Graphic Designer - Technical Graphics

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - Technical Graphics

Company: Black & Veatch Family of Companies

Location: Kansas City, MO

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Engineering

Date Posted: 2026-04-27

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design impactful technical graphics, including site plans, process diagrams, and infographics, to visually communicate complex engineering concepts within proposals.

• Translate internal client visions into compelling visual narratives that enhance clarity, scan-ability, and overall design excellence for proposal documents.

• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to ensure all graphic elements align with brand standards and contribute to a competitive edge in winning new business.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality visual assets within strict proposal deadlines.

• Leverage advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) and PowerPoint to produce polished and professional design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy of Black & Veatch, specifically within the proposal development process. The graphic designer's output directly influences the perception of the company's technical capabilities and solutions, impacting revenue generation by supporting bid wins. The emphasis on "technical graphics" and "proposals" indicates a focus on B2B sales enablement and marketing collateral.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute technical graphics, including but not limited to:

  • Detailed technical site plans
  • Clear and concise process diagrams
  • Informative work plans
  • Accurate technical illustrations
  • Visually appealing schedules
  • Engaging infographics
  • Streamlined executive summaries
  • Professional PowerPoint presentations

• Ensure all created graphics exhibit exceptional content clarity, a well-defined visual hierarchy, and are easy to scan for quick comprehension by stakeholders.

• Maintain a high standard of visual design excellence, ensuring all outputs are aesthetically pleasing and effectively communicate intended messages.

• Actively partner with internal clients (e.g., sales, engineering, project management teams) to meticulously translate their conceptual visions for proposal graphics into tangible, high-impact visual assets.

• Juggle multiple concurrent design projects, prioritizing tasks effectively to ensure all deadlines are met without compromising the quality of the final deliverables.

• Proactively seek opportunities to improve design processes and workflows to enhance efficiency and output quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only execute visually but also understand the strategic purpose of graphics in a proposal context. This implies a need for strong communication, project management, and problem-solving skills to effectively interpret client needs and deliver impactful solutions. The focus on "winning work" directly links this role to revenue generation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a closely related field; or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of professional graphic design experience, with a strong emphasis on technical graphics and proposal development. Candidates with 6+ years of experience will be strongly preferred.

Required Skills:

• High proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe InDesign for creating complex technical graphics and layouts.

• Advanced skills in Adobe Photoshop for image manipulation and enhancement.

• Expert command of Microsoft PowerPoint for presentation design and integration of graphics.

• Proven ability to design quickly and resourcefully while maintaining a consistent brand style and visual identity.

• Strong organizational skills and a process-oriented approach to managing design projects.

• Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all design work.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective client interaction and feedback incorporation.

• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities to address design challenges and client requirements.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the engineering, construction, or infrastructure sectors.

• Familiarity with project management methodologies and proposal lifecycle.

• Knowledge of data visualization best practices for complex datasets.

• Experience with animation or motion graphics for enhanced presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preference for 6+ years of experience and specific software proficiencies (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, PowerPoint) indicates a need for a designer with a solid foundation and ability to work independently and efficiently within established brand guidelines. The emphasis on "process-oriented" and "problem-solving" suggests that candidates who can articulate their design process and how they overcome challenges will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-5 years of professional design work, with a significant emphasis on technical graphics for proposals or similar B2B marketing collateral.

• Specific examples of site plans, process diagrams, infographics, and technical illustrations that demonstrate clarity, visual hierarchy, and brand consistency.

• Case studies or project descriptions highlighting the designer's role in translating client needs into visual solutions and the impact of their designs on proposal success.

• Demonstrations of how the designer has maintained brand style and ensured ease of scanning in complex visual information.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you approach translating complex technical information into visually digestible formats.

• Documentation or case studies illustrating your process for collaborating with internal clients, gathering requirements, and incorporating feedback.

• Demonstrations of your workflow for managing multiple design projects simultaneously, including prioritization and time management strategies.

• Evidence of how you ensure accuracy and attention to detail in your design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on proposal graphics, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to clearly demonstrate the candidate's ability to handle technical subject matter and translate it into visually compelling and accurate graphics that support a sales/bid process. The emphasis on "process-oriented" suggests that demonstrating a structured approach to design challenges will be beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Graphic Designers with 2-5 years of experience in the Kansas City, MO area, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between $60,000 and $80,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific qualifications, experience level, and demonstrated portfolio.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Wellness Program: Initiatives and resources to support employee well-being.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation time, paid holidays, and sick time.

• Dependent Sick Time: Support for caring for family members.

• 401k Match: Company matching contributions to retirement savings.

• Adoption Reimbursement: Financial assistance for adoption processes.

• Tuition Reimbursement: Support for continuing education and professional development.

• Vendor Discounts: Access to various discounts on products and services.

• Employment Referral Program: Incentives for referring qualified candidates.

• AD&D Insurance: Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance.

• Pre-Taxed Accounts: Options for flexible spending accounts.

• Voluntary Legal Plan: Access to legal services.

• Credit Union: Membership and services through the B&V Credit Union.

• Performance-Based Bonus Program: Potential for bonuses based on individual and company performance.

• Stock Ownership: As an employee-owned company (ESOP), professionals share in the company's financial success through stock ownership.

Working Hours: Full-Time, typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is primarily office-based, hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the initial 90 days, subject to manager discretion, job performance, and work assignments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive benefits package, including the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), is a significant differentiator for Black & Veatch. Highlighting these benefits, especially those supporting work-life balance and professional development, will be crucial for attracting top talent. The hybrid work option, applicable after an initial period, should be presented as a flexible arrangement rather than a fully remote opportunity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Engineering, Procurement, Consulting, and Construction (EPCC) with a focus on sustainable infrastructure solutions for energy, water, and communications sectors. Black & Veatch is a globally recognized leader in its field, consistently working on large-scale, impactful projects.

Company Size: A large, established global enterprise with a significant employee base, indicating a stable work environment with ample resources and opportunities for professional development and advancement.

Founded: Over 100 years of innovation, highlighting a legacy of expertise, reliability, and continuous adaptation in the engineering and infrastructure landscape. This long history suggests a culture that values experience, long-term vision, and deep technical knowledge.

Team Structure:

• This role is part of the Marketing & Communications (MAC) department, specifically within a team focused on proposal graphics and visual content creation.

• The team likely comprises other designers, proposal specialists, writers, and marketing professionals who collaborate to produce comprehensive bid documents.

• Reporting structure will likely involve a Marketing or Communications Manager, with close collaboration with sales, business development, and engineering teams across various project divisions.

Methodology:

• Data-driven approach to design, where visual elements are used to clarify and emphasize data-driven insights from engineering projects.

• Workflow planning and optimization are essential, especially given the fast-paced nature of proposal development.

• Emphasis on automation and efficiency practices is likely, aiming to streamline the design process and ensure rapid turnaround times.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's employee-owned structure (ESOP) is a key cultural differentiator, fostering a sense of ownership, accountability, and shared success among employees. This translates into a culture where employees are invested in the company's performance and client satisfaction. The focus on "humanity's biggest challenges" and "sustainable infrastructure" points to a mission-driven organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Graphic Designer role is positioned as an experienced individual contributor, likely falling into a mid-level or senior individual contributor band within the Marketing & Communications function. The emphasis on 2-6+ years of experience and the expectation to work with complex technical information and manage projects indicates a role with significant autonomy and responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Graphic Design Manager, Proposal Manager, or Marketing Communications Manager. They will collaborate extensively with internal clients from Sales, Business Development, and various Engineering disciplines. This structure requires strong interpersonal and communication skills to navigate stakeholder relationships effectively.

Operations Impact: While not a direct "Revenue Operations" role, this position has a significant indirect impact on revenue generation. High-quality, clear, and compelling technical graphics are crucial for winning bids and proposals. Effective visual communication can differentiate Black & Veatch from competitors, enhance client understanding of complex solutions, and ultimately contribute to securing new projects and driving business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific types of technical graphics (e.g., complex process flow diagrams, 3D renderings, interactive infographics) relevant to Black & Veatch's core industries.

• Leadership: Progress into a Lead Graphic Designer role, mentoring junior designers, overseeing larger design projects, and contributing to design strategy.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Transition into roles within proposal management, marketing strategy, or even technical documentation, leveraging design and communication skills.

• Skill Development: Access to company-sponsored training, workshops, and conferences to stay current with design software, trends, and best practices in technical and proposal design.

• ESOP Benefits: Increased value and potential dividends from stock ownership as the company grows and performs well, directly tied to long-term career commitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities emphasize not just vertical advancement but also the potential for horizontal moves and specialization, leveraging the unique skills developed in this technical design role within a large engineering firm. The ESOP structure inherently links career growth with company success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Black & Veatch offers a hybrid work environment. This typically means a combination of working remotely and in the office, providing flexibility. The initial 90 days are likely more office-intensive for onboarding and integration.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is Kansas City, MO. Black & Veatch has a significant presence in Kansas City, suggesting a well-equipped and established office space designed to support collaboration and productivity.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office space is likely designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, shared workspaces, and areas for informal team interactions. This is essential for working closely with internal clients and other creative professionals.

• Tools and Technology: Access to high-performance workstations, reliable internet, and the full suite of Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office applications will be standard. Potential for specialized hardware or software depending on project needs.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for face-to-face interaction with design colleagues, proposal managers, and subject matter experts, allowing for real-time feedback and brainstorming sessions. The hybrid model will necessitate intentional planning for in-office collaboration days.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in how those hours are structured, balancing remote work with in-office presence, which can be beneficial for focused design work and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility but also requiring proactive management of time and collaboration. The Kansas City location is a major hub for the company, implying a well-supported and resource-rich office environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a Talent Acquisition specialist to assess basic qualifications and design experience.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A deeper dive into your portfolio with the hiring manager or a senior designer. Expect to discuss specific projects, your design process, software proficiency, and how you handle technical subject matter.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: You might be given a small design challenge or asked to critique existing graphics to assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to execute under a simulated deadline.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Questions focused on teamwork, communication, handling feedback, and aligning with Black & Veatch's values and culture, particularly its employee-ownership ethos.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader in Marketing or Business Development to discuss the strategic impact of the role and overall fit within the department.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that directly showcase your ability to create technical graphics for proposals, B2B marketing, or complex information design.

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your design process (ideation, execution, iteration), the tools used, and the final outcome. Highlight how you translated complex information into clear visuals.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback on how your designs improved proposal clarity, engagement, or contributed to winning new business.

• Brand Consistency: Demonstrate your ability to adhere to brand guidelines and maintain a consistent visual style across different projects.

• Technical Aptitude: Include examples that show your comfort with technical subject matter and your ability to represent it accurately and aesthetically.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Be prepared for challenges that mimic real-world proposal graphics needs. Focus on clarity, hierarchy, and brand adherence.

• Time Management: Practice working efficiently under time constraints. Prioritize accuracy and clarity over elaborate aesthetics if time is limited.

• Communication: Be ready to articulate your design choices and rationale clearly and concisely, just as you would when presenting to internal clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and potential design challenges underscores the practical, results-oriented nature of this role. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their technical design capabilities and their understanding of how design contributes to business objectives in a proposal context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Illustrator: Essential for creating vector-based technical drawings, diagrams, and illustrations. Proficiency in advanced features like path manipulation, gradients, and complex layering is expected.

• Adobe InDesign: The primary tool for layout and design of proposal documents, integrating graphics, text, and other elements. Expertise in master pages, typography, and pre-press preparation is key.

• Adobe Photoshop: Used for image editing, retouching, and creating raster graphics or textures that may be incorporated into designs.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: Critical for creating executive summaries, presentations, and integrating graphics into proposal decks. Advanced skills in slide layout, animation, and master slide management are required.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly using analytics tools for design, an understanding of how graphics are used within reporting dashboards or to visualize data (e.g., charts, graphs) can be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how graphics are managed and distributed through content management systems or digital asset management (DAM) systems might be useful.

• Awareness of proposal automation software where graphics might be templated or managed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack is heavily focused on the Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office. Candidates must demonstrate mastery of these tools, particularly Illustrator and InDesign, for their intended application in technical graphics and proposal design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership & Accountability: As an employee-owned company, there's a strong emphasis on taking responsibility for one's work and contributing to the company's overall success. This means delivering high-quality work and being proactive.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: The nature of proposal work necessitates close collaboration with diverse teams. A spirit of partnership and mutual support is vital.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Black & Veatch encourages new ideas and continuous refinement of processes and outputs. For a designer, this means staying updated on design trends and finding more efficient ways to create impactful graphics.

• Client Focus: Understanding the "client" in this context includes internal stakeholders (sales, engineering) whose needs must be met to achieve external client success.

• Integrity & Excellence: A commitment to high ethical standards and delivering exceptional quality in all aspects of work, especially critical for a company in the engineering and infrastructure sector.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with engineers, project managers, proposal writers, and sales teams. This requires the ability to translate technical jargon into visual language and to effectively communicate design concepts to non-designers.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture where design work is reviewed by multiple stakeholders, requiring an open mind to constructive criticism and the ability to iterate based on feedback.

• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to share design techniques, best practices, and insights with colleagues, fostering a learning environment within the design team and the broader proposal/marketing group.

📝 Enhancement Note: The ESOP culture heavily influences the team's values, promoting a sense of shared purpose and commitment. This means candidates who demonstrate a proactive, team-oriented, and results-driven mindset will likely thrive.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Technical Complexity: The primary challenge is to distill highly technical and complex engineering information into clear, concise, and visually appealing graphics that are understandable to a broad audience, including potential clients.

• Fast-Paced Proposal Environment: Working under tight deadlines associated with proposal submissions requires exceptional time management, prioritization, and the ability to produce high-quality work quickly and consistently.

• Stakeholder Management: Effectively managing the expectations and feedback from diverse internal clients (engineers, sales, project managers) who may have varying levels of design understanding and specific requests.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring that all graphics, despite being created by different individuals or for different projects, adhere strictly to Black & Veatch's established brand guidelines and visual identity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite features or learn new design software relevant to technical illustration and data visualization.

• Industry-Specific Design: Gaining specialized knowledge in designing graphics for the energy, water, and communications infrastructure sectors, understanding industry-specific visual conventions and terminology.

• Proposal Best Practices: Learning the nuances of proposal development, bid strategy, and how visual elements contribute most effectively to winning new business.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior designers or proposal managers, gaining insights into strategic design application and career development within the firm.

• ESOP Participation: Understanding how the company's performance impacts the value of employee stock ownership, encouraging a long-term perspective on career growth and financial well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are intrinsically linked to the nature of the role in a technical and proposal-driven environment. Growth opportunities are geared towards enhancing both design skills and understanding of the business context, aligning with the company's mission and employee-ownership model.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate highly technical information into a clear visual graphic. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, problem-solving, and ability to simplify complexity.)

• "How do you approach managing multiple design projects with competing deadlines, especially within a proposal context?" (Highlight your organizational skills, prioritization methods, and ability to perform under pressure.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for an employee-owned company like Black & Veatch?" (Emphasize your understanding of ESOP benefits and your desire for ownership and impact.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with subject matter experts or engineers who may not have a design background?" (Focus on your communication skills, patience, and ability to elicit information.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or complexity. Start with your strongest, most relevant examples.

• Tell a Story: For each project, articulate the "why" – the problem, the goal, your approach, and the result. Don't just show the final image; explain the journey.

• Highlight Technical Graphics: Specifically call out examples of site plans, process diagrams, and infographics, explaining the technical information you conveyed.

• Demonstrate Software Proficiency: Mention the specific tools you used for each project and how they helped you achieve the desired outcome.

• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges faced, and how you handled feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent, but also strategic thinking, strong communication, and an understanding of how design contributes to business objectives, particularly within the proposal and engineering context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer - Technical Graphics position:

• Submit your application through the official Black & Veatch careers portal via the provided URL.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature technical graphics, infographics, and examples of complex information design relevant to engineering or infrastructure proposals. Showcase your proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and PowerPoint.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your years of experience, specific software proficiencies, and any experience in proposal development or technical illustration. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed graphics for X number of proposals," "Improved clarity of Y process diagrams").

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and client collaboration strategies. Prepare to discuss specific projects from your portfolio in detail, focusing on how you translated technical concepts into effective visuals.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Black & Veatch's mission, values, and recent projects. Understand the significance of their employee ownership (ESOP) and how that culture might influence your work and collaboration style.

⚠️ 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.