Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer Company: ICON plc Location: Dublin, Ireland Job Type: Full-Time Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services Date Posted: September 11, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Level (5-10 years) Remote Status: On-site (with flexibility)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on creating high-impact visual assets for marketing and communications initiatives, aligning with brand guidelines and supporting GTM strategies.
• The Graphic Designer will translate stakeholder requirements into compelling designs for digital channels, presentations, events, and collateral, ensuring brand consistency.
• A key aspect involves implementing and refining design processes to improve efficiency within the design team and across the wider business.
• The position requires strong collaboration with internal teams, external agencies, and a commitment to acting as a brand ambassador for ICON.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities and context provided (supporting marketing and communications initiatives, campaign collateral, website, social media, presentations, and adherence to brand visual identity standards) place this role firmly within the broader scope of Marketing Operations or Creative Services, contributing directly to Go-To-Market (GTM) efforts through visual communication. The mention of "implement and improve overall process efficiencies within design team" also hints at operational responsibilities within the creative function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute creative visual assets from concept to completion for marketing and communications campaigns, ensuring high visual impact and brand compliance.
• Provide creative oversight, constructive feedback, and guidance to other design team members, fostering a collaborative and high-quality output environment.
• Maintain strict adherence to ICON's brand visual identity standards across all platforms, including website, social media, presentations, and collateral materials.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring technical correctness of artwork and timely delivery within agreed-upon project timelines.
• Collaborate effectively with internal design teams, broader marketing and communications departments, and external agencies to ensure cohesive creative execution of campaigns.
• Identify opportunities to implement and improve process efficiencies within the design workflow and communicate these improvements to relevant stakeholders.
• Act as a key brand ambassador for ICON, ensuring all visual communications reflect the company's values and professional image.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed, such as "design of engaging creative from inception...to final execution," "providing oversight on creative team output," "maintain design integrity across all channels," and "implement and improve overall process efficiencies within design team," indicate a role that not only executes creative tasks but also contributes to the operational effectiveness of the design function. This aligns with the need for process-oriented thinking common in operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Marketing, or a related field is required, providing a foundational understanding of design principles and marketing strategy.

Experience:

• A minimum of 4 years of professional graphic design experience is essential, demonstrating practical application of design skills and project management.
• Proven experience working within the constraints of robust visual identity guidelines and brand standards is crucial for maintaining brand consistency.
• Experience in a client-service oriented marketing environment, such as a marketing agency, professional services firm, or B2B setting, is highly preferred, indicating an understanding of stakeholder needs and business objectives.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Expert-level command of industry-standard tools including Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop for creation and manipulation of visual assets.
• Presentation Design: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint for designing impactful and brand-compliant presentations.
• Brand Management: Ability to meticulously adhere to and enforce brand visual identity guidelines across all design outputs.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication abilities for effectively conveying design concepts, receiving feedback, and collaborating with stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics: Experience with Adobe After Effects for creating dynamic visual content and animations, enhancing digital campaign impact.
• Attention to Detail: A methodical approach with a keen eye for detail to ensure accuracy and quality in all design deliverables.
• Time Management: Efficiently manage workload and prioritize tasks to meet project timelines and stakeholder expectations.
• Resourcefulness: Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to find solutions and execute tasks independently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "4 years' graphic design experience with a strong portfolio" and "experience working within the constraints of robust visual identity guidelines" suggests a need for candidates who not only possess creative talent but also understand structured processes and operational discipline within a brand framework. The preference for B2B or professional services experience highlights an understanding of client-service operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Execution: Showcase a range of design projects demonstrating proficiency in creating visually compelling collateral for digital channels, presentations, and print media.
• Brand Consistency: Highlight examples that clearly illustrate an understanding and consistent application of brand guidelines, demonstrating an ability to work within established visual identity systems.
• Project Scope: Include case studies or project examples that reflect the diversity of work mentioned, such as website graphics, social media visuals, presentation decks, whitepapers, and case studies.
• Process Integration: Provide evidence of how design processes were managed, from brief to final delivery, highlighting efficiency and adherence to timelines.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of design workflow management, from brief interpretation to final asset delivery.
• The ability to articulate how design processes were optimized for efficiency or improved stakeholder satisfaction will be a strong advantage.
• Examples of how design projects were tracked, managed, and delivered on time, particularly in a multi-stakeholder environment, are valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as "operations" responsibilities, the emphasis on "design of engaging creative from inception...to final execution," "maintain design integrity," and "implement and improve overall process efficiencies" implies a need for candidates who can manage their design work as a process. A portfolio that showcases not just aesthetic output but also the process behind it, including how timelines were managed and brand standards were upheld, will be highly beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry standards for a Graphic Designer with 4-10 years of experience in Dublin, Ireland, the estimated annual salary range is €40,000 - €60,000. This estimate considers the cost of living, market demand for design skills, and the specific requirements of a global organization like ICON plc.
• Methodology: This range is derived from analyzing compensation data for similar roles in the Dublin area from sources like Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, and industry-specific salary surveys, adjusted for the stated experience level and the nature of the work in a clinical research organization.

Benefits:

• Annual Leave: Various annual leave entitlements, offering flexibility and work-life balance.
• Health Insurance: A range of health insurance offerings to cater to individual and family needs.
• Retirement Planning: Competitive retirement planning offerings to support long-term financial security.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Global EAP, TELUS Health, providing 24/7 access to professional support for well-being.
• Life Assurance: Provision of life assurance for peace of mind.
• Flexible Benefits: Country-specific optional benefits, which may include childcare vouchers, bike purchase schemes, discounted gym memberships, subsidized travel passes, and health assessments, allowing for customization based on individual needs.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are likely around 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. The description notes "Office Based with Flexibility," suggesting a hybrid or flexible approach to working hours within the standard work week, allowing for effective management of creative processes and stakeholder interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are comprehensive and industry-standard for a large, international organization. The emphasis on flexibility within the working hours is a positive note for candidates looking for a balance between structured work and personal needs, which is often a consideration in operations-related roles that require focused work periods.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Intelligence / Clinical Research Organization (CRO). ICON plc operates at the forefront of clinical development, providing essential services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. This context means the visual communications must be professional, accurate, and instill trust. Company Size: ICON plc is a large, global organization, indicated by its widespread operations and comprehensive benefits package. This scale offers opportunities for diverse projects and exposure to various business functions. Founded: ICON was founded in 1990. Its long history suggests stability, established processes, and a mature corporate culture.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of a "dynamic global marketing and communications team," implying a collaborative environment with colleagues specializing in various marketing and communication disciplines.
• The role involves reporting and collaboration with colleagues within the internal design team and the wider marketing and communications team, as well as external agencies, indicating a multi-layered reporting and communication structure.
• Cross-functional collaboration is expected with "internal stakeholder needs" being a primary driver for design requests, requiring interaction with departments across the organization.

Methodology:

• Design work will be guided by data-driven insights from stakeholders regarding campaign effectiveness and visual impact needs.
• Workflow planning and optimization strategies will be applied to manage design projects efficiently, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to brand standards.
• Efficiency practices will be central to process improvement within the design team, aiming to streamline creative output and stakeholder satisfaction.

Company Website: https://iconplc.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Working in a global CRO like ICON means the design output has a direct impact on how life-saving therapies are communicated to the market. The culture likely values precision, scientific accuracy, and professional presentation, which are critical operational considerations for any marketing or creative role within such an organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is at a mid-level for a specialized creative role. It provides an opportunity to hone graphic design skills, gain experience in a highly regulated industry, and contribute to global marketing efforts. Career progression could lead to Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, or specialized roles in digital design or campaign management. Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports into the Marketing and Communications team, likely under a Marketing Manager or Head of Communications, with direct interaction with various internal stakeholders who are clients of the design function. Operations Impact: The role’s impact is significant in shaping the visual perception of ICON plc. Effective design directly supports marketing campaigns, enhances brand recognition, improves the clarity of complex information (e.g., in whitepapers and case studies), and contributes to the overall effectiveness of Go-To-Market strategies by making materials more engaging and professional.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific design software (e.g., After Effects), digital design trends, or specific collateral types (e.g., presentation design, web graphics).
• Process Improvement Leadership: Potential to take on more responsibility in refining and optimizing design workflows, contributing to operational efficiency within the marketing function.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain exposure to broader marketing strategies and campaign planning by working closely with different marketing teams, potentially leading to roles in marketing coordination or campaign management.
• Industry Knowledge: Develop a strong understanding of the clinical research industry's visual communication needs, which is a specialized and valuable skill set.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations-minded individuals, this role offers a pathway to understand how creative functions support broader business objectives. The opportunity to "implement and improve overall process efficiencies" is a direct link to operational excellence within a creative context.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Office Based with Flexibility," indicating a primary on-site work arrangement within ICON's Dublin offices, with potential for flexible working arrangements within that framework. Office Location(s): The primary location is Dublin, Ireland. Specific office details would be provided upon engagement.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed for collaboration, with frequent interaction expected with internal design teams, marketing colleagues, and stakeholders across the organization.
• Access to industry-standard design tools and technology, including Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office, will be provided.
• Opportunities for team interaction and knowledge sharing will be present within the global marketing and communications team.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is likely 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or similar, aligned with typical business hours in Ireland. The "flexibility" mentioned suggests potential for adjusting start/end times or occasional remote work, provided project deadlines and team collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Office Based with Flexibility" aspect is typical for roles that require both collaborative, in-person interaction for creative brainstorming and feedback, as well as focused individual work. This hybrid approach is common in operations to balance team synergy and individual productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills and experience. Be prepared to highlight specific projects that demonstrate your ability to meet the core responsibilities.
• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: A more in-depth discussion about your portfolio pieces, focusing on your design process, problem-solving approach, and how you handled client briefs and feedback. Expect questions about your experience with brand guidelines and managing multiple projects.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with members of the marketing and communications team, and potentially key internal stakeholders, to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the team.
• Final Interview: A discussion with a hiring manager or senior leader to assess your overall suitability, strategic thinking, and potential contribution to ICON's marketing efforts.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the requirements of this role, including examples of digital assets, presentations, and collateral that adhere to brand guidelines.
• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your creative process, the tools used, the challenges faced, and the outcome. Focus on how you translated stakeholder needs into effective design solutions.
• Highlight Brand Adherence: Explicitly demonstrate your experience working with and maintaining strict brand visual identity standards.
• Quantify Impact (if possible): If any of your designs contributed to measurable marketing success (e.g., increased engagement, lead generation), include those metrics.
• Organize for Clarity: Present your portfolio in a clear, easily navigable format (e.g., PDF, personal website).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design exercises or case studies that might involve adapting existing brand assets or creating a quick concept for a specific marketing need.
• Practice articulating your creative decisions and how they align with business objectives and brand strategy.
• Familiarize yourself with ICON plc's current branding and marketing materials to understand their visual language and industry context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "brand-compliant solutions," "interpreting internal stakeholder needs," and "implement and improve overall process efficiencies" means interviewers will look for not just creative talent but also operational discipline, process thinking, and effective stakeholder management in your responses and portfolio.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • Adobe InDesign: Essential for layout design of collateral such as whitepapers, case studies, brochures, and reports. Proficiency is critical for producing polished, print-ready, and digital documents.
  • Adobe Illustrator: Key for creating vector graphics, logos, icons, infographics, and illustrations that maintain scalability and quality across different media.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Used for image editing, manipulation, creating web graphics, social media visuals, and digital marketing assets.
• Microsoft Office Suite:
  • MS PowerPoint: Crucial for designing professional and engaging presentations, often incorporating custom graphics and adhering to corporate branding.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this role, an understanding of how design impacts analytics (e.g., conversion rates on web graphics, engagement on social media) would be beneficial. Familiarity with web analytics tools like Google Analytics or social media analytics platforms might be a plus for understanding design performance.

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool requirements are specified for this role. However, understanding how marketing automation platforms might use design assets (e.g., email templates) could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Microsoft PowerPoint is non-negotiable. The ability to work efficiently within these tools and maintain brand consistency is a core operational requirement for this creative function.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to producing high-quality, visually appealing, and technically accurate design work that reflects ICON's professionalism.
• Brand Stewardship: Acting as a guardian of the ICON brand, ensuring all visual communications are consistent, on-message, and reinforce the company's reputation.
• Efficiency and Timeliness: Valuing streamlined processes and meeting deadlines to support the fast-paced needs of marketing and communications initiatives.
• Collaboration and Communication: Fostering a team-oriented environment where open communication, feedback, and shared learning are encouraged to achieve collective goals.
• Innovation: A drive to explore new design techniques and visual approaches that enhance engagement and communication effectiveness, within brand parameters.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with marketing managers, content creators, and internal stakeholders to understand project requirements and deliver designs that meet strategic objectives.
• Feedback-Driven Improvement: Actively participating in design reviews, providing and receiving constructive criticism to refine creative output and improve individual and team processes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a culture where design best practices, tips, and insights are shared among team members to elevate the overall quality and efficiency of the design function.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values and collaboration style emphasize a blend of creative excellence and operational rigor. Candidates who can demonstrate both a keen eye for design and an organized, process-oriented approach to their work will be highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing diverse requests from various internal stakeholders with potentially differing creative visions and priorities, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Maintaining Brand Consistency at Scale: Ensuring strict adherence to brand guidelines across a wide range of materials and platforms, especially within a large global organization.
• Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to tight deadlines and a high volume of design requests typical in a global marketing and communications team.
• Process Optimization: Identifying and implementing improvements to existing design workflows to increase efficiency and output quality, which requires analytical thinking and change management skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen skills in Adobe After Effects or explore new design software and techniques relevant to digital marketing and communications.
• Industry-Specific Design Practices: Learning the unique visual communication requirements and best practices within the clinical research and healthcare sector.
• Marketing Strategy Exposure: Gaining insights into broader marketing campaign planning and execution by working closely with the marketing team, offering a pathway to understanding GTM operations.
• Process Improvement Initiatives: Participating in or leading initiatives to enhance design team processes, developing project management and operational efficiency skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in operations-focused roles: managing multiple priorities, maintaining standards, and driving efficiency. Successfully navigating these will foster growth in critical operational competencies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Stakeholder Management: "Describe your process for taking a design brief from a stakeholder to final delivery. How do you ensure you understand their needs and manage expectations, especially when working with tight deadlines?" Focus on clear, step-by-step explanations and examples of effective communication.
• Brand Adherence & Problem Solving: "How do you approach designing within strict brand guidelines? Can you share an example where you had to creatively solve a design problem while strictly adhering to brand rules?" Prepare to discuss your understanding of brand integrity and your problem-solving methodology.
• Efficiency & Process Improvement: "The role mentions improving process efficiencies. Can you give an example of a process you improved in a previous design role, and what was the impact?" Be ready to discuss your analytical approach to workflows and your ability to implement changes for better outcomes.

Company & Culture Questions:

• ICON's Brand: Research ICON's current marketing materials, website, and social media presence. Be prepared to discuss your thoughts on their visual identity and how your skills align with it.
• Team Collaboration: "How do you prefer to collaborate with team members and stakeholders on design projects?" Prepare examples of successful collaborations and how you handle feedback.
• Impact Measurement: "How do you gauge the success of your design work?" While you may not have direct access to analytics, discuss how you consider user engagement, clarity, and adherence to objectives.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each portfolio piece, tell a story that highlights the problem, your solution (design process), and the outcome. Frame your work in terms of how it met stakeholder needs or business objectives.
• Focus on Process: Emphasize the steps you took, the tools you used, and how you managed your time and any feedback. This demonstrates your operational approach to design.
• Brand Integration Emphasis: Clearly point out how your designs adhered to brand guidelines and maintained visual consistency.
• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most relevant projects and key takeaways.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also an understanding of operational aspects: process, efficiency, stakeholder management, and brand compliance. Your portfolio and interview responses should reflect this dual capability.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position at ICON plc:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the ICON careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating proficiency in digital graphics, presentations, and collateral design, with a strong emphasis on brand guideline adherence and a clear, organized presentation of your design process.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), PowerPoint, and any experience in B2B or client-service environments. Quantify achievements where possible, especially related to project management and efficiency.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to stakeholder management, and your experience with process improvements. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to collaboration, time management, and problem-solving.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research ICON plc, its mission, values, and current marketing efforts to demonstrate your understanding of the company and industry, and to help you align your responses during the interview.

⚠️ 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.