Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer Company: HDR Location: Omaha, Nebraska, United States Job Type: Full-time, Regular Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services Date Posted: December 12, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Project Lifecycle Management: Overseeing graphic design projects from initial concept, through development, to final delivery, ensuring alignment with project goals and client expectations. This involves meticulous planning, resource allocation, and timeline management crucial for effective Go-To-Market (GTM) execution.
• Creative Material Development: Conceptualizing and designing a wide range of corporate and marketing collateral, including but not limited to brochures, presentations, digital assets, and branding elements, to support various business initiatives and campaigns.
• Quality Assurance & Control: Implementing rigorous quality control measures throughout the design process, from initial proofing to final press checks and digital deployment, ensuring all materials meet high standards of visual integrity and brand consistency.
• Client & Stakeholder Collaboration: Partnering closely with internal clients, external stakeholders, and fellow designers to understand project requirements, provide creative direction, and ensure deliverables effectively communicate the intended message and brand identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided description is for a Graphic Designer, its emphasis on project management, client collaboration, corporate and marketing materials, and quality control strongly aligns with the needs of Marketing Operations and Creative Services functions within a larger GTM strategy. The role requires not just artistic skill but also operational rigor in execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute design concepts for a variety of marketing and corporate materials, ensuring brand consistency and adherence to project briefs.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously from initiation to completion, including scope definition, timeline management, and stakeholder communication.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and other GTM teams to understand their design needs and translate them into compelling visual assets.
• Conduct thorough research on new technology, production techniques, and design processes to enhance project outcomes and efficiency.
• Oversee quality control by reviewing and approving proofs, coordinating press checks, and ensuring the final deployment of materials is accurate and effective.
• Assist in the development of presentations and serve as a contributor or leader in relevant meetings and task force assignments.
• Provide creative leadership and mentorship to junior designers or team members working on shared projects.
• Maintain and evolve brand guidelines, ensuring all design outputs align with HDR's established visual identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and operational project management, typical for a mid-level role that is expected to contribute to overall GTM effectiveness through strong visual communication and process adherence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Web Design, Fine Arts, or a closely related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: A degree in a design-related field is preferred, indicating a foundational understanding of design principles and theory, which is critical for consistent brand application and effective visual communication in a corporate setting.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of professional industry experience in graphic design, with a proven track record of managing design projects from concept to completion.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: This experience level suggests the candidate should be proficient in core design tasks and possess some project management capabilities, ready to handle moderately complex assignments independently.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for all creative output.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) for document creation, presentations, and data integration.
• Design Versatility: Demonstrated ability to design across a wide range of styles and mediums, adapting to diverse project requirements.
• Visual Acuity: Keen eye for design details, including typography, alignment, visual hierarchy, color theory, and layout composition.
• Portfolio: A compelling and comprehensive portfolio showcasing a diverse range of design projects, demonstrating creative problem-solving and execution.
• Soft Skills: Excellent customer service, verbal and written communication, negotiation, flexibility, time management, project management, detail orientation, leadership, and teamwork skills.
• Brand Understanding: Solid comprehension of branding principles, brand development, communication strategies, and basic market research.

Preferred Skills:

• Web Design Basics: Familiarity with web design principles, UI/UX concepts, or basic HTML/CSS could be beneficial for digital asset creation.
• Motion Graphics/Video Editing: Experience with tools like Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro for dynamic content creation.
• Data Visualization: Ability to translate complex data into clear and engaging visual representations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" list is extensive and covers both technical design proficiencies and crucial operational/soft skills, emphasizing that this role is more than just an artist; it's a designer expected to function effectively within a business context and contribute to project success.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Project Showcase: A curated collection of design projects demonstrating a range of abilities, including corporate branding, marketing collateral, digital assets, and potentially internal communications.
• Process Documentation: Examples that illustrate the design process, from initial brief and concept development to final execution and quality assurance. Highlight problem-solving approaches.
• Brand Consistency Examples: Specific pieces that show adherence to brand guidelines and how these were applied across different mediums.
• Impact Demonstration: While not explicitly stated, a portfolio that subtly hints at the impact of the design (e.g., a redesigned presentation that improved clarity) is highly advantageous.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Visualization: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their personal design workflow, including how they manage tasks, prioritize, and collaborate.
• Tool Proficiency Examples: The portfolio should ideally include work created using the specified Adobe Creative Suite tools, with implicit evidence of efficient use.
• Quality Control Evidence: While hard to showcase, discussing how quality control was integrated into past projects during an interview will be crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't explicitly demand a "process portfolio" in the GTM operations sense, a strong design portfolio is fundamentally a collection of executed processes and their outcomes. Candidates should be ready to articulate the "how" behind their "what."

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Graphic Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Omaha, Nebraska, the estimated salary range is $55,000 - $75,000 annually. This range accounts for the cost of living in Omaha and the specific skill set required, including Adobe Creative Suite proficiency and project management capabilities.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: This estimate is derived from salary data for similar roles in the Omaha metropolitan area, considering the mid-level experience requirement and the comprehensive skill set requested. Specific compensation will depend on individual qualifications and experience.

Benefits:

• Employee Ownership: As an employee-owned company, HDR offers a unique benefit where employees can share in the company's success.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Typically includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement Savings Plan: Often includes a 401(k) plan with company matching contributions.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, certifications, and continuing education, especially relevant for staying current with design software and trends.
• Wellness Programs: Initiatives aimed at supporting employee health and well-being.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule is typically 40 hours per week.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is on-site, the company culture emphasizes flexibility and employee empowerment, which may translate to some degree of schedule flexibility where operational needs allow.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Services. Company Size: HDR is a large, global firm, employing over 13,000 people across its network. This scale implies robust internal processes, extensive resources, and a diverse range of projects. Founded: 1917. With over a century of history, HDR has a well-established reputation and a deep understanding of its industry, fostering a culture of expertise and longevity.

Team Structure:

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Designers work within project teams that often include engineers, architects, planners, and other specialists. This requires strong communication and the ability to translate technical concepts into accessible visuals.
• Departmental Integration: The Graphic Designer likely sits within a marketing or communications department, collaborating closely with GTM functions like business development, marketing strategy, and proposal management.
• Reporting Hierarchy: The role likely reports to a Design Manager, Creative Director, or Marketing Director, who oversees creative output and project assignments.

Methodology:

• Client-Centric Approach: HDR's description emphasizes creating a welcoming environment and focusing on impact, suggesting a client-focused approach where design solutions are tailored to meet specific client needs and project objectives.
• Data-Informed Design: While not explicitly stated for design, the broader engineering context implies an appreciation for data and analytical thinking, which can be applied to understanding design effectiveness and user engagement.
• Innovation & Improvement: The company's commitment to "novel ideas" and "changing the world for the better" suggests an environment that encourages creative problem-solving and continuous process improvement.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: HDR's culture as an employee-owned firm in the AEC sector shapes its operational ethos. For a Graphic Designer, this means being part of a large, established organization that values expertise, collaboration, and making a tangible impact, often serving diverse client needs within complex projects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Designer. This role is a step beyond entry-level, requiring independent project execution, client interaction, and potentially some mentorship of junior staff. It's a position where individuals are expected to contribute significantly to project success and brand consistency.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Marketing Manager, who provides strategic direction and oversees project assignments. Collaboration will extend across various departments, including engineering, architecture, and business development teams, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's role directly impacts the company's external perception and internal communication effectiveness. High-quality visuals enhance proposals, marketing materials, and brand recognition, which are critical for winning new business and reinforcing HDR's market position. Their work contributes to the overall Go-To-Market strategy by ensuring consistent and compelling brand messaging.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Graphic Designer/Art Director: Progression to roles with greater creative oversight, responsibility for larger or more complex projects, and potentially managing a team of designers.
• Specialization: Opportunities to specialize in areas like branding, digital design, data visualization, or motion graphics, becoming a subject matter expert.
• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gaining deeper insights into marketing strategy, proposal development, or specific AEC disciplines to better align design solutions with business objectives.
• Leadership Training: As an employee-owner, there may be opportunities for leadership development programs to prepare for future management or influential roles within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a Graphic Designer at a firm like HDR involves deepening creative expertise and expanding operational responsibilities, with potential to move into leadership or specialized roles that impact the company's broader GTM and business development efforts.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, in a professional office setting within the AEC industry. This environment is typically collaborative, with shared workspaces and meeting areas designed for team interaction. Office Location(s): Omaha, Nebraska. This location likely offers a vibrant professional community and access to various resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is expected to foster collaboration, with opportunities to interact with colleagues from diverse disciplines (engineering, architecture, marketing) on a daily basis.
• Technology-Rich: Access to industry-standard design software and hardware, ensuring designers have the tools needed to produce high-quality work.
• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, project reviews, and informal discussions are part of the daily routine, promoting knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour workweek, with potential for some flexibility depending on project deadlines and team needs. The focus is on delivering results and maintaining project timelines within a structured work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of this role emphasizes the value HDR places on in-person collaboration, mentorship, and the dynamic exchange of ideas that is often facilitated by a shared physical workspace, particularly within a large, multi-disciplinary firm.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative fit.
• Technical Interview: Likely to involve a discussion about your design process, software proficiency (especially Adobe Creative Suite), and problem-solving approach. Be prepared to walk through specific projects in your portfolio.
• Skills Assessment/Challenge: You may be given a design challenge or a case study to complete, either during the interview or as a take-home assignment, to evaluate your practical skills and approach to a real-world problem.
• Behavioral/Cultural Interview: Questions assessing teamwork, communication, client interaction, and alignment with HDR's employee-owner culture.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss your overall fit and potential contributions to the company's GTM strategy.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your versatility, problem-solving skills, and ability to meet diverse design needs. Include examples relevant to corporate branding, marketing, and potentially digital assets.
• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the design process you followed, challenges encountered, and the outcome. Highlight how your design solutions addressed specific objectives.
• Demonstrate Brand Understanding: Include examples where you successfully applied or developed brand guidelines.
• Highlight Technical Proficiency: Ensure your work demonstrates mastery of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Quantify Impact (If Possible): If any of your designs led to measurable results (e.g., improved engagement, successful proposal win), be ready to discuss this.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully analyze any design challenge, identifying the core objective, target audience, and constraints.
• Structure Your Approach: Outline your thought process: research, concept development, sketching, digital execution, and refinement.
• Focus on Process: Be ready to explain your design decisions and how they align with the brief and best practices.
• Time Management: Practice completing design tasks within a set timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Graphic Designer role at a large firm like HDR will scrutinize both creative output and the operational discipline behind it. A well-prepared portfolio presentation is crucial for demonstrating not just talent, but also the ability to execute effectively within a business context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • Photoshop: For raster image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, illustrations, and complex layouts.
  • InDesign: For page layout, document design (brochures, reports, presentations), and print production.
• Microsoft Office Suite:
  • PowerPoint: For designing presentations and visual aids for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Word: For incorporating designs into documents and reports.
  • Excel: Potentially for data input or basic charting to be incorporated into designs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not direct design tools, understanding how design performance is measured (e.g., website analytics for digital assets, proposal win rates influenced by design) is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how marketing materials are distributed or managed within CRM/marketing automation platforms could provide context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable for this role. The inclusion of Microsoft Office highlights the need for integration with standard business documentation and presentation workflows, bridging creative output with corporate communication needs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Employee Ownership & Collaboration: A core value at HDR, fostering a sense of shared responsibility, mutual respect, and a willingness to support colleagues across departments.
• Impact & Innovation: A drive to create meaningful change and develop novel solutions, encouraging designers to think creatively and contribute to impactful projects.
• Integrity & Excellence: A commitment to high standards in work quality, client service, and ethical conduct, ensuring professionalism and reliability in all design outputs.
• Inclusion & Diversity: Actively promoting an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, enriching the creative process and fostering a sense of belonging for all employees.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with engineers, architects, marketing professionals, and business development teams, requiring clear communication and an understanding of different professional languages and priorities.
• Feedback-Driven Improvement: An open environment for constructive feedback on designs, enabling iterative improvements and ensuring deliverables meet evolving project requirements.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design trends, and technical skills among team members to foster collective growth and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: HDR's culture as an employee-owned firm deeply influences its operational values. For a Graphic Designer, this translates to a collaborative, results-oriented environment where individual contributions are valued and contribute to the broader success of the company and its clients.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Corporate Constraints: Effectively translating subjective creative ideas into objective, brand-aligned designs that meet business objectives and technical requirements.
• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Demands: Juggling requests and feedback from various internal clients who may have differing opinions or priorities.
• Keeping Pace with Evolving Design Trends & Technology: Continuously learning new software, techniques, and design aesthetics to maintain relevance and deliver cutting-edge visuals.
• Translating Complex Technical Information: Visually communicating intricate engineering or architectural concepts in an understandable and appealing manner for diverse audiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Access to courses and workshops to master new features or specialized tools within the Adobe Creative Suite or other relevant software.
• Industry Conferences & Webinars: Opportunities to attend AEC industry events or design conferences to stay abreast of trends, network, and gain inspiration.
• Mentorship Programs: Learning from experienced designers or creative leads within HDR to develop strategic thinking and leadership skills.
• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Gaining exposure to proposal development, marketing strategy, or specific engineering/architectural projects to enhance design relevance and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for adaptability, strong communication, and continuous learning. Growth opportunities are geared towards deepening technical expertise, expanding strategic understanding, and developing leadership potential within the organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Describe your typical design process from receiving a brief to final delivery. How do you ensure quality and stakeholder alignment at each stage?" (Focus on workflow, communication, and QA).
• Problem-Solving: "Tell me about a time you had to design something complex or abstract. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight research, conceptualization, and clarity).
• Collaboration: "How do you handle conflicting feedback from different stakeholders on a design project?" (Emphasize communication, compromise, and finding solutions).

Company & Culture Questions:

• HDR's Impact: "What interests you about HDR's work in the AEC industry, and how do you see design contributing to that impact?" (Show research and alignment with company mission).
• Employee Ownership: "What are your thoughts on employee ownership, and how do you think it influences a company's culture and your role within it?" (Demonstrate understanding and enthusiasm for the model).
• Teamwork: "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a positive and productive team dynamic." (Highlight collaboration and support for colleagues).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Thematic Grouping: Organize your portfolio by project type (e.g., Branding, Marketing Collateral, Digital Assets) or by the problem you solved.
• Narrative Flow: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the challenges, your design solution, and the results/impact. Use visuals to support your narrative.
• Process Emphasis: Be ready to verbally walk through your design steps, demonstrating your thought process and technical skills.
• Tool Proficiency Showcase: Subtly highlight how specific tools were used to achieve desired effects or overcome design challenges.
• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your strongest projects efficiently, respecting the interviewer's time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only creative talent but also operational competence, problem-solving skills, and a cultural fit within HDR's unique employee-owned structure. A strong portfolio presentation is key to validating these aspects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit Application: Complete and submit your application through the HDR careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating versatility, strong design principles, and experience with corporate/marketing materials. Emphasize examples that show your process and problem-solving abilities.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly details your years of experience, proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office, and any relevant project management or client interaction experience. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, discussing your portfolio projects in detail, and preparing to answer behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and cultural fit. Research HDR's projects and values.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with HDR's mission, values, recent projects, and its employee-owned structure. Understand how design contributes to their success in the AEC industry.

⚠️ 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.