Graphic Designer – Strategic Bid Center for US market

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer – Strategic Bid Center for US Market

Company: Marsh McLennan

Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Sales Support

Date Posted: September 09, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (minimum 3 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive innovative and strategic visual design for client-facing collateral within the Strategic Bid Center (SBC).

• Support Marsh's sales and business development functions by creating impactful presentations, microsites, and supporting materials.

• Manage the end-to-end design process, from ideation and concept development to quality assurance and brand adherence.

• Collaborate with global creative teams across the US, India, and Portugal to enhance client experiences and operational efficiency within the design function.

• Leverage advanced proficiency in PowerPoint and Adobe Creative Suite to deliver high-quality, client-centric design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is pivotal in supporting the US market's sales cycle through expert graphic design, focusing on client-centric proposals and strategic visual communication. The emphasis on PowerPoint as a primary tool, coupled with Adobe Suite skills, highlights a need for a designer adept at creating professional, on-brand sales collateral.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Independently ideate, design, and develop innovative, impactful, and on-brand visual concepts for client-facing collateral, including presentations, microsites, and sales pitch materials.

• Execute the full design process, ensuring quality assurance and strict adherence to brand guidelines across all project complexities.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including consultants and other design specialists, to strategize and deliver compelling visual solutions that increase Marsh's chances of winning new business.

• Adapt creative skills and maintain a flexible mindset to meet the fast-paced demands of the sales cycle and business objectives.

• Contribute to strategic initiatives and operational improvements within the design process, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.

• Maintain meticulous attention to detail to ensure the highest quality of design output across all project phases and deliverables.

• Proactively bring new ideas and approaches to enhance virtual and on-site client meeting experiences through creative design interventions.

• Create both one-off and repeatable design assets for sales pitches and internal initiatives, ensuring consistency and strategic alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative execution, strategic thinking, and operational efficiency, crucial for a role supporting a "Strategic Bid Center." The expectation to manage the "accountability of design process" suggests a need for strong project management and ownership skills beyond just design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Communications, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring 3+ years of experience and advanced software proficiency.

Experience: Proven 3+ years of experience as a graphic designer, specifically within a corporate consulting, business firm, or creative agency environment, with a demonstrated ability to produce client-facing collateral.

Required Skills:

• Fluent in English (C1 level) for effective communication within a global team and with US-based clients.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint for daily creation of complex, dynamic presentations.

• Skilled in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop for layout, image manipulation, and graphic creation.

• Excellent design, color theory, and typographic skills to create visually appealing and effective collateral.

• Exceptional understanding of brand guidelines and the ability to adapt quickly to diverse brand requirements.

• Solid knowledge of industry design tools and principles, with an understanding of intuitive design and responsive user experiences.

• Self-motivated, organized, and capable of working effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative global team.

• Strong oral and written communication skills, along with excellent interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement.

• A strong portfolio demonstrating a range of clean, well-designed text layouts, graphics, and published websites or mobile apps (not prototypes). Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Adobe Premiere Pro and/or Adobe After Effects for video or motion graphics.

• Proven experience creating compelling PowerPoint slide designs that effectively convey strategic messages.

• Experience building appealing Word documents that integrate text and imagery to communicate strategy and client centricity.

• Familiarity with interactive media (web or video) design principles.

• A passion for learning new design techniques and exploring innovative approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint" as the primary tool is a critical differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to showcase extensive PowerPoint capabilities in their portfolio and during interviews, beyond standard presentation creation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a diverse range of clean, well-designed text layouts, graphics, and professional collateral relevant to business pitches and corporate communications.

• Demonstrations of work created using advanced PowerPoint features, highlighting slide design, data visualization, and narrative flow.

• Examples of collateral designed with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, illustrating proficiency in layout, branding, and graphic elements.

• Inclusion of published websites or mobile app designs (not prototypes) to demonstrate understanding of responsive design and user experience principles.

• Case studies or project highlights that articulate the strategic intent, design process, and impact of the created collateral. Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate and demonstrate understanding of the design process from ideation through quality assurance and final delivery.

• Experience in adhering to and adapting design processes based on specific project requirements and brand guidelines.

• Capacity to contribute to operational improvements within the design workflow, suggesting efficiencies and best practices.

• Examples of how design processes were managed for multiple, complex projects simultaneously.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on a "Strategic Bid Center" and client-facing collateral, a portfolio that clearly demonstrates strategic thinking behind design choices, not just aesthetic execution, will be highly valued. Emphasis on how design supports sales objectives is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Graphic Designer with 3+ years of experience in a major European capital like Lisbon, and considering the hybrid work model and specialized skill set (advanced PowerPoint, Adobe Suite), a competitive annual salary range would likely fall between €30,000 - €45,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in Lisbon and the demand for skilled design professionals in a corporate bid environment supporting a US market.

Benefits:

• Professional development opportunities to enhance design skills and career growth.

• Access to a vibrant and inclusive company culture that fosters collaboration and innovation.

• Supportive leaders and opportunities to work with talented colleagues on impactful projects.

• Well-being rewards and benefits designed to enhance overall employee satisfaction.

• Opportunities for career advancement within Marsh McLennan's global network.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The role is hybrid, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the Lisbon office, offering a degree of flexibility in work location for the remaining days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical market rates for this role in Lisbon, Portugal, and the specific skill requirements. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and the company's compensation structure. The benefits listed are directly from the provided company description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marsh McLennan operates within the professional services sector, specifically in risk management, insurance, reinsurance, capital, people and investments, and management consulting. This industry context means a strong emphasis on client relationships, data-driven insights, and strategic advisory services.

Company Size: Marsh McLennan is a large global organization with over 95,000 colleagues worldwide and annual revenues exceeding $27 billion. This scale offers stability, extensive resources, and diverse career opportunities.

Founded: Marsh McLennan has a long-standing history, providing a foundation of established practices and a reputable market presence. This longevity suggests a culture that values experience, reliability, and long-term strategic vision.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer is part of the Strategic Bid Center (SBC), which operates within the People and Investments business at Marsh.

• The SBC team itself is global, with members located in the United States, India, and Portugal, indicating a distributed and collaborative team structure.

• The Design Team within SBC specifically supports Marsh's sales and business development functions across all lines of business in the United States.

• This role will report into a design lead or manager within the SBC, likely collaborating closely with bid strategists, consultants, and proposal managers. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: While not a primary analyst role, the designer will need to interpret client needs and market insights to inform visual strategies.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role involves managing design projects, requiring an understanding of efficient workflows and the ability to suggest improvements.

• Automation & Efficiency: The use of advanced tools like PowerPoint and Adobe Suite, and the creation of repeatable assets, points to a focus on leveraging technology for efficiency.

Company Website: https://www.marshmclennan.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's global presence and focus on consulting and advisory services mean that the design team must be adept at translating complex information into clear, persuasive visual narratives that support high-stakes business development efforts.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Graphic Designer, requiring 3+ years of experience and advanced proficiency in key tools. It offers a significant opportunity to specialize in strategic bid design and client-facing collateral, a critical function within a large professional services firm.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Manager within the Strategic Bid Center (SBC). Collaboration will be extensive with consultants, bid managers, and other members of the global SBC team, including those in the US, India, and Portugal.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts Marsh's ability to win new business. By creating compelling, on-brand proposals and sales collateral, the role contributes to lead generation, client engagement, and ultimately, revenue growth. The visual quality and strategic messaging of these materials are crucial for making a strong impression on potential clients in the US market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in strategic bid design, presentation development, and client-centric visual communication for the US market.

• Skill Development: Gain proficiency in advanced PowerPoint techniques, potentially expand into Adobe Premiere Pro/After Effects, and learn about interactive media and web design principles.

• Leadership Potential: As experience grows, opportunities may arise to mentor junior designers, lead design aspects of larger bids, or contribute to the strategic direction of the SBC's design function.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Work closely with various business lines and consultants, gaining insights into different areas of Marsh McLennan's operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on supporting the "US market" from a Lisbon-based role indicates a global operational structure where specialized functions can be performed remotely. Growth here could involve taking on more complex bids or leading specific design initiatives for key client accounts.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as hybrid, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the Lisbon office. This suggests a modern office environment designed to facilitate collaboration, teamwork, and professional development, while also allowing for focused work.

Office Location(s): Lisbon, Portugal. Specific details about the office location within Lisbon would typically be provided during the application process, but it's expected to be a professional business hub.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and global team structure necessitate strong communication and collaboration tools, both in-office and remotely. The office days are intended for team interaction, brainstorming, and relationship building.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, advanced PowerPoint) and potential internal collaboration platforms.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to connect with colleagues in the Lisbon office on "anchor days" and engage with the broader global SBC team through virtual channels.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule is anticipated, with flexibility offered through the hybrid model. The requirement for at least three days in the office in Lisbon is a key component, ensuring team cohesion and in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid aspect is crucial. Candidates should be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively, transitioning between remote focus and in-office team engagement. The three-day minimum in the Lisbon office is a firm requirement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills, experience, and software proficiency.

• Technical Assessment/Portfolio Review: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio, focusing on sample work, design process, and problem-solving approaches. Expect questions about specific projects, design choices, and how you've handled client briefs.

• Skills-Based Interview: Assessment of advanced PowerPoint and Adobe Suite skills, potentially through a practical exercise or detailed discussion of your techniques.

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Questions to evaluate communication skills, adaptability, teamwork, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Focus on how you handle ambiguity and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with key stakeholders or leadership to assess cultural fit and overall strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your advanced PowerPoint skills, sophisticated visual design, and experience with client-facing collateral for business contexts. Include examples of presentations, proposals, or microsites.

• Demonstrate Process: For key projects, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic approach, the design process, and the final outcome. Highlight any improvements or efficiencies you introduced.

• Highlight Impact: If possible, quantify the impact of your designs (e.g., how they contributed to a successful bid, improved client engagement).

• Showcase Brand Adaptability: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to work within and adapt to different brand guidelines.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate, reflecting your design capabilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge, likely involving a mock client brief that requires you to create a presentation or key visual elements using PowerPoint and/or Adobe tools within a time limit.

• Practice articulating your design decisions and strategic rationale clearly and concisely.

• Familiarize yourself with Marsh McLennan's brand and typical business proposal formats (if publicly available) to better align your challenge responses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Strategic Bid Center" means interviewers will likely probe your understanding of how design supports sales objectives. Be ready to discuss how your visuals persuade, inform, and differentiate Marsh's offerings.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Microsoft PowerPoint: This is the primary tool, requiring advanced proficiency for daily use. Candidates must be comfortable with complex animations, data visualization, custom templates, and creating dynamic, engaging presentations.

• Adobe InDesign: Essential for creating well-structured layouts for proposals, brochures, and other print/digital collateral.

• Adobe Photoshop: Required for image editing, retouching, and creating custom graphics.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analytics role, understanding how to visually represent data from reports and dashboards (e.g., in PowerPoint) will be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM systems, an understanding of how sales processes are managed and how design assets support these processes will be valuable.

• Experience with tools that facilitate asset management or templating for brand consistency might be a plus. Additional Tools (Preferred):

• Adobe Premiere Pro / After Effects: Experience with these tools for video editing or motion graphics would be a significant advantage, enabling richer multimedia content.

• Interactive Media Tools: Familiarity with platforms or techniques for creating interactive web content or experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for "Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint" cannot be overstated. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate mastery beyond basic slide creation, including custom layouts, advanced animations, and effective data visualization within PowerPoint.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client-Centricity: A core value, reflected in the need to create designs that meet client needs and enhance their experience.

• Quality & Excellence: High standards for design output, ensuring professional, on-brand, and impactful collateral.

• Collaboration: Working effectively within a global, distributed team and with various business stakeholders.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Bringing new ideas to enhance client meetings and adapting to the fast pace of business demands.

• Efficiency: Utilizing tools and processes to deliver high-quality work in a timely manner.

Collaboration Style:

• Global Teamwork: The role requires seamless collaboration with colleagues across different time zones (US, India, Portugal), emphasizing strong virtual communication and project management.

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with sales teams, consultants, and bid strategists to understand requirements and deliver effective visual solutions.

• Feedback Exchange: An open approach to receiving and providing constructive feedback to ensure continuous improvement in design quality and process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes professionalism, client focus, and innovation. For a designer, this means not just creating aesthetically pleasing work, but work that strategically supports business objectives and client relationships.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of Business: The "Strategic Bid Center" environment implies tight deadlines and the need to react quickly to sales cycle demands.

• Ambiguity: Comfort in managing multiple priorities and working in situations where project scope may initially be unclear.

• Global Collaboration: Effectively communicating and collaborating with team members across different cultures and time zones.

• Technical Proficiency: Staying current with advanced features of design software, particularly PowerPoint, to meet evolving client expectations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in presentation design, interactive media, and potentially motion graphics through internal training or external courses.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining insights into the risk management, insurance, and consulting sectors by working on diverse client bids.

• Process Improvement: Contributing to the optimization of design workflows within the SBC, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.

• Career Progression: Potential pathways to lead design efforts for major bids, mentor junior designers, or move into related roles within Marsh McLennan's broader creative or business development functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of working in a fast-paced, client-driven sales support environment is significant. Success will depend on strong organizational skills, efficient workflow management, and the ability to maintain quality under pressure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex presentation you designed for a sales pitch. What was the strategic objective, and how did your design choices support it?"

• "How do you approach ensuring brand consistency across multiple design assets for a single client proposal?"

• "Imagine a scenario where a client's brand guidelines are ambiguous or conflicting. How would you proceed?"

• "How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks when working on multiple urgent design requests simultaneously?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Marsh McLennan and the services it provides?"

• "How do you see your role contributing to the success of the Strategic Bid Center and Marsh's business development efforts?"

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration with remote team members?"

• "What does 'client-centricity' mean to you in the context of graphic design?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative is Key: For each project, tell a story: the challenge, your strategic approach, the design solution, and the outcome.

• Highlight PowerPoint Mastery: Dedicate specific examples to showcase your advanced PowerPoint skills – custom templates, sophisticated data visualization, effective use of animations to enhance narrative, not distract.

• Demonstrate Process: Explain your thought process, how you interpreted the brief, and any iterations or refinements made.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have metrics on how your designs improved engagement or contributed to bid success, present them clearly.

• Be Ready for Live Exercises: Prepare to potentially create a few slides or a quick graphic element as part of the interview process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Emphasize your ability to translate business objectives and complex information into clear, compelling visual narratives, particularly within PowerPoint. Your portfolio and interview responses should highlight your strategic thinking, not just your technical design skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link on the Marsh McLennan careers portal.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 3+ years of experience in corporate/consulting design, advanced PowerPoint skills, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "Strategic Bid Center," "client-facing collateral," "visual concepts," "PowerPoint proficiency").

• Curate your portfolio: Ensure it prominently features advanced PowerPoint work, clean layouts, and examples relevant to business pitches or sales collateral. Clearly label projects and describe your role and the process.

• Prepare for interview questions: Practice articulating your design strategy, problem-solving approach, and how you contribute to business objectives. Be ready to discuss your experience in a hybrid, global team environment.

• Research Marsh McLennan: Understand their services, target markets (especially the US market), and company values to demonstrate your alignment and interest.

⚠️ 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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