Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Ascend Federal Credit Union

Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: April 13, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Execute and develop strategic communications across a variety of channels (email, social media, web, print) and media (graphics, animations, videos).

• Bring creativity that will appeal to target audience(s) and drive engagement through compelling visual messaging.

• Develop and maintain strong understanding of current design skills, principles, software, and printing techniques.

• Proactively manage graphic needs and projects independently, ensuring successful completion within schedules and budgets to support operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a credit union, a financial services organization. Therefore, the "operations" aspect of this role will heavily involve supporting marketing initiatives that drive member acquisition, retention, and engagement, all of which directly impact the financial health and operational success of the credit union. The emphasis on "strategic communications" and "aligning with strategic goals" indicates a need for the designer to understand the business objectives behind the marketing efforts.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and produce high-quality marketing assets, including graphics, animations, and short videos, for diverse communication channels such as email, social media, web, and print.

• Create statement inserts, campaign approval documents, and other marketing collateral, ensuring adherence to Ascend’s brand standards under the guidance of the Graphic Design Lead.

• Collaborate with the Marketing team to brainstorm concepts, develop visual messaging, and refine materials to be clear, concise, and compelling, supporting key initiatives and promotional efforts.

• Manage the lifecycle of graphic designs from concept through production, including working with printers for select print piece approvals and ensuring all internal/external graphics align with brand guidelines.

• Support the digital marketing team by delivering website and social media graphic content, and assist with organizing and maintaining marketing files and folder structures in cloud-based storage for efficient data management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and operational support. The designer is expected to not only create visually appealing content but also manage project timelines, adhere to brand guidelines, and maintain organized digital assets, all of which are critical for efficient marketing operations. The mention of "operational efficiency" in the Role Summary and "supporting other aspects of operation" in the responsibilities underscores the importance of process adherence and timely delivery.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree with an emphasis in Graphic Design, Journalism, Communications, Marketing/Public Relations, or a related field.

Experience: 3-5 years of similar or related experience required, demonstrating a track record of successful graphic design execution in a marketing or communications context.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in all Adobe Creative Suite programs, including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

• Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with various internal teams and stakeholders.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for presenting ideas and feedback.

• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, meet tight deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrated ability to self-start, exercise initiative, good judgment, creativity, and diplomacy in project execution.

• Expertise in all Microsoft Office programs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in creating animations and short videos.

• Familiarity with HTML.

• Experience working with printers for print production approvals.

• Experience assisting with video and photography shoots.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, and specific collateral types (statement inserts, campaign approval documents) points to the need for practical, production-oriented skills. The requirement for "similar or related experience" implies that candidates with a strong portfolio showcasing these skills and a capacity for independent project management will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 years of design work, with a strong emphasis on marketing collateral, digital assets (web/social media graphics), and potentially animation/video samples.

• Include examples demonstrating adherence to brand guidelines and successful adaptation of designs across different media (print, digital, email).

• Present case studies or examples of projects managed independently from concept to completion, highlighting problem-solving and deadline management.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in managing project workflows, from initial concept and briefing to final asset delivery and archival.

• Highlight ability to collaborate effectively within a marketing team, including presenting work and incorporating feedback for revisions.

• Show evidence of understanding and implementing brand standards and ensuring consistency across all materials.

• Include examples of how you've organized and maintained digital assets, such as through cloud-based storage systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a graphic design role supporting marketing operations, the portfolio should not just be a collection of pretty pictures but should tell a story of how the designer contributed to business objectives. This includes demonstrating project management skills, understanding of brand consistency, and the ability to work within a structured marketing department. The emphasis on "strategic goals" and "operational efficiency" in the job description implies a need to see how the designer's work directly supported these.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Graphic Designers with 3-5 years of experience in the Murfreesboro, TN area, the estimated salary range is $55,000 - $70,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Middle Tennessee and the specific requirements of a financial institution.

Benefits:

• Competitive benefits package, as highlighted by Ascend Federal Credit Union.

• Rewarding career opportunities within a growing organization.

• Unique work culture recognized as "Best Credit Union to Work For" from 2016-2025.

• Opportunities for professional development and training, as indicated by "Training MVP Awards" for employees.

• Membership in a financially secure and member-focused organization.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, indicating a standard full-time commitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on typical market rates for a Graphic Designer with 3-5 years of experience in a mid-sized city like Murfreesboro, TN, and within the financial services industry. Ascend Federal Credit Union's accolades for employee treatment suggest a competitive benefits package, though specific details are not provided. The "40 hours per week" is a standard expectation for full-time roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Credit Union) - Ascend Federal Credit Union operates within the competitive landscape of financial services, focusing on member ownership and community impact. This industry requires a high degree of trust, security, and customer-centricity in all communications.

Company Size: Over $4 billion in assets, with approximately 650 employees serving more than 260,000 members across 27 locations. This indicates a medium-to-large organization where structured processes and clear departmental roles are essential for smooth operations.

Founded: Ascend Federal Credit Union has a history of growth and recognition, including "Federal Credit Union of the Year (NAFCU, 2015)" and consistent "Best Credit Union to Work For" awards, suggesting a stable, employee-focused environment.

Team Structure: The Graphic Designer will be part of the Marketing team, working collaboratively with other marketing professionals, including a Graphic Design Lead and digital marketing team members. This implies a structured reporting line and cross-functional collaboration within the marketing department.

Methodology: The role emphasizes strategic communication and creative development aligned with business objectives. This suggests a data-informed approach to design, where visual messaging is crafted to achieve specific marketing goals, such as member acquisition, engagement, and retention, supporting the overall operational strategy of the credit union.

Company Website: https://www.ascendfcu.org

📝 Enhancement Note: Ascend's designation as a credit union implies a member-focused, community-oriented culture rather than a purely profit-driven one. The emphasis on employee awards ("Best Credit Union to Work For," "Training MVP") suggests a strong internal culture that values employee development and well-being, which can translate to a supportive team environment for operations and creative roles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at an intermediate level, requiring 3-5 years of experience. It offers the opportunity to contribute significantly to marketing operations through creative execution and project management, with potential for specialization in areas like animation or video.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports to the Graphic Design Lead and collaborates closely with other Marketing team members. This provides a clear hierarchy for guidance and feedback, as well as opportunities to learn from more senior team members.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the credit union's brand perception, member engagement, and the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. High-quality, strategically aligned visuals are crucial for attracting new members, retaining existing ones, and promoting financial services, all of which are key to the credit union's operational success and growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to develop advanced skills in animation, video editing, and potentially other digital design aspects, as indicated by the "Develop skill set to create animations and short videos" responsibility.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Collaboration with various internal teams provides exposure to different business units and their operational needs, broadening understanding of the credit union's overall functions.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to a Senior Graphic Designer, Lead Graphic Designer, or Art Director role within the marketing department, or transition into related marketing operations management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned as a key contributor to marketing operations, with clear pathways for skill development and potential career advancement within a stable financial institution. The emphasis on "strategic goals" and "support other aspects of operation" suggests that a designer who can demonstrate business acumen alongside creative talent will find ample growth opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as #LI-Onsite, indicating a traditional office-based work environment at Ascend's corporate headquarters or a regional branch.

Office Location(s): 1524 Williams Dr., Murfreesboro, TN 37129. This location is within Middle Tennessee, serving as the credit union's Corporate Headquarters and Regional Operations Center.

Workspace Context:

• The role requires collaboration with the Marketing team, suggesting an open or shared workspace environment designed for teamwork and communication.

• Access to necessary design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and hardware (Macintosh desktop publishing system) is expected.

• The environment likely fosters a professional yet collaborative atmosphere, aligned with the company's "Best Credit Union to Work For" accolades.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (40 hours per week) are expected, with the flexibility to manage multiple projects and deadlines, typical for creative roles in marketing operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement means candidates must be able to commute to Murfreesboro, TN. The emphasis on collaboration and team environment suggests that the workspace is designed to facilitate interaction, which is crucial for the creative process and operational efficiency in marketing.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative output.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about experience, skills, and fit with the team and company culture. Expect questions related to design process, project management, and collaboration.

• Portfolio Review/Presentation: A key stage likely involving a presentation of selected portfolio pieces, where candidates will explain their design choices, process, and how their work achieved specific objectives. Be prepared to discuss how your designs supported marketing goals and operational efficiency.

• Team/Cross-functional Interview: Meeting with other marketing team members or stakeholders to assess collaboration style and communication effectiveness.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership or HR to finalize offer details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills required for this role (graphic design, digital assets, print, potentially animation/video).

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your creative process, the tools used, challenges faced, and the final outcome. Emphasize how your design solutions met objectives and adhered to brand standards.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, successful campaign delivery).

• Tailor to Ascend: If you have experience in financial services or with similar organizations, highlight those projects. Demonstrate an understanding of Ascend's brand and mission.

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: You may be given a small design task or a hypothetical scenario to solve creatively and efficiently within a set timeframe. Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach and understanding of brand consistency.

• Conceptualization: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach developing visual concepts for specific marketing campaigns or operational needs of a credit union.

• Brand Adherence: Practice articulating how you ensure designs align with established brand guidelines and strategic goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a creative role in a corporate setting like a credit union will heavily rely on the portfolio. Candidates should prepare to not only showcase their design skills but also their understanding of marketing objectives, brand consistency, and project management within an operational context. The "On-site" nature suggests in-person interviews may be the norm.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency required in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop for creating a wide range of marketing collateral.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Expert-level skills required for creating documents, presentations, and collaborating on various marketing materials.

• Macintosh Desktop Publishing System: Implies a Mac-based operating environment for design work.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for the designer, an understanding of how design impacts digital channels (web, social media) suggests familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics) to see how their graphics perform.

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tools are mentioned for this role, but awareness of how marketing automation platforms (e.g., for email campaigns) utilize graphic assets would be advantageous.

• Familiarity with cloud-based storage systems (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive) for file organization and sharing is required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office, along with Macintosh systems, defines the core technical requirements. While analytics and CRM aren't direct responsibilities, understanding their outputs (e.g., website traffic, email open rates) can inform design decisions and demonstrate a more strategic, operations-minded approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Member-Centricity: As a credit union, Ascend's operations and culture are driven by serving its members. This translates to designs that are clear, trustworthy, and beneficial to the member experience.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, with the Graphic Designer expected to work closely with the Marketing team and other internal departments.

• Excellence & Quality: Demonstrated by the "Best Credit Union to Work For" and "Training MVP" awards, suggesting a commitment to high standards in both employee experience and service delivery.

• Efficiency & Agility: The need to meet tight deadlines and manage multiple projects implies a value placed on efficient workflow and adaptability.

Collaboration Style:

• Team-Oriented: The role requires active participation in brainstorming, presenting work, and incorporating feedback from team members and leads.

• Cross-Functional: Collaboration extends beyond the immediate marketing team to support various initiatives across the credit union.

• Feedback-Driven: Designs are presented for feedback, indicating a culture that values constructive criticism for continuous improvement of marketing materials and operational effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Ascend appears to be one that balances professional excellence with employee well-being, emphasizing collaboration and member service. For a Graphic Designer, this means creating work that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also serves the strategic objectives of the credit union and contributes to a positive internal working environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Brand Consistency: Ensuring all designs are innovative yet strictly adhere to Ascend's established brand standards.

• Managing Multiple Deadlines: Effectively prioritizing and delivering high-quality work under pressure for various marketing campaigns and operational needs.

• Adapting to Evolving Design Trends: Staying current with design software, techniques, and digital platform requirements while meeting the specific needs of a financial institution.

• Translating Business Objectives into Visuals: Effectively understanding marketing strategies and translating them into compelling visual messages that resonate with target audiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in animation, video editing, and potentially explore new design software or techniques relevant to digital marketing.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining deeper insight into the financial services industry and credit union operations through cross-functional collaboration and marketing initiatives.

• Professional Development: Access to training and development programs, as evidenced by Ascend's "Training MVP Awards," to enhance design skills and project management capabilities.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Building a robust portfolio with diverse projects that demonstrate strategic thinking and creative problem-solving within a corporate environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a creative role supporting marketing operations, requiring a blend of artistic talent and operational discipline. Growth opportunities are tied to skill expansion and a deeper understanding of the business context, fostering a well-rounded professional.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative freedom with strict brand guidelines. How did you approach it?" (Focus on process, adherence, and successful outcome)

• "How do you manage your workflow when faced with multiple, competing deadlines for different projects?" (Highlight project management, prioritization, and communication strategies)

• "Walk me through a recent design project from concept to completion. What were the objectives, your process, and the results?" (Prepare a case study focusing on problem-solving, execution, and impact)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for a credit union like Ascend, as opposed to a traditional corporation or design agency?" (Research Ascend's mission, values, and community focus)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially when working on projects with shared responsibility?" (Provide examples of teamwork and communication)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, outline the problem, your solution, and the outcome. Quantify results where possible.

• Highlight Process: Discuss your creative journey, including initial concepts, revisions, and why you made certain design choices.

• Demonstrate Technical Skill: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and any other relevant tools.

• Brand Adherence: Clearly show how you applied brand guidelines and maintained consistency across different media.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, challenges, and how your work contributes to business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also an understanding of business objectives, brand management, and efficient project execution, which are critical for a role supporting marketing operations. The portfolio presentation is paramount for this role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Ascend Federal Credit Union's careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating proficiency in graphic design for marketing, digital media (web/social), and print collateral. Include examples that showcase your ability to work within brand guidelines and manage projects independently.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 3-5 years of relevant experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office, and strong communication/collaboration skills. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, project management approach, and how your work contributes to business objectives. Prepare to present your portfolio and answer strategy and behavioral questions.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Ascend Federal Credit Union's mission, values, recent campaigns, and its reputation as a credit union and employer. Understand their member-centric approach and community impact.

⚠️ 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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