Graphic Designer - Remote - Chicagoland Area Preferred

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Tolmar

Location: Buffalo Grove, Illinois, United States (Remote with Chicagoland Area preference)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: May 01, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (Preference for Chicagoland Area)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on the creation and management of visual assets for Tolmar's marketing and scientific communications, requiring a strong command of design principles and software.

• The Graphic Designer will be instrumental in translating complex scientific and marketing messages into visually compelling materials, ensuring brand consistency across all platforms.

• A key aspect of this position involves adhering to strict regulatory and quality constraints, particularly those common in the pharmaceutical industry, to ensure compliance with bodies like the FDA and EMA.

• The role demands proactive engagement with brand teams, the Creative Director, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver high-quality, impactful visual content for both internal and external audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided job title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities and industry context (pharmaceutical) suggest a strong alignment with Marketing Operations or a specialized Creative role within a regulated GTM function. The emphasis on regulatory compliance, brand guidelines, and cross-functional collaboration indicates a need for operations-minded thinking beyond pure creative execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and produce compelling visual designs for a variety of digital and print materials, including marketing collateral, packaging support, scientific posters, event materials, e-detailing, and patient education materials, ensuring strict adherence to brand guidelines.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with brand teams, marketing, and scientific communicators to translate complex health and science information into clear, engaging, and accurate infographics, illustrations, diagrams, and presentations.

• Prepare print-ready files and digital assets, managing production vendors and performing quality control, including color management, typography, and proofing, to ensure a high-quality final product.

• Maintain and update a digital asset library, design templates, and brand toolkits, ensuring all assets are organized, accessible, and consistently branded.

• Ensure all visual materials comply with regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, EMA) and internal medical-legal standards, including rigorous version control and archiving practices.

• Stay abreast of current design trends, digital tools, and industry best practices, proactively proposing improvements to design processes, workflows, and efficiency.

• Create and manage internal presentations and templates, supporting various departments with their visual communication needs.

• Occasionally provide on-site design and production support at trade shows or internal events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for not just creative talent but also a meticulous approach to project management, vendor relations, and compliance. The emphasis on "preparing print-ready files," "managing production vendors," and "ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements" points to operational rigor expected from this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• 2-5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a strong portfolio showcasing a range of design projects across digital and print mediums.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level skills in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop are essential for creating high-quality visual assets.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced proficiency, particularly in PowerPoint, for presentation graphics and template creation.

• Design Fundamentals: Strong understanding of layout, typography, color theory, and visual communication principles.

• Print Production Expertise: Knowledge of preparing files for print, including understanding of color management, resolution, and pre-press requirements.

• Regulatory Awareness: Familiarity with working under regulatory constraints, particularly in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry, and understanding the implications for design.

• Brand Management: Ability to consistently apply and enforce brand guidelines across all visual materials.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion graphics, video editing (e.g., Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro).

• Knowledge of web design principles, UX/UI design, or front-end development basics.

• Experience with 3D design or advanced infographic creation tools.

• Familiarity with digital asset management (DAM) systems and workflow automation tools.

• Experience in the pharmaceutical, medical device, or healthcare industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on specific Adobe Creative Suite tools and Microsoft PowerPoint, combined with print production and regulatory compliance, signifies a need for a designer who understands operational workflows and output requirements, not just aesthetic design. The "equivalent experience" clause suggests flexibility in hiring, but a robust portfolio demonstrating the required skills is critical.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Design Versatility: Showcase a diverse range of projects across digital (web graphics, social media, e-detailing) and print (brochures, posters, packaging support) mediums.

• Brand Guideline Adherence: Include examples where you successfully applied and maintained strict brand guidelines for a consistent visual identity.

• Complex Information Visualization: Present case studies of how you translated complex scientific, technical, or data-driven information into clear, accessible infographics or visual aids.

• Print Production Readiness: Provide examples of print-ready files or explain your process for preparing assets for commercial printing, highlighting attention to detail in technical specifications.

• Regulatory Compliance Examples: If possible, include work that demonstrates an understanding of or adherence to regulatory requirements (e.g., pharmaceutical, healthcare), showcasing how design considerations were impacted.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your design workflow from brief to final delivery, including how you manage feedback, revisions, and approvals, particularly in a cross-functional or regulated environment.

• System Integration: Describe experience using digital asset management (DAM) systems or version control protocols for organizing and tracking creative assets.

• Measurement & Analysis: While not a direct responsibility, be ready to discuss how visual assets contribute to marketing or communication goals and how their effectiveness might be measured (e.g., engagement rates, clarity of message).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Graphic Designer in a regulated industry, the portfolio is not just about aesthetics but also about process, compliance, and deliverable quality. Candidates should highlight their ability to manage projects operationally, from brief to final, compliant output, demonstrating an understanding of the end-to-end lifecycle of a creative asset.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $56,000 - $84,000 per year (Note: This is an estimated range based on provided data, effective for 2026. Actual compensation may vary based on qualifications, experience, and location.)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance options.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs): For eligible medical expenses and dependent care.

• Health Savings Account (HSA): Available through the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).

• CompleteCare Reimbursement: For eligible healthcare expenses and premiums under alternate group health coverage.

• Generous 401K Match: 100% match on the first 6% of compensation, and 50% match from 7%-12% (up to 9% total match).

• Company-Paid Insurance: Life, Long-Term Disability (LTD), and Short-Term Disability (STD) coverage.

• Voluntary Benefit Options: Additional insurance and benefit choices.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services.

• Legal Guidance: Access to legal advisory services.

• Funeral Planning & Concierge Services: Support during difficult times.

• Family-Focused Benefits: Adoption and family-planning benefits, including Fertility and Family Forming Benefits.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): Includes vacation, sick time, and holidays.

• Volunteer Time: Paid time off to engage in community service.

• Discretionary Year-End Shutdown: Company-wide closure during the holiday season.

Working Hours:

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

• The remote nature of the role offers flexibility in structuring the workday, but consistent availability during core business hours is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided, along with a detailed list of benefits. For a remote role, highlighting the flexibility in working hours while still emphasizing the need for availability during core business hours is crucial for setting expectations around operational responsiveness.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology (Specializing in dermatology, urology, and oncology with advanced drug delivery capabilities).

Company Size: Tolmar has grown significantly since its founding in 2006, indicating a mid-to-large size organization with established processes and a growing team. With 5 New Drug Applications (NDAs) and 17 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) produced, they operate with significant market presence and regulatory oversight.

Founded: 2006.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the Marketing and Creative team, reporting to a Creative Director.

• This role requires significant cross-functional collaboration with brand teams, marketing, scientific affairs, medical-legal, and potentially R&D departments.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While creative, the design process is informed by brand strategy, scientific data, and regulatory requirements, aiming for clear communication and impact.

• Process Optimization: The company values continuous improvement, suggesting an openness to innovative design workflows and efficiency enhancements proposed by team members.

• Agile Adaptation: The company culture emphasizes being "Proactive & Agile," indicating a need for designers who can adapt to changing project needs and market dynamics.

Company Website: [Tolmar Company Website URL - Placeholder, as it was not provided in the input]

📝 Enhancement Note: Tolmar's focus on specialized therapeutic areas and advanced drug delivery suggests a sophisticated product portfolio. The company culture, as described by their Core Values, prioritizes people, ethics, proactivity, continuous improvement, and accountability. This implies a professional, results-oriented environment where operational excellence and ethical conduct are paramount.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-level position within the creative function, bridging the gap between junior designers and senior/lead roles. It requires a solid foundation in design principles and software, coupled with an understanding of operational execution, project management, and industry-specific compliance.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer typically reports to a Creative Director or Marketing Manager. This individual will likely work closely with project managers or brand leads who define project briefs and manage timelines.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the clarity and effectiveness of Tolmar's communication strategies across various channels. High-quality, compliant visuals are crucial for:

• Brand Perception: Ensuring a professional and trustworthy image.

• Scientific Communication: Making complex data understandable to healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients.

• Regulatory Adherence: Minimizing compliance risks associated with marketing materials.

• Marketing Effectiveness: Driving engagement and comprehension of product information.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in specific areas such as scientific illustration, motion graphics, UX/UI for digital platforms, or advanced infographic design.

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior Graphic Designer role, mentoring junior designers, or potentially moving into a Creative Lead or Art Director position.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gain broader experience in marketing operations, project management, or digital asset management through exposure to different workflows and teams.

• Industry Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in visual communications for the pharmaceutical/healthcare sector, a highly valued skill set.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth potential here lies in deepening design specialization while also developing operational acumen relevant to the pharmaceutical industry. The ability to manage projects and understand compliance is key to advancing beyond a purely creative role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a remote position, offering the flexibility to work from home. However, the preference for candidates in the Chicagoland area suggests potential for occasional in-person meetings, team events, or site visits if needed.

Office Location(s): The primary location is remote, with a preference for candidates residing within or near the Chicagoland area (Buffalo Grove, IL is the listed office location).

Workspace Context:

• Remote Setup: Candidates are expected to have a suitable home office setup conducive to creative work, including reliable internet access.

• Collaborative Tools: The role will rely heavily on digital collaboration tools (e.g., video conferencing, project management software, cloud-based file sharing) to maintain team cohesion and project progress.

• Design Software Access: Access to necessary design software (Adobe Creative Suite) will be provided or managed through licensing.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time work schedule, typically 40 hours per week.

• While remote, adherence to core business hours for collaboration and responsiveness is expected. Flexibility may be available, but project deadlines and team needs will dictate availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature with a regional preference is common. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they maintain productivity, collaboration, and a professional work environment while working remotely, especially in a role that requires precise execution and adherence to standards.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and resumes, focusing on alignment with basic qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to submit a portfolio showcasing relevant design work. This is a critical step.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely the Creative Director or Marketing Manager) to assess design skills, creative thinking, and cultural fit.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: A practical exercise, potentially involving a design brief or a critique of existing work, to evaluate technical proficiency and problem-solving abilities.

• Cross-Functional Interview: An opportunity to meet with key stakeholders from brand teams or other departments to assess collaboration and communication skills.

• Final Interview/Offer: A concluding conversation with senior leadership or HR, followed by an offer if successful.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest and most relevant projects. Prioritize work that demonstrates your ability to handle complex information, adhere to brand guidelines, and work within regulated environments.

• Showcase Process: For key projects, briefly explain your design process, the problem you were solving, your creative approach, and the outcome. Highlight any challenges overcome.

• Highlight Compliance/Pharma Work: If you have experience in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry, make this prominent. Explain how you navigated regulatory constraints or medical-legal reviews.

• Digital vs. Print: Ensure your portfolio represents a balance of digital and print work, as the role requires proficiency in both.

• Professional Presentation: Use a clean, organized online portfolio platform (e.g., Behance, personal website) or a well-designed PDF.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, thoroughly read and understand the objectives, target audience, and constraints. Ask clarifying questions.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively across concepting, design, and refinement.

• Justify Your Decisions: Be prepared to articulate the rationale behind your design choices, linking them back to the brief and the company's goals.

• Focus on Clarity and Compliance: For this role, emphasize how your design solutions ensure clear communication and adherence to potential regulatory requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a strong portfolio and practical design skills. Candidates should prepare to not only show their creative output but also explain the strategic thinking and operational execution behind it, especially concerning compliance and cross-functional collaboration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop (essential).

• Microsoft Office Suite: PowerPoint (essential for presentations), Word, Excel.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Other Potential Tools:

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Experience with platforms like Bynder, Canto, or similar for organizing and distributing creative assets.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com for tracking project progress and collaboration.

• Collaboration Platforms: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom for communication.

• Motion Graphics/Video Editing: Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro (preferred).

• Web Design/UX/UI Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD (preferred).

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft PowerPoint. Any experience with DAM systems or project management tools will be a significant advantage, highlighting a candidate's operational efficiency and ability to integrate into established workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Center on People: Design with empathy for the audience (patients, HCPs). Ensure accessibility and clarity in all communications.

• Are Proactive & Agile: Anticipate design needs, adapt quickly to feedback and project changes, and propose innovative solutions.

• Act Ethically: Maintain integrity in design, ensuring accuracy and compliance with all regulations and brand standards. Foster diversity and inclusion in visual representations.

• Constantly Improve: Seek feedback, learn new design techniques and tools, and contribute to optimizing design workflows for greater efficiency and quality.

• Are Accountable: Take ownership of design projects from start to finish, deliver high-quality work on time, and communicate transparently about progress and challenges.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Work effectively with diverse teams (marketing, science, legal, regulatory), translating their needs into visual assets and providing clear design rationale.

• Feedback-Driven: Be open to constructive criticism and actively incorporate feedback to refine designs and meet project objectives.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to a collaborative environment by sharing best practices, design resources, and insights with team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values directly translate into expectations for the Graphic Designer. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how their work and approach align with these values, particularly in terms of ethical conduct, proactive problem-solving, and accountability in a regulated setting.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Compliance: The primary challenge will be to produce visually appealing and engaging designs while strictly adhering to pharmaceutical industry regulations (FDA, EMA) and internal medical-legal standards.

• Translating Complex Information: Effectively simplifying and visualizing intricate scientific and medical data for diverse audiences requires strong conceptual and design skills.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Collaborating with various departments, each with potentially different priorities and levels of design understanding, requires strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong creative output and team cohesion while working remotely, especially in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software & Techniques: Opportunities to deepen skills in specialized areas like motion graphics, 3D visualization, or advanced infographic tools.

• Pharmaceutical Industry Acumen: Gaining in-depth knowledge of regulatory processes, medical communication strategies, and therapeutic areas (dermatology, urology, oncology).

• Project Management Skills: Developing stronger project management capabilities through exposure to Tolmar's internal workflows and tools.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Learning about different aspects of the pharmaceutical business through collaboration with various departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should frame the challenges as opportunities for growth. Demonstrating an understanding of these challenges and proposing proactive strategies to overcome them will showcase their readiness for the role and their potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating a piece of marketing collateral from initial brief to final delivery, paying close attention to any regulatory or brand guideline checks."

• "How do you approach translating complex scientific data into a visually understandable infographic or presentation slide?"

• "Walk us through a project where you had to balance creative vision with strict brand or regulatory constraints. What was the outcome?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically with Tolmar?"

• "How do you see your design approach aligning with Tolmar's Core Values, such as 'Are Proactive & Agile' or 'Act Ethically'?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each portfolio piece, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, your role, and the impact of the design.

• Highlight Process: Show, don't just tell, your design process. Include sketches, wireframes, or early concepts if they illustrate your thinking.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have data on how your designs performed (e.g., increased engagement, improved clarity), present it.

• Focus on Relevance: Tailor your presentation to highlight how your skills and experience directly address the requirements of this specific role, especially regarding compliance and complex information.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both creative talent and operational understanding. Candidates must be ready to discuss their process, their problem-solving skills, and how they navigate the unique demands of working in a regulated industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Tolmar recruiting portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (online link preferred) and highlights projects demonstrating proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, strong layout/typography skills, and experience with print production. Prioritize any work that shows an understanding of regulated industries or complex information visualization.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize keywords from the job description, such as "Adobe Creative Suite," "InDesign," "Illustrator," "Photoshop," "print production," "regulatory compliance," "brand guidelines," and "visual communication." Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Managed design for X marketing campaigns," "Created Y scientific posters").

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your ability to collaborate cross-functionally, and how you handle feedback. Prepare specific examples from your portfolio that align with the responsibilities and company values.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Tolmar's products, therapeutic areas, and company mission. Understand their core values and how they might influence the design team's work.

⚠️ 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.

---