Graphic Designer / Production

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer / Production

Company: FASTSIGNS #290401

Location: Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Operations Support / Production

Date Posted: 2026-10-01

Experience Level: Mid-Level

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Execute the creation and production of high-quality, full-color graphics and vinyl output for a diverse range of substrates.

• Manage and maintain a comprehensive customer logo library, ensuring all digital assets are accurately converted and stored for efficient retrieval.

• Collaborate with sales and customer service teams to translate client needs into effective visual solutions that meet both aesthetic and production requirements.

• Operate and maintain production equipment, ensuring accurate output settings and material selection for optimal job completion.

• Contribute to a fast-paced production environment, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet deadlines and maintain high output volume.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title suggests a purely creative role, the inclusion of "Production" and specific responsibilities like "Determine the best output method," "Inspect jobs for accuracy," and "Ensure correct material is used" clearly indicate this role is deeply integrated into the operational workflow of a sign production facility. This is not just a design role; it's a hybrid role focused on design execution within a production environment, requiring an understanding of manufacturing processes and efficiency.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce computer-generated, full-color graphics and vinyl output suitable for printing, mounting, weeding, cutting, and application onto various substrates.

• Interpret and modify designs based on customer drawings, provided files, or direct input, ensuring final output aligns with client specifications and aesthetic requirements.

• Select appropriate typography, arrange layout, and determine the size and placement of illustrative material and copy based on available space, design principles, and production constraints.

• Conduct thorough inspections of all completed jobs before output, verifying accuracy, correct material usage, and precise output device settings to uphold quality standards.

• Maintain and update the customer logo library, including the conversion of graphic files to ensure compatibility and usability for production purposes.

• Collaborate with sales and customer service to consult on design possibilities, material choices, and output methods, offering solutions tailored to customer needs.

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously in a high-volume production setting, effectively prioritizing tasks to meet strict deadlines without compromising quality.

• Ensure all production equipment is properly maintained and calibrated for optimal performance and output consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and operational execution. The emphasis on "determining the best output method," "inspecting jobs for accuracy," and "ensuring correct material is used" points to a need for practical production knowledge beyond pure graphic design. This role requires a candidate who can bridge the gap between creative vision and tangible, manufactured output.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• High School diploma or equivalent is required. Experience:

• 2-3+ years of progressive experience in graphic design, with a strong emphasis on production-level execution.

• Prior experience within the sign industry is a plus but not a strict requirement. Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator: Demonstrated ability to create, edit, and prepare vector graphics for various output methods (e.g., vinyl cutting, large-format printing).

• Layout and Typography Expertise: Skill in determining optimal arrangement of copy and visuals, selecting appropriate typefaces, and creating aesthetically pleasing layouts.

• Production Workflow Understanding: Ability to understand and execute designs with specific production requirements in mind, including material selection and output device settings.

• File Management & Conversion: Competence in managing graphic files, converting formats, and maintaining organized digital asset libraries (e.g., customer logos).

• Multi-tasking and Prioritization: Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, prioritize tasks effectively, and work autonomously in a fast-paced environment.

• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for identifying and resolving design and production challenges efficiently.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other Adobe Creative Suite applications (e.g., Photoshop, InDesign).

• Familiarity with large-format printing technologies and vinyl cutting equipment.

• Customer consultation and client-facing communication skills.

• Basic understanding of color theory and its application in print and vinyl production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "2-3+ years" suggests a mid-level role, not entry-level. The emphasis on Adobe Illustrator is critical, and the mention of "vinyl output" and "sign industry" implies a need for practical application knowledge rather than purely conceptual design. The ability to "work autonomously" and "prioritize jobs" indicates a need for self-management skills crucial in operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Execution Examples: Showcase a range of completed graphic design projects, specifically highlighting work prepared for production (e.g., print-ready files, vector art for cutting).

• Production Process Documentation: Include examples or descriptions of how you approached specific projects from initial concept through to final output, demonstrating an understanding of the production lifecycle.

• Systemic Thinking: Present projects where you had to consider technical constraints, material limitations, or specific output methods, explaining the decisions made.

• Efficiency Improvements: If possible, provide examples where your design process or output preparation led to time or material savings in a production setting.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their typical workflow for taking a design from concept to a production-ready file.

• Be ready to explain how you ensure designs are optimized for specific output methods (e.g., vectorization for vinyl, color profiles for printing).

• Be prepared to articulate how you manage and organize design files and assets for team accessibility and future use.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role combining design and production, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only display creative talent but also demonstrate an understanding of the practicalities of production. This includes showing how designs are made "production-ready" and how the candidate considers output methods and materials. This is a key differentiator for operations-focused roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The stated salary range is $18.00 - $22.00 per hour. Based on industry benchmarks for Graphic Designers with 2-3 years of experience in the Cherry Hill, NJ area, this range is competitive for a full-time, on-site position. The specific rate within this range will likely be determined by the candidate's demonstrated skills, experience level, and performance during the interview process. Benefits:

• Opportunity for advancement within the company.

• Paid time off (including vacation and holidays).

• Ongoing training and development opportunities.

• Competitive salary structure with potential for performance bonuses.

• Employee discounts on FASTSIGNS products and services. Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position, typically expected to be 40 hours per week. The role requires being on-site, with the understanding that the role may involve sitting and viewing a computer screen for extended periods (4 hours or more at a time).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is hourly, which is common for production roles. The benefits listed are standard but valuable. The mention of "opportunity for advancement" and "training & development" suggests potential for career growth, which is a significant draw for operations professionals. The "performance bonus" is also a key indicator of an incentive structure tied to operational output.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates in the Visual Communications and Signage industry, a sector that relies heavily on efficient production processes, client consultation, and timely delivery. FASTSIGNS is a well-established franchise known for providing custom signage, graphics, and visual marketing solutions.

Company Size: FASTSIGNS #290401 is a specific franchise location. While the overall FASTSIGNS network is large, individual franchise locations typically operate as small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). This implies a more hands-on, team-oriented environment where individuals often wear multiple hats.

Founded: FASTSIGNS was founded in 1985. This long history indicates a stable company with established operational procedures and a proven business model.

Team Structure:

• The operations team likely consists of individuals with diverse skills, including sales, customer service, design, and production.

• This Graphic Designer / Production role will report to a Center Manager or Production Manager, overseeing the day-to-day operational flow of design and output.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with constant interaction between design, sales (for client consultations and order intake), and production (for execution and quality control). Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the need to determine "best output methods" and ensure "accurate output settings."

• Workflow planning and optimization are critical, as the role involves managing multiple jobs and meeting deadlines in a production environment.

• Automation is likely utilized through the use of design software and potentially RIP (Raster