for vector graphics, image manipulation, and layout design.

• Proficiency in Adobe Acrobat for document management and PDF creation.

• Strong command of Microsoft PowerPoint for presentation design.

• Experience developing diverse deliverables such as brochures, reports, infographics, social media assets, and presentations.

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines effectively.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey design ideas and value propositions clearly to internal stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) professional services firms.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite and asynchronous collaboration tools like SharePoint.

• Experience creating motion graphics and proficiency in relevant design tools.

• Background in UI/UX design principles and related design tools.

• Passion for the built environment and its impact on people.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on InDesign and PowerPoint, alongside the broader Adobe Creative Suite, highlights the core technical requirements. The preference for AEC experience and UI/UX skills suggests a desire for candidates who can quickly integrate into the company's specific industry context and potentially contribute to digital experience design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio demonstrating a strong grasp of graphic design principles, including layout, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy.

• Evidence of experience in creating both print and digital design assets, showcasing versatility.

• Case studies or project examples that illustrate the ability to translate complex information (e.g., reports, data) into easily understandable visual narratives (infographics, diagrams).

• Projects that highlight the ability to work within a defined brand identity, showcasing creative application of a brand palette.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a requirement for the candidate to possess, the role implies a need to understand and contribute to marketing communication processes. This includes:

  • Workflow design for asset creation from brief to final delivery.

  • Understanding of brand guideline adherence and quality control checkpoints.

  • Familiarity with project management processes for tracking multiple design requests.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary requirement is a strong visual portfolio. For operations-minded candidates, it's beneficial to frame portfolio pieces in terms of the "process" used to achieve the outcome and the "impact" of the design on communication goals, even if the role is not strictly operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

For a Graphic Designer with 2-4 years of experience in Overland Park, Kansas, the estimated salary range is typically between $55,000 and $75,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and the exact scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• 100% Employee Ownership: A significant benefit where employees are literal owners of the company, fostering a strong sense of investment and shared success.

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance.

• Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401(k)) with potential company match.

• Paid Time Off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Professional Development Opportunities: Support for continued learning, skill enhancement, and potentially industry-specific training.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid work model: 4 days in the office, with flexibility to work remotely on Fridays. This model balances in-person collaboration with personal flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "100% employee-owned" status is a major differentiator and should be highlighted. Salary estimates are based on industry benchmarks for graphic designers in mid-sized US cities with moderate cost of living, considering the specified experience level. The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Services. DLR Group is an integrated design firm.

Company Size: The exact number of employees isn't provided, but greenhouse data suggests a company size of 1,000-5,000 employees, indicating a large, established organization with significant resources and a global presence (multiple company locations).

Founded: Not explicitly stated in the provided text, but the company has a well-established history given its size and scope.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of an in-house marketing and communications team.

• They will collaborate daily with the K-12 Senior Graphic Designer.

• The team includes a multidisciplinary marketing and brand team.

• Reporting structure involves mentorship from the Brand Communications Leader and Graphic Design Leader.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, implied through the firm's commitment to sustainability goals (2030 Challenge, ME2040, SE2050).

• Collaborative approach: "interdisciplinary teams engaged in every step of project lifecycles," "champion true collaboration, open information sharing."

• Emphasis on values: Commitment, creativity, environmental stewardship, fun, integrity, ownership, sharing, teamwork.

• Use of technology for collaboration and project delivery.

Company Website: http://www.dlrgroup.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is built around employee ownership, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainability within the built environment. This is crucial context for understanding the team dynamics and the types of projects the designer will contribute to.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is an entry-to-mid-level position within a creative services or marketing operations function. It offers a clear path for developing specialized skills in B2B marketing design within a specific industry vertical.

Reporting Structure: The designer reports into a leadership structure that includes a Graphic Design Leader and a Brand Communications Leader, providing clear mentorship and oversight. Collaboration will also extend to sector-specific teams and senior designers.

Operations Impact: While not a direct revenue-generating role, the Graphic Designer's work is critical for supporting Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies by creating compelling visual assets that enhance the company's brand perception, communicate value propositions, and support sales and marketing efforts in the K-12 education sector. Strong visual branding influences client engagement and perceived professionalism.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific design areas like infographics, data visualization, presentation design, or UI/UX.

• Industry Expertise: Develop a strong understanding of the K-12 education market and the AEC industry, becoming a valuable asset for sector-specific marketing.

• Senior Designer Roles: Progress to a Senior Graphic Designer position, taking on more complex projects and potentially mentoring junior designers.

• Marketing Leadership: With experience, transition into broader marketing roles, leveraging design skills within marketing strategy and management.

• Motion Graphics/UI/UX: Develop preferred skills like motion graphics or UI/UX design into core competencies, opening new avenues for contribution and career advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Even though this is a design role, framing growth through the lens of supporting GTM and marketing operations provides context for candidates interested in the broader business impact of creative services.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates on a hybrid model, with employees spending 4 days per week in the office. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed for in-person teamwork, supplemented by remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): Overland Park, Kansas. Specific office amenities and layout would need to be confirmed, but it's likely a professional office setting typical for a large, integrated design firm.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages in-person collaboration, team meetings, and spontaneous idea-sharing among designers and marketing professionals.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, InDesign, PowerPoint) and potentially project management or collaboration tools (SharePoint).

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to work closely with senior designers, marketing managers, and sector specialists, fostering knowledge exchange and professional development.

Work Schedule:

• Primarily standard business hours, 4 days in the office.

• Flexibility to work remotely on Fridays allows for focused, independent work or personal flexibility. This schedule supports the need for both collaborative brainstorming and deep creative work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, balancing the need for in-person creative collaboration with individual work flexibility, which is important for design roles.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition reviews applications for basic qualifications (experience, portfolio link).

• Portfolio Review: A critical stage where the design team assesses the candidate's portfolio for technical skill, creativity, brand alignment, and relevance to B2B marketing and the K-12 sector.

• Technical Interview: May involve a discussion about design process, software proficiency, and problem-solving approaches with senior designers or the Graphic Design Leader.

• Case Study/Design Challenge (Potential): Candidates might be asked to complete a small design task or present a case study from their portfolio, demonstrating their approach to a specific design brief.

• Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion with marketing or team leaders to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with DLR Group's values (ownership, teamwork, creativity).

• Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level manager or department head.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-8 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize work that showcases B2B marketing collateral, print/digital integration, and any AEC or K-12 related projects.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, the creative process, challenges, and the final outcome. Highlight how your design solved a problem or met an objective.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If a design led to measurable results (e.g., increased engagement, improved clarity), mention it.

• Brand Consistency: Include examples demonstrating your ability to work within and creatively adapt brand guidelines.

• Technical Proficiency: Ensure examples clearly demonstrate your mastery of InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

• Presentation: Organize your portfolio cleanly, whether digital (PDF, personal website) or in-person. Be prepared to walk through it confidently.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the brief thoroughly.

• Allocate time for concept development, execution, and refinement.

• Be prepared to articulate your design decisions and rationale clearly.

• For presentation-based challenges, structure your delivery logically, emphasizing problem-solving and brand alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role, the portfolio is paramount. Emphasize how to present it not just as a collection of pretty pictures, but as evidence of problem-solving, strategic thinking, and technical execution relevant to the company's needs.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • InDesign: Essential for layout, typography, and producing long-form documents like brochures and reports. High proficiency is a must.
  • Illustrator: For creating vector graphics, logos, icons, and complex illustrations.
  • Photoshop: For image editing, retouching, and digital asset creation.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: Critical for designing presentations and supporting internal client needs.

• Adobe Acrobat: For PDF creation, editing, and final output preparation.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Other Potential Tools (Preferred/Desirable):

• Motion graphics software (e.g., Adobe After Effects).

• UI/UX design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).

• Website builders or CMS platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: Highlighting the core Adobe Creative Suite tools and PowerPoint is crucial. Mentioning preferred tools like After Effects and UI/UX software provides insight into potential future development areas.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Commitment & Ownership: As an employee-owned firm, a strong sense of commitment to projects and the company's success is expected. Taking initiative and responsibility for design outcomes is key.

• Creativity: Encouraged to push design boundaries within brand guidelines, contributing innovative visual solutions.

• Integrity: Maintaining brand consistency and delivering honest, effective design communication.

• Teamwork & Sharing: Valuing collaboration, open communication, and knowledge sharing with fellow designers and marketing teams.

• Environmental Stewardship: Understanding and potentially contributing to design that supports sustainability goals (e.g., efficient print usage, clear communication of green initiatives).

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with marketing teams and sector specialists to understand their needs and translate them into effective designs.

• Process Review & Feedback: An environment that likely encourages constructive feedback on design work to ensure quality and alignment.

• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to share design techniques, trends, and best practices with colleagues, fostering a learning culture.

• Hybrid Collaboration: Balancing in-person meetings and brainstorming sessions with asynchronous communication and collaboration tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Connecting the company's stated values to how a graphic designer would operate daily provides practical context for candidates assessing cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Creative Expression: Effectively designing within a defined brand palette while still producing innovative and engaging visuals.

• Managing Multiple Project Demands: Juggling diverse project types and deadlines simultaneously, requiring strong organizational and prioritization skills.

• Translating Technical Concepts Visually: Simplifying complex AEC or K-12 education concepts into clear, compelling graphics for broader audiences.

• Adapting to Industry Specifics: Quickly learning and understanding the nuances of the AEC industry and the K-12 education market to create relevant designs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen skills in Adobe Creative Suite or explore new tools like motion graphics or UI/UX software.

• Industry-Specific Design Knowledge: Gaining expertise in designing for the AEC sector and K-12 education, becoming a specialist.

• Brand Strategy Exposure: Learning how design contributes to broader marketing and brand strategy within a large organization.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Continuous opportunity to build a strong, diverse portfolio through diverse project assignments.

• Mentorship: Learning from senior designers and experienced marketing professionals within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Highlighting potential challenges and framing them as opportunities for growth can help candidates prepare and demonstrate resilience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Tell me about a time you had to design within strict brand guidelines. How did you ensure creativity while maintaining brand integrity?" (Assesses understanding of brand management and creative problem-solving).

• "Describe a complex project where you had to translate technical information into a visual format. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Evaluates ability to handle complex briefs and communicate visually).

• "How do you approach managing multiple design projects with competing deadlines?" (Tests project management and prioritization skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about DLR Group and our work in the K-12 education sector?" (Assesses research and genuine interest).

• "How do you see your design skills contributing to our B2B marketing efforts?" (Connects role to business objectives).

• "Describe your experience working in a collaborative, hybrid environment. How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration?" (Evaluates fit for the work model).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Project Selection: Choose 3-4 projects that best represent your skills and fit the job description (B2B, print/digital, potential for AEC/K-12 relevance).

• Storytelling: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your solution (design process), and the impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Technical Detail: Be ready to discuss the software and techniques used.

• Brand Alignment: Show how you respected and creatively applied brand guidelines.

• Conciseness: Keep your presentation focused and within any allocated time limits. Be prepared to answer specific questions about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Tailoring interview questions to the specific role (Graphic Designer, K-12 sector) and company culture (employee-owned, AEC) is key. Emphasizing portfolio presentation as a storytelling exercise is crucial for design roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your most impactful and relevant design projects. Prioritize B2B marketing collateral, print/digital integrations, and any work demonstrating an understanding of technical information or specific industry needs (AEC, education). Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases proficiency in InDesign and the Adobe Creative Suite.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 2-4 years of graphic design experience, emphasizing accomplishments related to creating marketing assets, managing projects, and collaborating with marketing teams. Incorporate keywords from the job description such as "B2B visual narratives," "K-12 Education," "Adobe InDesign," "Adobe Creative Suite," and "brand integrity."

• Prepare for Portfolio Walkthrough: Be ready to articulate your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work for each project in your portfolio. Practice explaining how you translate client needs into effective visual solutions.

• Research DLR Group: Familiarize yourself with DLR Group's mission, values, and recent projects, especially within the K-12 education sector. Understand their commitment to sustainability and employee ownership.

⚠️ 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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