Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer Company: Hugh Baird College Location: Bootle, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom Job Type: Part-Time Category: Marketing & Communications Operations Date Posted: 2025-08-01T14:48:27 Experience Level: Mid-level (2-5 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and execute creative design concepts across both digital and print media to enhance the College's brand identity and marketing efforts.
• Manage the end-to-end design process, from concept generation to final artwork preparation for print and digital deployment, ensuring brand consistency.
• Collaborate effectively with internal departments and external creative partners to deliver high-quality, impactful visual assets that support student recruitment and engagement goals.
• Maintain and organize a comprehensive library of creative assets, ensuring efficient access and retrieval for various college initiatives and projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Graphic Designer," its responsibilities within a "Marketing & Admissions" department, focusing on brand development, student recruitment, and audience engagement, place it within the broader scope of Marketing Operations. The emphasis on developing visual assets for campaigns and ensuring brand cohesion across all touchpoints is critical for supporting the College's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and produce compelling visual assets for a wide range of channels, including prospectuses, social media campaigns, advertising materials, external signage, posters, flyers, website content, and branded merchandise.
• Contribute to the strategic refinement and consistent application of the College’s visual brand identity across all market segments and customer touchpoints, implementing robust quality control measures.
• Ensure alignment and cohesion of the College’s branded content across all online and offline platforms through effective cross-functional coordination and clear communication strategies.
• Manage relationships and collaborate with external creative partners, such as photographers, videographers, and animators, to ensure project quality and timely delivery.
• Prepare final artwork for print production, liaising with print suppliers to guarantee quality, consistency, and adherence to deadlines, managing vendor relationships for optimal outcomes.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders, including academic departments and administrative teams, to understand design needs, provide creative solutions, and foster productive working relationships.
• Maintain an organized and accessible library of creative assets, including artwork, photography, and video content, ensuring efficient retrieval and version control for all marketing collateral.
• Effectively manage multiple concurrent design projects, prioritizing tasks and delivering high-quality results within challenging deadlines while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Collaborate with the broader Marketing team to generate innovative creative solutions that directly support campaign objectives and enhance target audience engagement.
• Support the planning and execution of college events, such as recruitment fairs, award ceremonies, and student celebrations, by creating engaging visual assets and event branding.
• Proactively research and integrate emerging design trends and technologies to ensure the College’s creative output remains modern, relevant, and competitive.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for strategic thinking in design to support recruitment and engagement, implying a role in influencing GTM messaging. The emphasis on quality control and brand consistency suggests the need for process-driven execution, typical of operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Degree-level qualification in Graphic Design or a related creative field, demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and practices.
• Qualified at Level 2 in English and Maths, essential for clear communication, understanding briefs, and managing project documentation.

Experience:

• Previous experience in a dedicated Graphic Designer role, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality visual assets.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple design projects concurrently, often under tight deadlines, showcasing strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency and hands-on experience with print production processes, including knowledge of different print mediums, formats, specifications, and supplier liaison.
• Experience in identifying and implementing appropriate print and design solutions within budget constraints and project timelines.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design: Expertise in creating visually appealing and effective designs for diverse applications.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop for vector graphics, page layout, and image editing.
• Print Design: Comprehensive understanding of print production workflows, color management, and pre-press preparation.
• Digital Design: Ability to design for digital platforms, including websites, social media, and digital advertising, with an understanding of responsive design principles.
• Brand Development: Experience in applying and maintaining brand guidelines to ensure visual consistency and strengthen brand identity.
• Project Management: Skills in managing design projects from initiation to completion, including task prioritization and deadline adherence.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners, fostering positive working relationships.
• Quality Control: Meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy and high standards in all design outputs.

Preferred Skills:

• Video Production/Animation: Ability to capture, edit, and produce video and animated content for digital and social media channels.
• Social Media Content Creation: Experience designing engaging visual content tailored for various social media platforms.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proven ability to effectively communicate with and manage expectations of internal and external stakeholders.
• Trend Research: Capacity to stay updated on current design trends and emerging technologies to inform creative output.
• Asset Management: Experience in organizing and maintaining a library of creative assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Desirable" qualifications, such as video and animation skills, and the emphasis on a strong portfolio, suggest that candidates with a broader digital skillset and proven project management capabilities relevant to marketing operations will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong, curated portfolio demonstrating a diverse range of high-quality and engaging promotional materials for various briefs and formats, specifically including both print and online collateral.
• Evidence of strategic thinking in design, showcasing how creative solutions supported specific campaign goals or improved audience engagement.
• Examples of maintaining brand consistency across multiple channels, illustrating an understanding of brand governance and quality control processes.
• Case studies or examples that highlight the ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work within budget constraints.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate understanding of the design workflow from brief receipt to final delivery, including concept development, feedback incorporation, and asset finalization for print and digital platforms.
• Showcase experience in preparing artwork for print, including understanding file formats, color modes (CMYK), and resolution requirements for different printing processes.
• Provide examples of digital asset creation, considering web-safe colors, file optimization for loading speed, and appropriate formats (e.g., JPG, PNG, SVG) for web and social media.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that includes print and online materials, alongside evidence of brand consistency and project management, directly aligns with the need for candidates to demonstrate operational proficiency in delivering marketing assets. This includes process adherence and quality assurance.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• £28,836 - £30,696 per year (Pro-rata for part-time).
• 📝 Enhancement Note: This salary range is for a part-time (0.5 FTE, 17.5 hours per week) position. The full-time equivalent would typically be in the range of £57,672 - £61,392 annually. Given the mid-level experience requirement and the location in the Liverpool City Region, this range appears competitive for a part-time role within the education sector. The specific salary within the band will depend on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Generous Holiday Allowance: Up to 50 days annual holiday allowance (pro-rata), excluding bank holidays, offering excellent work-life balance.
• Flexible Working: Options available depending on business needs, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
• Medicash Health Plan: Access to a health plan for personal wellbeing and access to treatment and support.
• Pension Scheme: Access to either the Teachers' Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme, depending on the role.
• Professional Development: Commitment to continuous professional development through formal and informal opportunities.
• Industrial Commercial Updates: 35 hours per year allocated for visiting commercial operations to bring back innovative ideas.
• Reward and Recognition: Employee reward scheme ('Get Recognised') and annual staff celebration events.
• Lifestyle Fitness Gym: Discounted access to the on-campus gym.
• Health and Wellbeing: Opportunities for staff groups (yoga, walking, meditation), Mental Health support, and a Cycle to Work scheme.
• Travel: Discounted rail/bus travel, interest-free season ticket loans, and free on-campus parking.
• Retail Discounts: Access to cashback and discounts at well-known retailers.

Working Hours:

• Part-Time, Permanent, 17.5 hours per week (0.5 FTE).
• 📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of 17.5 hours per week clarifies the part-time nature, impacting the pro-rata calculation of salary and holiday. This structure requires excellent time management to deliver on responsibilities within the allocated hours.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education (Further and Higher Education) Company Size: Over 5,000 students, indicating a substantial educational institution with a significant operational footprint. Founded: Hugh Baird College has a history as a significant education provider in Merseyside. The focus on serving the local community and helping individuals reach their potential defines its mission.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will join the Marketing & Admissions Department, suggesting close collaboration with marketing strategists, admissions officers, and potentially student support services.
• Reporting structure likely involves a Marketing Manager or Head of Marketing, with direct oversight of design projects and brand compliance.
• Cross-functional collaboration is expected with various college departments (e.g., curriculum departments, student services, HR) to gather design requirements and support their initiatives.

Methodology:

• The College emphasizes a data-driven approach to student recruitment and engagement, implying that design efforts are expected to contribute to measurable outcomes.
• Workflow planning and optimization are crucial, especially given the part-time nature of the role, requiring efficient project management and clear communication channels.
• Automation is likely utilized in marketing and admissions processes, and the designer's work will need to integrate seamlessly with these systems.

Company Website: https://hughbaird.ac.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Ofsted Outstanding" rating signifies a high standard of educational delivery and operational efficiency, suggesting a professional and results-oriented work environment. The "Mindful Employer" status indicates a commitment to employee wellbeing and mental health support.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level specialist within the Marketing & Admissions function, focusing on the execution of visual brand strategy. It requires a blend of creative talent and operational discipline to manage projects and maintain brand integrity.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report into the Marketing & Admissions department, likely to a Marketing Manager or similar leadership role. This structure provides guidance and strategic direction for design projects.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the College's brand perception, student attraction, and overall communication effectiveness. High-quality design is crucial for successful student recruitment campaigns, event promotion, and maintaining a professional institutional image, thereby contributing significantly to the College's GTM strategy.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Potential for growth into a Senior Graphic Designer or Art Director role within the College or similar institutions, with increased responsibility for campaign strategy and brand oversight.
• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to develop expertise in specialized areas like motion graphics, UX/UI design for the College website, or digital marketing campaign design.
• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and strategic input, there may be opportunities to lead design projects or manage freelance designers, fostering leadership capabilities within an operations context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a pathway to deepen expertise in marketing operations and brand management within the education sector. Growth could involve taking on more strategic design responsibilities or managing specific marketing collateral production processes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the Hugh Baird College Main Campus in Bootle, Liverpool. This implies an on-site working environment within a college campus setting, which typically includes administrative offices, teaching facilities, and student support areas.

Office Location(s): Hugh Baird College - Main Campus, Balliol Road, Liverpool, L20 7EW. This location is accessible within the Merseyside region.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be within the Marketing & Admissions department, fostering a collaborative environment with marketing professionals.
• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including Adobe Creative Suite, will be provided.
• Opportunities for interaction with various College departments will facilitate a broad understanding of institutional operations and design needs.

Work Schedule:

• Part-time, 17.5 hours per week. The specific days and hours may offer some flexibility, allowing for efficient management of design tasks and personal commitments.
• 📝 Enhancement Note: While flexible working is mentioned, the part-time nature necessitates structured workdays to ensure project continuity and stakeholder accessibility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: The hiring team will review applications, focusing on CVs and portfolios to assess design skills, experience, and alignment with role requirements.
• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design rationale, process, and the impact of their work. This is a critical step to evaluate creative thinking and communication skills.
• Skills Assessment/Task: A practical design task or case study may be assigned to assess proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, problem-solving abilities, and adherence to brand guidelines under timed conditions.
• Interview Panel: Interviews will involve members of the Marketing & Admissions team, potentially including the Marketing Manager and other relevant stakeholders, to assess cultural fit, technical ability, and understanding of the College's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills relevant to the role (print, digital, brand consistency, project management).
• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the brief, your creative process, the tools used, any challenges faced, and the outcome or impact of your design. Quantify results where possible.
• Highlight Brand Consistency: Include examples where you've applied or developed brand guidelines effectively.
• Showcase Versatility: Demonstrate your ability to design for different mediums (print, web, social media) and for diverse audiences.
• Organize Clearly: Ensure your portfolio is easy to navigate, both digitally and in any presentation format.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Familiarize yourself with Hugh Baird College's current visual identity, marketing materials, and target audience.
• Practice Design Tasks: Rehearse creating assets for common college marketing scenarios (e.g., a social media post for an open day, a flyer for a new course).
• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your design decision-making, workflow, and how you manage feedback.
• Prepare Questions: Have thoughtful questions ready about the role, the team, the College's marketing strategy, and design processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio and a potential design task highlights the practical, execution-focused nature of this role, common in operations and creative execution roles. Successful candidates will demonstrate both creative flair and operational efficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency expected in Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, icons), InDesign (page layout, brochures, prospectuses), and Photoshop (image editing, web graphics, social media assets).
• Graphic Design Software: General familiarity with other design-related software may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly a design tool, understanding how design assets perform on digital platforms (e.g., social media engagement metrics, website click-through rates) is advantageous. Familiarity with basic analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics, social media insights) could be a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tools are specified for the designer role itself, but understanding how design assets integrate with marketing automation platforms or CRM systems for campaign deployment would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite, emphasizing the technical skills needed for effective visual asset creation and production, which are foundational for marketing operations execution.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to producing high-quality design work that reflects the "Ofsted Outstanding" status of the College.
• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams across the College to gather requirements and deliver impactful design solutions.
• Innovation: Proactively seeking new design trends and technologies to keep the College's visual communications fresh and relevant.
• Efficiency: Managing time and resources effectively to deliver projects on time and within budget, particularly crucial for a part-time role.
• Student Focus: Ensuring all design work supports the College's mission to inspire, challenge, and transform lives for its students.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with marketing strategists, content creators, admissions staff, and potentially academic departments to ensure design aligns with overall objectives.
• Process Review: An openness to feedback and iterative design processes to refine creative output and ensure it meets stakeholder needs.
• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing design expertise to the marketing team and learning from colleagues in other disciplines to foster a collaborative and knowledgeable environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on student focus, quality, and efficiency aligns with core operational values. The collaborative style suggests a team that values input and shared success in achieving institutional goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity and Brand Consistency: Effectively translating creative ideas while strictly adhering to established brand guidelines requires a strategic approach to design.
• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Needs: Juggling design requests from various departments, each with potentially different priorities and expectations, demands strong project management and communication skills.
• Adapting to Evolving Design Trends: Staying current with digital and print design trends while maintaining the College's established brand identity can be a continuous challenge.
• Working Part-Time: Maximizing impact and project completion within a 17.5-hour work week requires exceptional time management, prioritization, and efficient workflow execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Developing a deeper understanding of marketing campaign operations, brand management strategies, and the educational sector's marketing nuances.
• Industry Conference/Workshops: Potential to attend design or marketing conferences and workshops to stay abreast of industry best practices and emerging technologies.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced marketing professionals within the College, gaining insights into broader marketing and communications strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge revolves around operational efficiency and strategic execution within a part-time capacity. Growth opportunities lie in deepening expertise in marketing operations and brand management within the education sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach developing a creative concept for a student recruitment campaign, ensuring it aligns with the College's brand and targets specific demographics?" (Focus on process, research, and strategic thinking).
• "Describe a time you had to manage conflicting design feedback from multiple stakeholders. How did you resolve it and ensure a successful outcome?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and project management).
• "How do you ensure brand consistency across various print and digital platforms? What quality control measures do you typically implement?" (Focus on process, attention to detail, and brand governance).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Hugh Baird College and its mission? How do you see your design work contributing to that mission?" (Demonstrate research and alignment with values).
• "How do you approach collaboration within a team, especially when working part-time?" (Highlight communication, proactivity, and teamwork).
• "How do you measure the success of your design work in a marketing context?" (Focus on impact, metrics, and results-driven design).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Begin with an overview of your portfolio, then dive into 2-3 key projects. For each project, detail the objective, your role, the creative process, challenges, solutions, and the results achieved.
• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your designs contributed to campaign goals, improved brand perception, or solved specific communication problems. Use data or testimonials if available.
• Demonstrate Process: Clearly articulate your workflow, from brief interpretation to final delivery, highlighting your problem-solving approach and technical skills.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Present your work confidently and be prepared to answer questions about your design decisions and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational efficiency, and strong communication skills, alongside creative talent, to align with the demands of a marketing operations role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Pinpoint platform.
• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experience in graphic design, brand management, project coordination, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcases your best work relevant to print and digital marketing collateral, and includes clear descriptions of your process and impact.
• Research the College: Familiarize yourself with Hugh Baird College's mission, values, current marketing campaigns, and target audience to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.
• Practice Interview Responses: Prepare answers to common interview questions, focusing on your design process, project management skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you contribute to marketing operations and brand consistency.

⚠️ 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.