Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Enable New Zealand Limited

Location: Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

Job Type: Part Time

Category: Creative & Design / Social Services

Date Posted: 2026-05-07

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design meaningful and accessible visual content to support disabled individuals and their whānau across Aotearoa.

• Translate stories into engaging and inclusive designs for digital, print, and customer-facing platforms.

• Contribute to a values-driven organization that makes a tangible difference in the community.

• Utilize strong portfolio, print and digital media experience, and keen attention to detail to excel in this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role emphasizes accessible and inclusive design, aligning with the company's mission to support disabled people. This suggests a need for designers who are not only creative but also deeply empathetic and aware of diverse user needs, which is a critical differentiator in this specific design context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop high-quality visual assets for various channels, including digital campaigns, print publications, internal communications, employer branding materials, presentations, and customer-facing content.

• Ensure all created content adheres to accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.

• Create and maintain design templates and reusable assets to ensure brand consistency and streamline workflow efficiency.

• Collaborate effectively with external suppliers to manage production processes and guarantee the quality of final deliverables.

• Contribute to employer branding initiatives through the creation of compelling visual materials.

• Translate complex stories and information into clear, engaging, and visually appealing designs.

• Participate in design reviews and feedback sessions to continuously improve creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and process management, particularly in template development and supplier collaboration. This indicates the need for a designer who can operate independently while also managing external relationships and adhering to specific organizational standards for accessibility and brand consistency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a relevant tertiary qualification in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for roles requiring a strong portfolio.

Experience:

• 2-5 years of professional graphic design experience.

Required Skills:

• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of design projects across digital and print mediums.

• Proficiency in industry-standard design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Deep understanding and practical application of accessible design principles and inclusive design practices.

• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in all design outputs.

• Strong visual communication skills with the ability to translate concepts into compelling designs.

• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively within a team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with template development and managing reusable design assets.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) for digital asset deployment.

• Experience working with external printers and production suppliers.

• Knowledge of employer branding strategies and visual representation.

• Understanding of the disability sector or social services landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "accessible design" and "inclusive design" is paramount. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate specific examples of how they have implemented these principles in their past work, going beyond basic design aesthetics to consider user needs and accessibility standards. This is a key differentiator for this role and company.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of design projects demonstrating versatility across digital and print platforms.

• Specific examples highlighting projects where accessible and inclusive design principles were a core focus.

• Case studies or project explanations detailing the design process, problem-solving, and outcomes achieved.

• Demonstrations of template creation and the development of reusable design assets.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate the design process from brief to final delivery, including client/stakeholder consultation.

• Experience in developing and documenting design guidelines or style guides for consistency.

• Examples of how design processes were optimized for efficiency or improved outcomes.

• Documentation of how accessibility standards were integrated into the design workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's emphasis on accessibility and supporting disabled people, the portfolio should explicitly showcase how the candidate approaches design challenges with empathy and a user-centric perspective. This means not just showing the final product, but explaining the thought process behind it, especially concerning accessibility features and considerations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

For a Part-Time Graphic Designer (20 hours/week) with 2-5 years of experience in Palmerston North, New Zealand, a typical salary range would be approximately NZD $25 - $35 per hour. This translates to an annual equivalent of NZD $26,000 - $36,400 (assuming 20 hours/week for 52 weeks).

Explanation of Estimate:

This estimate is based on research of New Zealand-wide salary data for graphic designers with similar experience levels, adjusted for the specific location of Palmerston North, which generally has a slightly lower cost of living and associated salary expectations compared to major metropolitan centers like Auckland or Wellington. The part-time nature (20 hours/week) significantly impacts the total annual compensation. Specialized skills in accessible and inclusive design may command a premium within this range.

Benefits:

• Flexible Scheduling: The role offers 20 hours per week with flexibility in scheduling, allowing for better work-life balance.

• Meaningful Work: Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organization that supports disabled people and their whānau.

• Collaborative Environment: Work within a values-driven organization with a focus on teamwork and positive impact.

Working Hours:

• 20 hours per week.

• Flexible scheduling is available, allowing individuals to arrange working hours to suit their needs and the operational requirements of the team. This flexibility is crucial for balancing personal commitments with project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical market rates for similar roles in New Zealand. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific qualifications, experience, and the company's internal compensation structure. The "Flexible Scheduling" benefit is particularly attractive for a part-time role and should be highlighted by candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Social Services / Government & Public Sector (Crown-owned entity). Enable New Zealand operates within the crucial sector of disability support services, managing access to equipment and information on behalf of government bodies like the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). This industry demands a high level of ethical consideration, empathy, and a commitment to public service.

Company Size: Enable New Zealand is Aotearoa's largest disability equipment provider, indicating a significant operational scale. While the exact employee count isn't provided, its role suggests a substantial organization with multiple departments and a broad reach. This size implies structured processes, established communication channels, and opportunities for cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: Established as a Crown-owned entity, Enable New Zealand has a mandate to provide essential services. The specific founding date isn't given, but its operational history and role in supporting government initiatives suggest a stable and established organization with a long-term commitment to its mission.

Team Structure:

• Operations are managed from their head office in Palmerston North.

• The design role will likely be part of a marketing, communications, or broader stakeholder engagement team.

• Collaboration is expected with various internal departments to understand their visual needs and support their initiatives.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, especially regarding service provision and effectiveness, likely influences communication strategies.

• A strong emphasis on user-centric design, particularly for disabled people and their whānau, forms the core of their communication approach.

• Workflow optimization is implied by the need for template development and working with external suppliers to ensure efficient production.

• Commitment to continuous improvement and adapting services to meet evolving needs.

Company Website: https://enable.co.nz/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to support disabled people and their whānau is central to its culture. This means that empathy, inclusivity, and a genuine desire to make a difference are likely core values. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of and alignment with these values, going beyond just technical design skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer, requiring 2-5 years of experience. It involves independent work on specific design projects, template creation, and supplier management, but likely within a defined creative framework and under the guidance of a senior designer or communications manager. It's a role where foundational skills are applied to meaningful projects.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager, Communications Manager, or a Senior Graphic Designer. This structure provides guidance and oversight while allowing for autonomy in day-to-day design tasks.

Operations Impact: The graphic designer's work directly impacts how Enable New Zealand communicates its mission, services, and values to its diverse stakeholders. This includes disabled individuals, their families, government agencies, and potential employees. High-quality, accessible design enhances engagement, builds trust, and ensures that critical information is understood by all, thereby supporting the company's overall operational effectiveness and reach.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in accessible and inclusive design, becoming a go-to resource for these critical areas within the organization.

• Project Leadership: Take on lead design responsibilities for specific campaigns or projects, managing them from concept to completion.

• Mentorship: As experience grows, potentially mentor junior designers or interns.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain broader understanding of the disability support sector by working closely with different departments, potentially leading to roles in communications strategy or project management within the social services sector.

• Further Education: Access opportunities for professional development courses or workshops related to advanced design techniques, accessibility standards, or digital marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not a traditional "operations" role in the sense of sales or revenue operations, the impact of this Graphic Designer is operational in that their output directly supports the company's mission delivery and stakeholder engagement. Growth opportunities are likely tied to deepening specialized design skills and contributing more broadly to the organization's communication strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Palmerston North, New Zealand, at the company's head office. This suggests a professional office environment.

Office Location(s): Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui region, New Zealand. This location offers a central base for operations within the North Island.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The company emphasizes a "collaborative, values-driven organisation." This implies an open workspace or team-oriented approach where designers can interact with colleagues, share ideas, and receive feedback.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to standard office technology and design software. The company's reliance on digital and print channels means the design team will be well-equipped with necessary hardware and software.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage with colleagues from various departments, fostering a holistic understanding of the organization's work and needs. The part-time nature may mean careful coordination is needed to maximize team interaction.

Work Schedule:

• 20 hours per week, with flexible scheduling. This allows for a balance between focused design work and personal commitments. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they manage their time effectively within a part-time, flexible framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "values-driven" aspect of the company culture, combined with a focus on supporting disabled people, suggests an inclusive and supportive physical workspace. The flexibility in scheduling is a key feature of the work environment that allows for better work-life integration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit resume and portfolio through the BambooHR portal.

• Portfolio Review: Shortlisted candidates will have their portfolios reviewed by the hiring team to assess design quality, technical skills, and alignment with the role's requirements, particularly regarding accessibility.

• Interview(s): Likely involves one or more interviews, potentially including:

  • A discussion about your design philosophy, experience, and approach to accessible and inclusive design.
  • A review of specific projects from your portfolio, discussing your role, process, and outcomes.
  • Questions about how you handle feedback, collaborate with others, and manage your time effectively in a part-time capacity.
  • An assessment of cultural fit and alignment with Enable New Zealand's values.

• Skills Assessment (Potential): A small design task or exercise might be given to assess practical skills and problem-solving abilities in a context relevant to the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Accessibility: Clearly label and explain projects where accessible design was a priority. Use case study formats to detail the challenges, your solutions, and the impact.

• Demonstrate Versatility: Include examples from both digital (web graphics, social media, presentations) and print (brochures, reports, collateral).

• Highlight Template Work: If you have examples of creating templates or style guides, showcase these to demonstrate efficiency and brand consistency skills.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or describe qualitative outcomes to illustrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Keep it Concise: Curate your strongest work that is most relevant to this role. Ensure easy navigation and clear descriptions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Accessibility Standards: Familiarize yourself with common accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG principles) and how they translate into visual design.

• Company Mission: Understand Enable New Zealand's mission and values. Be prepared to discuss how your design work can contribute to their goals.

• Time Management: For a part-time role, demonstrating an ability to manage your workload efficiently and meet deadlines is crucial. Think about how you prioritize tasks.

• Collaborative Scenarios: Consider how you would approach design requests from different departments or how you would handle constructive criticism on your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's understanding and practical application of accessible and inclusive design. Applicants should prepare to articulate their process for incorporating these principles, not just list them as skills. This is a critical area for assessment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for creating a wide range of visual assets.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Strong skills in Word, PowerPoint, and potentially Excel are needed for creating documents, presentations, and internal communications. PowerPoint, in particular, will be key for developing accessible presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how visual assets are deployed through marketing automation or CRM-related systems could be an advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools will be design-centric. The emphasis is on creative output and production efficiency. While analytical tools are not primary, an awareness of how design impacts user engagement and accessibility metrics would be a valuable differentiator.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven: A strong commitment to the organization's mission of supporting disabled people and their whānau. This means designs should be empathetic, respectful, and contribute positively to the user experience.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: A fundamental value that permeates all work. Designs must be created with diverse needs in mind, ensuring they are usable and understandable by everyone.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with colleagues across different departments and with external suppliers to achieve shared goals. Open communication and teamwork are key.

• Continuous Improvement: A mindset focused on enhancing processes, design quality, and the overall impact of their work. This includes seeking feedback and adapting to new best practices.

• Integrity & Respect: Upholding high ethical standards in all interactions and communications.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers will work closely with marketing, communications, and potentially service delivery teams to understand their needs and translate them into effective visual solutions.

• Feedback Loops: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and used to refine designs. This requires designers to be open to critique and able to articulate their design rationale.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing of design best practices, new techniques, and insights into accessibility standards to elevate the team's overall capability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are deeply intertwined with its mission. Candidates should be able to articulate how their personal values align with Enable New Zealand's, demonstrating a genuine commitment to social impact and inclusive practices beyond just executing design tasks.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Accessibility with Aesthetics: Creating designs that are both visually appealing and fully accessible can be a complex challenge requiring creative problem-solving.

• Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Catering to the varied requirements of different departments and ensuring designs meet the needs of a diverse user base, including those with disabilities.

• Managing Part-Time Workflow: Effectively prioritizing tasks and managing time to meet project deadlines within a 20-hour work week, especially when dealing with multiple competing demands.

• Staying Current: Keeping up-to-date with evolving design trends, accessibility standards, and digital technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Accessibility Training: Opportunities to deepen knowledge in advanced accessible design techniques and certifications.

• Project Management Skills: Developing skills in managing design projects from start to finish, including client liaison and timeline management.

• Cross-Departmental Learning: Gaining insights into the broader operations of disability support services, which can inform more impactful design strategies.

• Portfolio Expansion: Contributing to high-profile campaigns and projects that can significantly enhance a professional portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be integrating accessibility seamlessly into creative work. Growth opportunities are geared towards deepening specialized skills in accessibility and potentially broadening project management capabilities within a mission-driven context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for ensuring a design is both visually engaging and fully accessible." (Focus on specific steps, tools, and considerations).

• "How do you approach creating design assets for a diverse audience, including individuals with disabilities?" (Highlight empathy, research, and user-centric methods).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Enable New Zealand's mission and our work with disabled people and their whānau?" (Connect your passion for design with their social impact).

• "How do you see your design skills contributing to our values of inclusivity and accessibility?" (Give specific examples of how your approach aligns).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Accessibility Case Studies: Prepare 1-2 detailed case studies focusing on projects where accessibility was a key consideration. Explain the problem, your design approach, the specific accessibility features implemented, and the results.

• Template Examples: Showcase any templates or style guides you've created, explaining how they promote consistency and efficiency.

• Digital vs. Print: Be ready to discuss your experience and preferences for both digital and print design, highlighting relevant projects for each.

• Workflow Explanation: Be prepared to walk through your typical design process for a project, from brief to final delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to speak extensively about accessible design. This is not an optional skill but a core requirement. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate practical knowledge and a genuine commitment to creating inclusive visual experiences.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the BambooHR careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating your skills in accessible and inclusive design, as well as your experience with both print and digital media. Tailor your presentation to highlight template creation and strong attention to detail.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 2-5 years of experience, proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite), and any specific achievements related to accessible design or project management.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to accessibility, and your time management strategies for a part-time role. Prepare specific examples from your portfolio that align with the job description and Enable New Zealand's mission.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Enable New Zealand's mission, values, and the services they provide. Understand their commitment to supporting disabled people and their whānau, and be ready to discuss how your design work can contribute to this purpose.

⚠️ 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.