Jr. Graphic Designer
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Jr. Graphic Designer
Company: MJH Life Sciences®
Location: Kansas City, MO, United States
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Graphic Design
Date Posted: 2025-06-12T00:00:00
Experience Level: Entry Level (0-2 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid
🎨 Role Summary
- Integral in the planning, designing, developing, and maintenance of both print and electronic creative materials.
- Collaborate closely with the design team to uphold professional graphics and identity standards for internal and external clients.
- Ensure consistency and excellence in all design deliverables across various platforms.
- Apply graphic design expertise to meet client-specific requirements and project goals.
🖼️ Primary Responsibilities
- Assist in leading and/or maintaining creative design projects, applying graphic design expertise to meet client-specific requirements.
- Ensure production deadlines are met, design guidelines and procedures are followed, and quality control measures are implemented for all design assets.
- Take ownership of design projects from concept to release, maintaining creativity, quality, consistency, and brand relevance throughout the graphic design workflow.
- Design layouts and artwork for printed materials such as publications, newsletters, flyers, catalogs, and other print collateral, ensuring print production readiness.
- Create online deliverables, including email campaign creative, social media graphics, and potentially assist with the development/maintenance of client websites, focusing on visual design aspects.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or a related field is required, providing a strong foundation in design principles, visual communication, and creative problem-solving essential for a graphic designer. Recent graduates are encouraged to apply.
Experience: Entry Level; 1-3 years of relevant graphic design work experience or a recent/upcoming college graduate with a relevant degree and a portfolio showcasing creative capabilities. Experience includes internships, freelance work, or academic projects demonstrating practical application of design skills.
Required Skills:
- Proficiency in industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign) is essential for creating high-quality graphic design assets.
- Strong understanding of fundamental design principles, including composition, hierarchy, space, and balance, crucial for effective visual communication.
- Expertise in typography and color theory, with the ability to select and apply fonts and colors effectively to convey brand identity and enhance readability in graphic design projects.
- Ability to create visually appealing and functional layouts for both print and digital media, demonstrating a strong grasp of layout design principles.
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and visual, with the ability to articulate design decisions and collaborate effectively within a team environment and with stakeholders.
- Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and precision in all graphic design deliverables, and the ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously while maintaining quality.
- Demonstrated creativity and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop innovative design solutions that meet project objectives and brand requirements.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in brand development and strategy, including the ability to conceptualize and execute cohesive brand identities across various graphic design platforms and touchpoints.
- Familiarity with motion graphics and video editing software, such as Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro, to enhance multimedia design projects and add dynamic elements to visual content.
- Knowledge of print production processes and techniques, including prepress preparation, file management, and understanding of different printing methods, is a valuable asset for ensuring successful print deliverables.
- Experience working in a fast-paced agency environment, managing multiple clients and graphic design projects simultaneously, demonstrating adaptability and efficiency.
- Familiarity with coding languages such as HTML and CSS to collaborate effectively with web development teams on digital design projects and understand the technical constraints of web design.
- Experience with email building tools (Mailchimp, Emma, etc.) for designing and implementing effective email marketing campaigns with compelling visuals.
- Experience with WordPress for assisting with the visual design and maintenance of websites, understanding content management system capabilities from a design perspective.
🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- A portfolio showcasing creative capabilities is required, demonstrating a range of graphic design projects, including examples of print design, digital design (e.g., email graphics, web design elements), and potentially branding work.
- Include projects that highlight your understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout across different media.
- Present case studies that explain your design process, from understanding the brief to final execution, demonstrating your problem-solving approach and design rationale.
- Showcase your technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and other relevant design tools through the quality and execution of your work.
Process Documentation:
- For key portfolio projects, include documentation of your design process, such as initial sketches, wireframes (if applicable to digital projects), mood boards, and iterations.
- Explain your research and discovery phase, including how you gathered requirements and insights for the design.
- Detail your ideation and iteration methods, showing how you explored different design concepts and refined your work based on feedback or constraints.
- If possible, include information on how your designs were validated or tested, and the impact of your design solutions.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $40,000–$50,000 per year. This range is competitive for a Junior Graphic Designer in the Kansas City, MO area based on available market data for entry-level design positions in the media and publishing industry. The final compensation will depend on qualifications, experience, and the specific skills demonstrated during the interview process. Eligible for annual company bonus program based on role and company performance.
Benefits:
- Hybrid work schedule, offering flexibility between remote work and in-office collaboration, supporting a balanced work environment for creative tasks and team interaction.
- Comprehensive health insurance through Cigna (medical & dental) and vision coverage through VSP, providing essential healthcare support for employees.
- Pharmacy benefits through OptumRx, ensuring access to necessary medications.
- FSA, HSA, Dependent Care FSA, and Limited Purpose FSA options, offering flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses.
- 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with company match, supporting long-term financial planning and retirement savings.
- Pet discount program with PetAssure and Norton LifeLock identity theft protection, offering valuable perks and security benefits.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through NYLGBS and Fertility benefits through Progyny, providing support for personal well-being and family planning.
- Commuter benefits, company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Voluntary Term Life & AD&D Insurance, plus Universal Life Insurance options, offering financial protection and convenience.
- Supplemental Aflac coverage (Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity) and Discounts and rewards through BenefitHub, providing additional optional benefits.
Working Hours: Full-time position, typically 40 hours per week. The hybrid schedule allows for some flexibility in managing creative workflow and meeting deadlines. Specific hours may vary based on project needs and team collaboration requirements.
🎯Team & Company Context
🏢 Company & Design Culture
Industry: Media Production, specifically focused on Healthcare Media, Healthcare Publishing, and Healthcare Communications. This context means the design work will likely involve creating visual content for medical professionals, publications, and events, requiring attention to detail and potentially adherence to specific industry regulations or style guides.
Company Size: 501-1,000 employees (LinkedIn data indicates 3764 employees, suggesting significant growth or a broader definition of "employee"). A company of this size typically has established design teams and processes, offering mentorship and opportunities for learning within a larger structure.
Founded: MJH Life Sciences has been established for 25 years, indicating a stable and experienced organization with a history in the media and healthcare communications space. This longevity suggests established workflows and a focus on consistent, high-quality output.
Team Structure:
- The Graphic Designer will collaborate closely with a design team, implying a structured environment with potential for mentorship and peer learning.
- Work will involve internal and external clients, suggesting cross-functional collaboration with marketing, editorial, and client-facing teams.
- The mention of upholding professional graphics and identity standards indicates a focus on maintaining brand consistency across various publications and platforms.
Methodology:
- Design projects will likely follow a structured workflow from planning and design to development and maintenance.
- Emphasis on meeting production deadlines suggests a process-oriented environment with project management tools and timelines.
- Quality control measures are implemented, indicating a focus on review and approval processes to ensure design excellence and adherence to standards.
Company Website: https://www.mjhlifesciences.com/
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Design Career Level: Junior Graphic Designer. This is an entry-level position focused on developing core graphic design skills, executing tasks under guidance, and contributing to team projects. The role is foundational for a career in graphic design within a media or publishing context.
Reporting Structure: The role involves collaborating closely with the team, suggesting reporting to a more senior graphic designer or a design manager. This structure typically provides mentorship and guidance for professional development.
Design Impact: Design work in this role directly contributes to the visual identity and communication effectiveness of MJH Life Sciences' publications and online presence, impacting how medical professionals and clients perceive the brand and engage with content.
Growth Opportunities:
- Opportunity to develop proficiency in a wide range of graphic design tasks for both print and digital media, building a versatile skill set.
- Gain experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and working with internal and external clients, enhancing communication and project management skills.
- Potential for growth into a mid-level or senior graphic designer role by taking on more complex projects, demonstrating leadership potential, and specializing in areas like branding, motion graphics, or web design.
- Opportunity to learn about design within the specific context of healthcare media, gaining expertise in a specialized industry.
🌐 Work Environment
Studio Type: Hybrid work schedule allows for a blend of in-office and remote work. The office environment in Kansas City provides a space for in-person collaboration and access to resources, while the hybrid option offers flexibility.
Office Location(s): Kansas City, MO. The specific office environment is likely designed to support creative work and team collaboration when employees are on-site.
Design Workspace Context:
- The hybrid model suggests the company is equipped for both in-office and remote design work, likely providing necessary software licenses and potentially hardware for remote access.
- In-office days likely involve dedicated workspace for designers, potentially with access to large monitors, design software, and collaborative areas for brainstorming and critique.
- The team environment suggests opportunities for informal learning, feedback, and creative exchange with other designers when working together.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid arrangement. This offers a degree of autonomy in managing the work schedule while ensuring regular interaction with the team and access to the office when needed for collaborative projects or resources.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Design Interview Process:
- Initial screening call to discuss your background, experience, and interest in the Graphic Designer role and MJH Life Sciences. Be prepared to speak about your portfolio and why you are a good fit for a junior position.
- Portfolio review and interview with a design team member or manager. Be ready to walk through selected projects, explain your design process in detail, and discuss your contributions.
- Potential for a design exercise or challenge to assess your practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and technical proficiency in relevant software.
- Interviews with additional team members or stakeholders to assess cultural fit, collaboration skills, and how you would integrate with the broader team.
- Final interview with a hiring manager or department head to discuss your potential impact and fit within the organization.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate your portfolio to highlight projects most relevant to the role's requirements, including examples of both print and digital graphic design.
- For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your role in the project, your design process, the tools you used, and the final outcome or impact.
- Focus on demonstrating your understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout through your work.
- If you include collaborative projects, clearly define your specific contributions.
- Be prepared to discuss your design decisions and rationale for each project.
Challenge Preparation:
- If a design challenge is part of the process, carefully read and understand the brief. Ask clarifying questions if needed.
- Manage your time effectively to complete the challenge within the given timeframe.
- Structure your solution to demonstrate your design process, not just the final output. Show sketches, iterations, and explain your choices.
- Be prepared to present your solution and explain your design rationale to the interviewers.
ATS Keywords: Graphic Design, Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Design Principles, Typography, Color Theory, Layout, Print Design, Digital Design, Branding, Marketing Materials, Publication Design, Email Design, Web Design, Visual Communication, Creative, Problem-Solving, Collaboration, Teamwork, Attention to Detail, Project Management, Print Production, Motion Graphics, Video Editing, HTML, CSS, Mailchimp, Emma, WordPress, Healthcare Media, Publishing, Communications, Junior Graphic Designer, Entry Level.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Design Tools:
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign): Essential for creating and editing raster and vector graphics, designing layouts for print and digital, and preparing files for production. Proficiency is a core requirement for this role.
Collaboration & Handoff:
- Tools for collaborating with team members and potentially developers (specific tools not mentioned, but common options include Slack, Microsoft Teams, or project management software like Asana or Trello).
- Potential use of tools for design handoff to developers for web-based projects (e.g., Zeplin, Figma, or Adobe XD's sharing features).
Research & Testing:
- While not explicitly stated for this level, larger design teams often use tools for user research (e.g., survey platforms, user testing software) and analytics to inform design decisions. A junior designer might be exposed to or assist with these processes.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Design Values:
- Service Focused: Delivering design solutions that effectively meet the needs of internal and external clients in the healthcare media space.
- Passion for Winning: Striving for excellence in design and contributing to the success of publications and communications.
- Innovation: Exploring creative approaches to visual communication while adhering to brand standards and industry requirements.
- Respect: Collaborating respectfully with team members, stakeholders, and clients.
- Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in design practices and content representation, particularly important in healthcare media.
- Teamwork: Working collaboratively within the design team and across departments to achieve shared goals.
Collaboration Style:
- Close collaboration within the design team, likely involving design critiques, feedback sessions, and knowledge sharing.
- Cross-functional collaboration with editorial, marketing, sales, and potentially web development teams to execute design projects.
- Communication with internal and external clients to understand design requirements and present solutions.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Design Challenges:
- Balancing creative innovation with the need to maintain brand consistency and adhere to established design guidelines for multiple publications and clients.
- Working within production deadlines and managing multiple graphic design projects simultaneously in a fast-paced media environment.
- Designing for a specialized audience (healthcare professionals) which may require understanding specific communication nuances and industry standards.
- Adapting designs for both print and various digital formats, ensuring optimal visual presentation across different platforms and devices.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Opportunity to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and potentially learn new design software or tools, such as motion graphics or web development tools mentioned in preferred skills.
- Gain valuable experience in designing for the healthcare media industry, developing specialized knowledge in this sector.
- Develop project management and client communication skills through hands-on experience.
- Potential for mentorship from more senior designers to refine skills and understand industry best practices.
💡 Interview Preparation
Design Process Questions:
- Be prepared to discuss your typical graphic design workflow from receiving a brief to delivering final assets. Use examples from your portfolio to illustrate your process.
- Explain how you approach problem-solving in design and how you handle feedback and iterations.
- Discuss your experience with print production processes or preparing files for print, if applicable.
Company Culture Questions:
- Research MJH Life Sciences' publications and online presence to understand their visual style and target audience. Be prepared to discuss your impressions and how your design aesthetic aligns.
- Ask questions about the design team structure, collaboration methods, and how design integrates with other departments.
- Demonstrate your understanding of the company's values (SPIRIT) and how you embody them in your work ethic and collaboration style.
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Prepare a concise and engaging presentation of your portfolio. Focus on 3-5 strongest projects that showcase the skills most relevant to this role.
- For each project, briefly introduce the context, explain your role and the challenge, walk through your process (including sketches, iterations, etc.), and highlight the final outcome and any measurable impact.
- Be confident in discussing your design decisions and rationale. Practice presenting your portfolio beforehand.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this design position:
- Submit your application through this link.
- Customize your portfolio and resume to highlight your graphic design skills, experience, and projects most relevant to the requirements of this Junior Graphic Designer role at MJH Life Sciences.
- Prepare compelling case studies for your portfolio that demonstrate your design process, problem-solving abilities, and technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
- Practice articulating your design decisions and walking through your portfolio projects effectively in anticipation of the interview process.
- Research MJH Life Sciences, their publications, and their work in healthcare media to understand the company's context and tailor your application and interview responses accordingly.