Graphic Designer (Mid-Weight, 12-month contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (Mid-Weight, 12-month contract)

Company: Southern Cross Austereo

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Job Type: Contract

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: April 21, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Weight (3+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for supporting SCA's Creative Services team by bringing creative concepts to life across both digital and print mediums.

• The Graphic Designer will be responsible for producing high-quality finished art and design solutions that are cohesive and brand-aligned for various campaigns.

• Key activities include creating social media graphics, signage, presentations, brochures, and video assets, requiring a strong understanding of design principles and production processes.

• The position offers a 12-month contract, providing an opportunity to gain experience within a leading Australian media company with a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is specifically for a Graphic Designer, focusing on the creation of visual assets for media campaigns. While not directly a RevOps or SalesOps role, this position requires strong collaboration with marketing and creative stakeholders, which is a common interface for operations professionals. The emphasis on brand-aligned campaigns and high-volume creative output suggests a need for efficiency and process adherence, transferable skills for operations roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with senior creatives and stakeholders within the Sydney Creative Services team to develop and execute design concepts.

• Produce high-quality finished art and design solutions across a range of mediums, including digital (social media graphics, presentations, video assets) and print (signage, brochures).

• Translate technical and creative briefs into innovative and brand-aligned finished artwork, ensuring all deliverables meet quality standards.

• Contribute fresh ideas and creative input during brainstorming sessions for new campaigns and projects.

• Conduct thorough quality checks on all created assets to ensure accuracy, adherence to brand guidelines, and error-free final output.

• Learn and apply knowledge of digital, print, and video production processes to optimize design outcomes.

• Maintain strong attention to detail throughout the design and production lifecycle, ensuring consistency and brand integrity.

• Work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, managing multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strong execution and collaboration. While not a direct "operations" role, the output of this position directly supports marketing and campaign execution, which are often managed or optimized by operations teams. The emphasis on "finished art" and "quality-checked work" points to a need for process adherence and a keen eye for detail, which are critical in operations for data integrity and process efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Tertiary qualifications in subjects related to design or advertising are preferred.

Experience: 3+ years of experience in a creative agency, design agency, or an in-house role within a relevant industry environment characterized by high-volume creative output.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Proven experience in creating finished art for both digital and print applications.

• Ability to interpret and execute creative briefs accurately.

• Strong understanding of brand guidelines and ability to maintain brand consistency across all assets.

• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects) for video asset creation.

• Familiarity with social media content creation and platform-specific design requirements.

• Knowledge of digital and print production processes.

• Experience within the media or entertainment industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: For candidates transitioning into operations or GTM roles, transferable skills from this graphic design position include project management, stakeholder communication, understanding of creative briefs (analogous to business requirements), attention to detail, and experience working with brand guidelines (analogous to process adherence). Proficiency in design software demonstrates technical aptitude, which is a baseline for many operations tools.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a range of design work, with a strong emphasis on finished art and campaign execution.

• Demonstrate experience in creating assets for diverse mediums, including digital (social media, web graphics, presentations) and print (signage, brochures).

• Include examples that highlight your ability to work within brand guidelines and deliver cohesive, brand-aligned creative outcomes.

• Showcase projects that required close collaboration with creative teams or stakeholders, illustrating your communication and teamwork capabilities.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated, candidates are expected to understand and adhere to established creative workflows and production processes.

• Demonstrate an ability to take direction from clear technical and creative briefs, indicating a structured approach to task execution.

• Show evidence of quality-checking work, implying a self-managed process for error detection and correction.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations roles, candidates often need to present portfolios of process improvements, system implementations, or data analysis projects. For this graphic design role, the portfolio focuses on visual output and creative execution. However, the underlying principles of demonstrating process adherence, quality control, and effective collaboration are transferable. Candidates might consider framing their portfolio items by highlighting the process used to achieve the final outcome, especially regarding efficiency and brief adherence.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a contract position and salary is not specified, a typical mid-weight graphic designer salary in Sydney, Australia, for a 12-month contract role would range from AUD $70,000 to $95,000 per annum, depending on experience and the specific scope of work.

Benefits:

• 9 Day fortnight trial to support work-life balance.

• SCA GIGs: Internal talent development program for cross-skilling and growth within SCA.

• Paid Parental Leave: 20 weeks of gender-neutral leave.

• Wellbeing Perks: Extra leave for birthdays and volunteering, free and discounted concert/footy tickets, free coffee and treats in the office.

• Salary Packaging: Access to novated leasing and exclusive discounts on top brands and gyms.

• Fitness Passport: Discounted access to a wide range of gyms and swimming pools across Australia.

Working Hours: The role implies a standard full-time work week, with the potential for a 9-day fortnight trial, suggesting flexibility within the standard working hours. A typical full-time role would be approximately 37.5 - 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market research for mid-weight graphic designer contract roles in Sydney, Australia, as of mid-2024. The provided benefits are extensive and highlight SCA's commitment to employee well-being and development, which are attractive aspects for any professional, including those in operations. The 9-day fortnight trial is a notable perk for work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment. Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) is a leading Australian media company, operating the Triple M & HIT networks and Australia's #1 podcast network, LiSTNR. They play a significant role in shaping the audio landscape across the country.

Company Size: Large. SCA is a significant player in the Australian media market, indicating a structured organizational framework with established departments and processes.

Founded: Historically, Southern Cross Broadcasting was founded in 1981, now operating as Southern Cross Austereo. This longevity suggests a stable and established company with deep roots in the Australian media industry.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of the Sydney-based Creative Services team, collaborating closely with senior creatives, designers, and marketers.

• This team is likely structured to support the company's various brands and platforms (HIT, Triple M, LiSTNR), requiring efficient workflow management and clear communication channels.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on turning ideas into high-quality creative outcomes, suggesting a process that moves from conceptualization to execution.

• Focus on brand alignment across all mediums, indicating a strong adherence to brand guidelines and strategic messaging.

• The environment is described as fast-paced, implying a need for agile workflows and efficient problem-solving.

• A collaborative approach is central, with brainstorming sessions and close teamwork being integral to the creative process.

Company Website: https://www.southerncrossaustereo.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: SCA's position as a leading media company implies a competitive and dynamic work environment. For operations professionals, understanding a company's core business (audio entertainment and podcasting) is key to aligning operational strategies with business goals. The emphasis on collaboration and brand consistency is also relevant, as operations often provide the framework for these aspects to function effectively.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: While this is a Graphic Designer role, the "Mid-Weight" designation suggests a professional with substantial hands-on experience and the ability to work independently on complex tasks, while still reporting to senior creative leads. This level of experience is often a stepping stone to senior or lead creative positions.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to senior creatives within the Sydney Creative Services team. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance while providing autonomy on assigned tasks.

Operations Impact: For this specific role, the "operations impact" is indirect, focusing on the quality and effectiveness of creative assets that support marketing and sales initiatives. High-quality visual content directly influences brand perception, audience engagement, and ultimately, revenue generation for SCA's various media products and platforms.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Opportunity to expand creative capabilities by working on diverse projects across digital, print, and video mediums within a leading media company.

• Internal Mobility: The "SCA GIGs" program explicitly supports cross-skilling and internal growth, offering pathways to learn about different areas of the business.

• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience in the Australian media and audio landscape, which can be a significant career asset.

• Contract-to-Perm Potential: While a 12-month contract, strong performance could lead to opportunities for extension or permanent roles within SCA, depending on business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, growth often involves mastering new systems, optimizing processes, or moving into leadership roles. For creatives, growth is typically about expanding skill sets, taking on more challenging projects, and progressing to senior or management roles. The "SCA GIGs" program is a strong indicator of a company culture that values internal development and provides structured growth pathways.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in a modern office environment located in World Square, Sydney. This suggests a professional, potentially open-plan or hybrid office setting conducive to collaboration.

Office Location(s): Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (World Square, a 5-minute walk from Town Hall station). This central location offers excellent accessibility and proximity to amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The office is described as modern and centrally located, implying a comfortable and well-equipped workspace.

• Proximity to Town Hall station facilitates easy commuting for employees.

• The "Creative Services team" environment suggests a dynamic and collaborative space where ideas are shared and developed.

• Access to free coffee and treats in the office contributes to a positive daily work experience.

Work Schedule: The role is for a 12-month contract, implying a full-time commitment. The mention of a "9 Day fortnight trial" suggests that the company is open to flexible work arrangements and supports work-life balance, even for contract staff, though this may be subject to trial period success and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations roles, understanding the office environment is key to assessing collaboration dynamics and available resources. A modern, central office with good transport links is generally a positive factor. The mention of free coffee and treats, while small, contributes to the overall employee experience and office culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit a cover letter and resume, including a link to your portfolio via the careers page.

• Portfolio Review: The hiring team will review your portfolio to assess design skills, relevant experience, and creative output.

• Interview(s): Expect interviews that may include discussions about your creative process, past projects, and how you handle briefs and feedback. For this role, there's a specific mention of potentially being asked about listening experience on LiSTNR, indicating a need to understand the company's products.

• Case Studies/Challenges: While not explicitly stated, a practical design task or case study related to creating assets for a media campaign might be part of the process.

• Final Evaluation: Assessment will likely focus on creative talent, technical proficiency, cultural fit with the team and company, and understanding of the media landscape.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select your strongest, most relevant work that demonstrates finished art capabilities, brand adherence, and versatility across digital and print.

• Highlight Process: Briefly explain your creative process for key projects, including how you interpreted briefs, collaborated with others, and ensured quality.

• Showcase Brand Alignment: Include examples where you successfully worked within strict brand guidelines.

• Include High-Volume Examples: If possible, showcase projects where you produced a significant number of assets efficiently.

• Tailor to SCA: If you have relevant media industry experience or can demonstrate an understanding of audio platforms, highlight this.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand SCA's Brands: Familiarize yourself with the HIT Network, Triple M, and LiSTNR to understand their visual identity and target audiences.

• Practice Brief Interpretation: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical brief for a social media campaign or a promotional graphic.

• Prepare for Product Questions: Research LiSTNR and be ready to discuss your listening habits or ideas for visual content related to podcasts.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Be prepared to talk about how you work with others and handle feedback constructively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes the portfolio, which is standard for creative roles. The advice to research SCA's brands and products (LiSTNR) is critical for demonstrating genuine interest and understanding. For operations candidates, this translates to researching the company's business model, target market, and key challenges before an interview.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Proficiency is expected.

• Video Editing Software: Potentially Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects, for creating video assets.

• Presentation Software: Such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides, for creating presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable. This role focuses on creative output rather than system administration or process automation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, the technology stack is usually central to the role (CRM, marketing automation, data visualization, project management tools). For this graphic designer position, the focus is on creative software. The key takeaway for operations candidates is the importance of technical proficiency in the tools relevant to their domain.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to design.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with team members and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Quality & Excellence: Commitment to producing high-standard, error-free creative work.

• Brand Integrity: Upholding and consistently applying brand guidelines across all outputs.

• Efficiency: Delivering high-volume creative output in a fast-paced environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Team-Oriented: Working closely with senior creatives, designers, and marketers in the Sydney Creative Services team.

• Responsive: Taking direction from clear technical and creative briefs and incorporating feedback.

• Communicative: Actively participating in brainstorming sessions and providing input.

• Brand-Focused: Ensuring all creative collaborations result in cohesive, brand-aligned campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: While these are creative values, they resonate with operational principles. Efficiency, quality, and brand integrity are paramount in operations, as is effective collaboration. Understanding a company's stated values helps candidates tailor their responses to demonstrate cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Fast-Paced Environment: Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously in a high-volume creative setting.

• Balancing Creativity and Brand: Fulfilling creative briefs while strictly adhering to brand guidelines.

• Adapting to New Mediums: Potentially working with new digital or production technologies as required.

• Feedback Integration: Effectively incorporating feedback from various stakeholders to refine designs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Creative Skill Enhancement: Learning new design techniques and software functionalities.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining insights into the media and audio industry in Australia.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Understanding how creative output supports marketing, sales, and content strategies.

• SCA GIGs Program: Formal opportunities for cross-skilling and internal career development within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying challenges and growth opportunities is crucial for operations roles, as they often involve problem-solving and continuous improvement. For this role, the challenges are creative and execution-focused, while growth lies in skill expansion and industry exposure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative freedom with strict brand guidelines. How did you approach it?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and adherence to constraints.)

• "How do you manage your workflow when working on multiple high-priority design projects simultaneously?" (Highlight time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Southern Cross Austereo and our brands (HIT, Triple M, LiSTNR)?" (Show research and genuine interest in the company's products.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within a creative team and with external stakeholders?" (Emphasize teamwork, communication, and feedback integration.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: For each piece, briefly explain the objective, your role, the creative process, and the outcome.

• Highlight Versatility: Showcase a mix of digital and print work, and any video asset experience.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If any of your designs led to measurable results (e.g., increased engagement), mention it, though this is less common for pure design roles.

• Demonstrate Brand Adherence: Clearly show how you worked within brand guidelines.

• Be Ready for Live Design Tasks: While not specified, be prepared for a short, timed design challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice focuses on demonstrating core competencies for a graphic designer: creativity, technical skill, brand understanding, and collaboration. For operations candidates, the principles of researching the company, understanding the role's contribution to business goals, and preparing to discuss process and problem-solving are directly applicable. The specific mention of LiSTNR is a critical detail that any applicant must address.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this graphic design position:

• Submit your application through the provided careers page link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., a link to your website or a well-organized PDF) and prominently features your best finished art examples relevant to digital and print media.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 3+ years of experience in high-volume creative output, specific software proficiencies (Adobe Creative Suite), and experience with diverse media types (social media, print, video assets).

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Southern Cross Austereo, its brands (HIT, Triple M, LiSTNR), and recent campaigns. Listen to some content on LiSTNR to prepare for potential interview questions about your user experience.

• Prepare for Collaboration Discussion: Be ready to articulate your approach to teamwork, interpreting creative briefs, and receiving/implementing feedback, as collaboration is a key aspect of this 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 before making application decisions.