Coles Local Graphic Designer - Fixed Term Contract

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Coles Local Graphic Designer - Fixed Term Contract

Company: Coles Group

Location: Hawthorn East, Victoria, Australia

Job Type: Fixed Term Contract

Category: Marketing & Creative Operations

Date Posted: February 15, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (7-10+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a senior-level Graphic/Integrated Designer position within the Coles Local team, focusing on developing creative concepts and delivering exceptional design outcomes.

• The position requires hands-on design advocacy, working collaboratively with cross-functional stakeholders from brief to project delivery across various mediums including in-store activations and digital experiences.

• The Graphic Designer will be responsible for managing design projects end-to-end, ensuring creative solutions align with project objectives and brand guidelines while contributing fresh ideas.

• Key outputs include designing and developing creative concepts for print, digital, in-store activations, and Point-of-Sale (POS) materials, with a strong emphasis on producing print-ready artwork.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original listing is for a Graphic Designer, this enhancement positions it within "Marketing & Creative Operations" to align with the strategic execution of creative assets that support Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies. The focus on POS, in-store activations, and digital experiences signifies a direct link to operationalizing marketing campaigns.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop creative concepts for a wide range of projects, including print collateral, digital assets, in-store activations, and Point-of-Sale (POS) materials, ensuring alignment with brand strategy.

• Manage the complete lifecycle of design projects, from initial briefing and discovery sessions through concept development, execution, and final delivery, ensuring timely completion.

• Prepare print-ready artwork with advanced knowledge of print production processes, including color management, file preparation, and vendor liaison, to ensure high-quality output.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, commercial, and retail operations, to ensure creative solutions effectively meet business objectives and project requirements.

• Produce detailed documentation and materials for POS projects within the built retail environment, ensuring accuracy and adherence to design specifications.

• Uphold and champion brand guidelines while actively contributing fresh, innovative creative ideas to elevate the Coles Local brand presence.

• Effectively manage multiple design tasks and deadlines simultaneously, demonstrating strong time-management, organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize workload.

• Translate architectural drawings (scales, sections, plans, elevations) into design elements for retail environments, ensuring spatial and aesthetic coherence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been expanded to emphasize the operational aspects of design execution, including project management, print production, and cross-functional collaboration, which are critical for GTM and marketing operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While specific educational requirements are not detailed, a degree or equivalent qualification in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related creative field is typically expected for a senior-level role.

Experience: 7-10+ years of professional graphic design or studio experience, with a proven track record of delivering successful creative projects, particularly within a retail or fast-paced environment.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) for comprehensive design creation and manipulation.

• Expertise in designing and developing creative concepts across multiple platforms, including print, digital, in-store activations, and POS materials.

• Strong understanding and application of print production processes, including pre-press, color correction, and final artwork preparation.

• Proven experience in managing design projects from brief to delivery, demonstrating end-to-end project management capabilities.

• Excellent stakeholder management and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate design concepts and rationale to diverse audiences.

• Advanced typography skills with exceptional attention to detail, ensuring visual consistency and high-quality output.

• Experience delivering POS, retail, or built-environment projects, understanding the unique requirements of these applications.

• Familiarity with architectural drawings (scales, sections, plans, elevations) for integration into retail design projects.

Preferred Skills:

• Digital design and animation skills (e.g., After Effects, motion graphics) to enhance digital campaign effectiveness.

• Experience working within a large, ASX-listed company environment, understanding corporate brand governance.

• Knowledge of MS Office suite for general business communication and documentation.

• A proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving and idea generation.

• Demonstrated passion for design, creativity, and a keen understanding of the Coles Local brand values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills section has been structured to differentiate between essential and preferred qualifications, aligning with typical senior designer roles that require both technical proficiency and strategic thinking. Keywords like "print production," "POS," and "stakeholder management" are integrated.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of design projects, with a strong emphasis on retail environments, POS, and integrated campaigns.

• Examples demonstrating the ability to develop creative concepts from initial brief through to final execution, highlighting problem-solving and strategic thinking.

• Case studies that illustrate the end-to-end management of design projects, including timelines, challenges, and successful outcomes.

• Visuals of print-ready artwork and examples of successful print production, showcasing technical execution.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow processes used for managing design projects, from briefing and concept development to final delivery and feedback loops.

• Documentation or case studies that highlight how brand guidelines were applied and innovative creative solutions were developed within those constraints.

• Evidence of collaboration with cross-functional teams, detailing how input was gathered and integrated into the design process.

• Examples of how design solutions met specific project objectives and contributed to business outcomes, where possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section outlines specific expectations for a design portfolio, emphasizing process and outcome demonstration, which is crucial for roles involving strategic creative execution within operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the senior-level experience (7-10+ years), the fixed-term nature of the contract, and the location in Hawthorn East, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, a competitive salary range for a Graphic Designer would typically be between AUD $85,000 - $120,000 per annum, commensurate with experience and specific contract duration.

Benefits:

• Flexible Working Options: Encouragement of a positive work-life balance with hybrid working options.

• On-site Perks: Access to a gym facility, fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub for product sampling, and a school holiday program.

• Discounts: Eligible team members receive a 5% discount on Supermarket and Liquor purchases (online and in-store), with periods of double discount (10%) and exclusive Hot Deals.

• Reward & Recognition: Access to the 'mythanks' digital platform for accumulating points through recognition, redeemable for gifts and gift cards.

• Learning & Development: Opportunities for career development programs and job-specific training.

• Paid Parental Leave: Offered to permanent team members to support work-life balance.

• Investment in Future: Annual team member share plan for eligible employees, allowing pre-tax salary sacrifice to purchase Coles Group shares.

Working Hours: The role is likely a standard full-time position, approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for hybrid work arrangements as indicated.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been estimated based on industry benchmarks for senior graphic designers in Melbourne, Australia, and the specified experience level. The benefits listed are directly from the job description, highlighting attractive employee offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail, with a focus on supermarkets and liquor. Coles Group is a major Australian retailer, listed on the ASX, committed to "bringing Australians smiles" and helping them "eat and live better every day."

Company Size: A large, ASX-listed company with over 115,000 team members across the country. This scale offers significant opportunities for impact and exposure.

Founded: Coles was founded in 1914, indicating a long-standing history and established presence in the Australian market.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the Commercial team, described as a "large, but a close-knit group of trading experts."

• This specific position supports the "vibrant and fast-paced Coles Local team," suggesting a dynamic and agile working environment.

Methodology:

• The Commercial team focuses on building strong supplier relationships, developing new ideas, and driving business growth.

• The emphasis is on diversity of thought, backgrounds, and experience to innovate across Coles Supermarkets and Liquor.

• A data-driven approach is implied through the Commercial team's role in trading and business strategy.

Company Website: https://www.coles.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: Contextual information about Coles Group's industry, size, and history has been integrated to provide a broader understanding of the company's operational landscape and culture. The team structure emphasizes collaboration, which is vital for operations roles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level Graphic/Integrated Designer role, demanding significant professional experience (7-10+ years) and a high degree of autonomy and creative leadership. It represents a mid-to-senior career stage for a designer looking to make a substantial impact within a specific brand segment (Coles Local).

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the Coles Local team, likely within the broader Commercial or Marketing functions. Collaboration with various "cross-functional stakeholders" indicates a matrixed reporting or strong partnership model, common in large retail organizations.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the visual representation and customer experience of Coles Local stores and digital channels. This role operationalizes marketing and brand strategies by translating them into tangible creative assets that drive customer engagement, store traffic, and sales. The focus on POS and in-store activations highlights a direct contribution to the in-store customer journey and sales enablement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in retail design, POS, and integrated campaign execution within a large corporate environment.

• Leadership Potential: As a senior role, there's potential to mentor junior designers, lead creative initiatives, and influence design direction for the Coles Local brand.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Collaboration with diverse teams can lead to broader business understanding and potential career pivots within Coles Group.

• Contract to Permanent: While a fixed-term contract, strong performance could lead to opportunities for permanent roles within Coles or other business units.

• Learning & Development: Access to Coles' extensive learning and development programs, including job-specific training and career exploration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis frames the Graphic Designer role through an "operations" lens, emphasizing its impact on Go-To-Market execution and customer experience, and outlining clear growth pathways within a large corporate structure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site at Coles' Hawthorn East location, which features a modern office environment designed for collaboration and employee well-being.

Office Location(s): Hawthorn East, Melbourne, Victoria. This location offers specific perks such as a gym, fitness classes, free parking, and an on-site mini-Coles supermarket.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office is equipped to foster collaboration, with spaces designed for team interactions and cross-functional work. This is essential for designers working closely with marketing and commercial teams.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Expected to have access to standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially project management tools, with a focus on delivering for the retail environment.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues within the Coles Local team and other departments, promoting knowledge sharing and a cohesive work culture.

Work Schedule: The position is for a fixed-term contract, likely full-time (approximately 40 hours per week). The description mentions "flexible working options" and "hybrid working options" to achieve work-life balance, suggesting a degree of flexibility within the on-site requirement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment highlights the on-site nature and the supportive office culture, which are important considerations for candidates evaluating their day-to-day work experience.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely an HR or recruitment team review of applications and portfolios to assess suitability against core requirements.

• Technical/Creative Interview: An interview with the hiring manager and potentially senior members of the design or marketing team. This stage will heavily focus on portfolio review, discussing design philosophy, project execution, and problem-solving approaches.

• Stakeholder/Cross-functional Interview: An opportunity to meet with key stakeholders from the Coles Local team or other departments the designer will collaborate with. This assesses collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to understand business objectives.

• Final Interview: May involve a senior leader within the marketing or commercial function to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience with retail, POS, in-store activations, and integrated campaigns. Highlight projects that show end-to-end management.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges faced, your creative process, the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes achieved.

• Showcase Technical Skill: Ensure examples of print-ready artwork and digital assets are polished and demonstrate advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.

• Emphasize Collaboration: Include examples or descriptions of how you worked with stakeholders and cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.

• Brand Alignment: Demonstrate an understanding of brand guidelines and how you can work within them while also pushing creative boundaries.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design challenge, either a take-home brief or an in-session task, simulating a real-world scenario for Coles Local. This might involve developing concepts for a new campaign or adapting existing materials.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you approach creative briefs, manage competing priorities, and resolve design challenges.

• Industry Insight: Research current trends in retail design, POS marketing, and digital customer engagement relevant to the grocery sector. Understand the Coles Local brand and its target audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates on preparing their portfolio and navigating the interview process, specifically tailored for a senior graphic design role within a corporate retail environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop is a core requirement.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Necessary for general business communication, documentation, and presentations.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly mentioned for the designer, understanding how design impacts key metrics (e.g., engagement rates for digital assets, foot traffic for POS) is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics for digital) could be an advantage.

CRM & Automation: Not directly relevant to the designer's core tasks, but understanding how marketing campaigns are managed and automated might provide context for integrated design efforts.

Other Potential Tools:

• Digital/Animation Software: Proficiency in tools like After Effects, Premiere Pro, or similar for motion graphics and digital content creation would be a bonus.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or Jira could be helpful for managing design project workflows.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Experience with DAM systems for organizing and distributing creative assets.

• 3D Rendering Software: Potentially useful for visualizing retail environments or POS displays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology section focuses on the essential design software and anticipates other relevant tools that a senior designer in a corporate setting might encounter or find beneficial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A strong commitment to serving Australian communities and helping customers "eat and live better." Design work should support this mission.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on working together across diverse teams and backgrounds to achieve common goals. Design solutions should reflect a collaborative spirit.

• Innovation: Encouragement of new ideas and creative thinking to shape the future of Coles. Designers are expected to contribute "bold creative ideas."

• Integrity & Respect: Commitment to a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace. Designs must align with brand integrity and ethical considerations.

• Efficiency: As part of the Commercial team, there's an implied value on efficient processes and delivering impactful results.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with marketing, commercial, and retail operations teams, necessitating strong communication and partnership skills.

• Feedback Exchange: An open environment for giving and receiving feedback to refine creative concepts and ensure project objectives are met.

• Proactive Engagement: Expected to actively participate in discussions, offer solutions, and contribute to project planning beyond just design execution.

• Brand Advocacy: Acting as a champion for the Coles Local brand and its visual identity within collaborative discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section outlines the cultural values and collaboration styles expected, emphasizing how a designer can integrate into the broader operational and team dynamics of Coles Group.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining strict brand guidelines while introducing fresh, creative ideas for the Coles Local segment.

• Fast-Paced Retail Environment: Adapting to tight deadlines and high-volume project requests typical of the retail sector.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Effectively managing diverse stakeholder expectations and ensuring buy-in for design concepts across different departments.

• Fixed-Term Contract: Navigating the temporary nature of the role, while still aiming for significant impact and potential longer-term opportunities.

• Technical Integration: Ensuring designs are technically feasible and optimized for various print and digital production methods within budget and timeline constraints.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Retail Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in point-of-sale, in-store activations, and retail environment design within a leading Australian retailer.

• Integrated Campaign Execution: Gain hands-on experience in executing multi-channel marketing campaigns from a design perspective.

• Corporate Brand Management: Learn how to manage and evolve a large corporate brand identity within a structured environment.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Opportunities to guide less experienced designers or lead specific creative initiatives.

• Access to Coles' L&D Programs: Utilize company-provided training, workshops, and development resources to enhance skills and explore career paths.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges specific to the role and outlines concrete growth opportunities, providing a balanced view of the position's developmental aspects.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Concept Development: "Describe your process for developing creative concepts for a new in-store promotion for Coles Local. How would you ensure it aligns with the brand and drives foot traffic?" (Focus on ideation, research, and strategic alignment).

• Project Management: "Walk us through a complex POS project you managed from brief to delivery. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Highlight your end-to-end process, problem-solving, and stakeholder management).

• Brand Adherence vs. Innovation: "How do you balance adhering to strict brand guidelines with the need to produce fresh, innovative creative work?" (Demonstrate your understanding of brand governance and creative problem-solving).

• Technical Execution: "What are your considerations when preparing artwork for large-format printing or complex retail installations?" (Showcase your knowledge of print production and technical specifications).

• Collaboration: "Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with multiple stakeholders with differing opinions on a design project. How did you manage this to achieve a successful outcome?" (Emphasize communication, negotiation, and diplomacy).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Coles Local and this specific Graphic Designer role?" (Show you've researched the brand and understand its unique positioning).

• "How do you approach working within a large, established company like Coles Group?" (Demonstrate adaptability and understanding of corporate structures).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each key project, clearly state the objective, your role, the process, the solution, and the results. Use a storytelling approach.

• Highlight Key Skills: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, print production, POS design, and stakeholder collaboration.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to show the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, sales uplift, positive feedback).

• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, technical skills, and approach to problem-solving.

• Tailor to Coles Local: Frame your experience and examples in a way that directly relates to the needs and brand of Coles Local.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted interview preparation advice, including potential questions and strategies for presenting a portfolio, all framed within the context of this specific Graphic Designer role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Coles careers site.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio is up-to-date and specifically highlights projects relevant to retail design, POS, in-store activations, and integrated campaigns. Consider creating a dedicated section or highlighting examples that align with the Coles Local brand aesthetic and challenges.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 7-10+ years of experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, project management skills, and any experience with retail or fast-paced environments. Use keywords from the job description such as "Graphic Designer," "Integrated Design," "POS," "Print Production," and "Stakeholder Management."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, project management approach, and collaboration strategies. Prepare specific examples from your portfolio that demonstrate your ability to meet the role's requirements and align with Coles' values.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Coles Group, the Coles Local brand, and recent marketing initiatives. Understand their mission, values, and target audience to better articulate your fit and enthusiasm during interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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