Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Malibu Boats, LLC

Location: Neodesha, Kansas, United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Marketing / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-03-27

Experience Level: Mid-level (2-5 years implied)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in producing and adapting on-brand creative assets across Malibu Boats' portfolio to support approved marketing priorities, ensuring brand consistency and channel-specific optimization.

• The Graphic Designer will execute day-to-day design tasks across digital, print, and social platforms, requiring a keen eye for detail and adherence to brand standards.

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams, including copywriters, photographers, and social media publishers, is essential for delivering complete creative packages.

• Maintaining meticulous file hygiene, robust version control, and contributing to reusable templates are key operational aspects of this position.

• This role is embedded within the Creative Operations team, focusing on efficient production practices and workflow management to scale creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided description points to a mid-level Graphic Designer role, implying 2-5 years of relevant experience. The emphasis on "adapting master creative into channel-ready variations" and "supporting scale through reusable templates" suggests a focus on production efficiency and workflow rather than purely conceptual design. The reporting structure to "Manager, Creative Operations" further reinforces this.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Produce high-quality, on-brand creative assets for various marketing initiatives including campaigns, web content, email marketing, social media posts, public relations materials, and events.

• Adapt master creative assets into channel-specific variations, ensuring correct sizing, localization, and compliance with technical specifications for each platform and use case.

• Execute light photo editing and retouching tasks to support asset needs, including rapid-turn updates and minor corrections to ensure visual quality.

• Collaborate closely with stakeholders to refine layouts, visual hierarchy, and calls to action, ensuring all design elements effectively meet channel objectives and user experience requirements.

• Prepare final files for both print and digital delivery, meticulously checking specifications, conducting quality assurance (QA), and performing final production checks to guarantee accuracy and readiness.

• Optimize assets for performance, considering factors such as load speed for digital platforms, readability for various screen sizes, and specific constraints imposed by different social media or web platforms.

• Organize and meticulously maintain final creative assets within the company's shared asset library, ensuring correct naming conventions, robust version control, and accurate metadata for easy retrieval and management.

• Ensure all produced assets strictly adhere to established brand standards, usage guidelines, and relevant legal requirements, upholding Malibu Boats' brand integrity.

• Support asset reuse and efficiency by maintaining and updating templates and modular creative components, facilitating faster production cycles.

• Execute assigned design tasks through established intake and workflow processes, diligently meeting project timelines and proactively communicating status updates to the Manager, Creative Operations.

• Coordinate effectively with copywriters, photo/video teams, and social publishing partners to ensure the cohesive and timely delivery of complete creative packages.

• Proactively escalate potential risks, conflicts, or capacity constraints to the Manager, Creative Operations, enabling timely problem-solving and resource allocation.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of templates, toolkits, and production best practices that enhance speed, quality, and consistency across all creative output.

• Identify recurring production issues and propose actionable process or template improvements to reduce rework and increase overall efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on production-level graphic design, asset management, and workflow efficiency, typical of a Creative Operations function. The role requires not just creative execution but also a systematic approach to asset delivery and maintenance.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Communications, Marketing, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in producing creative assets across a variety of digital, print, and social media channels.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Strong foundational skills in visual design, typography, layout, and maintaining brand consistency across all creative outputs.

• Adobe Creative Suite Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign is essential for daily task execution.

• Digital & Print Production: Proven ability to produce and adapt assets for diverse digital platforms (web, email, social) and print collateral.

• Photo Editing & Retouching: Capability to perform light photo editing and retouching to enhance visual assets and meet project requirements.

• File Management & Version Control: High attention to detail with disciplined file organization, naming conventions, and robust version control practices.

• Workflow Management: Experience working within established creative production workflows, managing multiple projects with varying deadlines and specifications.

• Collaboration & Communication: Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to take direction, incorporate feedback efficiently, and communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders.

• Brand Adherence: Keen understanding and application of brand standards and guidelines to ensure all creative output is on-brand.

Preferred Skills:

• Asset Library Management: Experience with digital asset management (DAM) systems and best practices for organizing and maintaining large libraries of creative assets.

• Localization & Adaptation: Experience in adapting creative assets for different regions or dealer networks, including language and cultural considerations.

• Performance Optimization: Understanding of how design choices impact digital asset performance (e.g., load times, engagement metrics).

• Template Design: Experience in creating and utilizing reusable templates and modular design components to streamline production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize practical application and proficiency in industry-standard tools and processes. The "equivalent experience" clause for the degree is a common flexibility. The distinction between required and preferred skills suggests a focus on core design execution and workflow for required, with advanced operational efficiencies for preferred.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Diverse Asset Showcase: The portfolio must clearly demonstrate experience in producing a wide range of creative assets, including examples for digital (web banners, social media graphics, email templates), print (brochures, flyers, advertisements), and potentially event materials.

• Channel Adaptation Examples: Include case studies or examples that illustrate the ability to adapt a core creative concept into various formats and sizes suitable for different channels and specifications.

• Brand Consistency Demonstration: Showcase projects where maintaining strict brand guidelines and visual identity was critical, highlighting how brand standards were upheld across multiple touchpoints.

• Workflow Integration Evidence: While not a direct "system," the portfolio should implicitly show an understanding of production workflows by presenting projects that were clearly executed within a defined process, including elements of QA or version control if applicable.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Adherence: Candidates are expected to have experience working within and contributing to documented creative workflows. This includes understanding intake processes, production stages, review cycles, and final delivery protocols.

• Efficiency Improvements: Portfolio pieces or descriptions should ideally highlight instances where the candidate identified and implemented process improvements or utilized efficient production methods (e.g., templates, batch editing) to save time or resources.

• Asset Management Practices: Demonstrate an understanding of proper file naming, organization, and version control as part of the production process, which is crucial for maintaining an efficient asset library.

• Quality Assurance (QA) Integration: Showcase an awareness of QA steps within the design process, whether it’s self-QA or collaboration with others to ensure final assets meet all requirements before delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on "Creative Operations," a portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just aesthetics and demonstrate an understanding of efficient production, asset management, and adherence to operational processes. The emphasis here is on the how of design delivery, not just the what.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $50,000 - $70,000 annually.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Graphic Designers with 2-5 years of experience in the manufacturing/automotive sector in a mid-sized Midwestern city like Neodesha, Kansas. Factors considered include the required Adobe Suite proficiency, experience with cross-channel asset production, and the on-site nature of the role. Market data from sources like Glassdoor, Salary.com, and LinkedIn Salary for similar roles in Kansas were consulted.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to support employee well-being.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) plan with potential company match, aiding long-term financial security.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays to promote work-life balance.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Resources and support for personal and professional challenges.

• Potential for Professional Development: Opportunities for training or workshops related to design software or creative operations.

Working Hours:

• Typically 40 hours per week, with standard business hours (e.g., 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday).

• The role is on-site, requiring a consistent presence in the Neodesha, KS office.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimated based on typical market rates for this role and location. The provided benefits are standard for full-time positions in similar industries and company sizes.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Manufacturing (Recreational Boats) - Malibu Boats operates within the competitive marine manufacturing industry, known for innovation, quality craftsmanship, and a strong brand presence. This context means the creative output must align with a premium product image and appeal to a specific customer demographic.

Company Size: Malibu Boats, LLC is part of a larger, publicly traded company (Malibu Boats, Inc.) with a significant employee base. This implies structured processes, established brand guidelines, and potentially a more corporate environment compared to a small startup.

Founded: Malibu Boats was founded in 1982, bringing decades of experience and brand heritage to the market. This history suggests a stable company with deep roots and established operational practices.

Team Structure:

• Creative Operations Team: The Graphic Designer reports to the Manager, Creative Operations. This team likely comprises individuals focused on the efficient production, management, and delivery of creative assets.

• Cross-Functional Partnerships: The role requires close collaboration with copywriters, photo/video specialists, and social media publishing teams, indicating a matrixed or project-based collaboration model.

• Reporting Hierarchy: The Manager, Creative Operations likely reports into a broader Marketing or Brand leadership function.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Asset Adaptation: While primarily a design role, the emphasis on "channel-ready variations" and "optimized for performance" suggests that design decisions may be influenced by data and performance metrics relevant to digital and print channels.

• Standardized Workflow Processes: The explicit mention of "established intake and workflow processes" indicates a reliance on structured project management and operational procedures for creative production.

• Template-Driven Production: The focus on "reusable templates and efficient production practices" points to a methodology aimed at scaling creative output without sacrificing consistency or quality.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Malibu Boats is a well-established leader in its industry. The culture likely values quality, performance, and brand integrity, which will be reflected in the creative output and operational processes. The "Creative Operations" team structure suggests a focus on efficiency and scalability in marketing asset production.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer with a focus on operational execution within the Creative Operations function. It requires proficiency in design tools and a strong understanding of production workflows, rather than purely conceptual or strategic design leadership. The scope includes day-to-day asset production, adaptation, and maintenance.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports directly to the Manager, Creative Operations. This provides a clear line of reporting for project assignments, performance feedback, and career development discussions. Collaboration will extend to peers within the creative team (copy, photo/video, social) and potentially stakeholders in marketing or product teams.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's impact is measured by their ability to efficiently produce high-quality, on-brand creative assets that support approved marketing priorities. Successful execution directly contributes to the effectiveness of marketing campaigns across digital, print, and social channels, reinforcing brand messaging and driving engagement with Malibu Boats' products. Efficient asset production also frees up senior creative resources for more strategic initiatives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in Creative Operations: Opportunity to deepen expertise in creative production workflows, asset management, and digital asset management (DAM) systems, potentially moving into roles like Senior Graphic Designer, Creative Production Specialist, or even Creative Operations Coordinator/Manager.

• Advanced Design Skills: Through exposure to diverse projects and feedback, there's a chance to hone advanced design skills, including more complex photo manipulation, motion graphics (if applicable), or specialized print design techniques.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working closely with copy, video, and social teams can provide a broader understanding of integrated marketing campaigns, potentially leading to roles with more strategic marketing involvement or a focus on integrated campaign asset design.

• Process Improvement Contribution: Actively participating in identifying and implementing process improvements within the Creative Operations team can showcase leadership potential and strategic thinking, paving the way for roles with greater responsibility in workflow optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a "Graphic Designer" within a "Creative Operations" team typically involves mastering production efficiency and asset management, leading to senior production roles or specialization in areas like DAM.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in an office environment at Malibu Boats' Neodesha, KS facility. This suggests a standard professional workspace conducive to focused design work.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is specified as MBI KS - Neodesha, KS 66757. This is an on-site role, requiring regular attendance at this facility.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The workspace is designed to foster collaboration with copywriters, photo/video teams, and social publishing specialists, likely involving shared office spaces or designated collaborative zones.

• Technology Access: Employees will have access to the necessary hardware (computers, monitors) and software (Adobe Creative Suite) required for design tasks.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the Manager, Creative Operations and cross-functional creative team members for project discussions, feedback, and workflow coordination.

Work Schedule: Standard office hours are expected, typically an 8-hour workday, Monday through Friday, totaling 40 hours per week. This schedule allows for consistent workflow management and team availability for collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description explicitly states "Office environment; typical 8 hour work days" and the physical demands indicate a sedentary role, typical for a designer. The on-site requirement is clear.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of submitted resumes and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and creative output.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: Candidates may be asked to complete a short design exercise or take-home project to evaluate their technical skills, adherence to brand guidelines, and ability to meet specifications under timed conditions.

• First Interview (Hiring Manager): A discussion with the Manager, Creative Operations to delve into portfolio examples, workflow experience, problem-solving approaches, and team fit.

• Second Interview (Cross-functional Team/HR): Potentially an interview with other members of the creative team or HR to assess collaboration skills, cultural fit, and broader company alignment.

• Final Interview (Optional): A meeting with a higher-level manager if necessary.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your ability to produce on-brand assets for digital, print, and social channels. Prioritize work that demonstrates adaptation and production efficiency.

• Showcase Workflow: For key projects, briefly describe the brief, your role, the process you followed (including any QA or adaptation steps), and the final outcome. Highlight how you managed deadlines and feedback.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Include at least one project that clearly demonstrates your ability to adhere to strict brand guidelines.

• Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio pieces are well-presented and that you can speak to the software and techniques used.

• Adaptation Examples: If possible, include examples of how you've adapted a core design into multiple formats or sizes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Deconstruct the Brief: Understand the core objective, target audience, and any constraints (brand, technical) of any design challenge.

• Prioritize Brand & Specs: Focus on meeting brand standards and technical specifications first, then apply creative flair within those boundaries.

• Show Your Process: Be prepared to articulate your thought process, including how you approached the problem, what options you considered, and why you made certain design decisions.

• Time Management: Practice completing design tasks within a specified timeframe, focusing on delivering a complete, albeit potentially refined, solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a production-focused design role, the interview process will heavily emphasize practical skills and workflow adherence. The portfolio and any design challenges will be key evaluation tools.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Photoshop: Essential for photo editing, retouching, and complex digital asset creation.
  • Illustrator: Crucial for logo work, vector graphics, illustrations, and detailed layout elements.
  • InDesign: Primary tool for layout design of print collateral (brochures, flyers) and multi-page documents.

• Microsoft Office Suite: For general document creation, presentations, and communication (Word, PowerPoint).

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: Experience with DAM platforms for organizing, storing, and retrieving creative assets is highly preferred. The company likely uses one internally.

• Project Management/Workflow Tools: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar platforms used for managing creative projects and workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description explicitly mentions Adobe Creative Suite. Proficiency in DAM systems and project management tools is highly relevant for the "Creative Operations" aspect of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Consistency: A strong emphasis on delivering accurate, thorough, and high-quality work that consistently adheres to brand standards and production specifications.

• Efficiency & Improvement: A drive to optimize processes, reduce rework, and find smarter ways to produce creative assets, contributing to overall team productivity.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively with cross-functional teams, communicating clearly and respectfully, and contributing to a positive and productive team environment.

• Accountability & Dependability: Taking ownership of assigned responsibilities, following through on commitments, meeting deadlines, and maintaining professional standards.

• Initiative & Proactivity: Proactively identifying potential issues or opportunities for improvement and demonstrating ownership in a fast-paced environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Workflow: The role requires seamless integration with copy, photo/video, and social publishing teams, suggesting a highly collaborative and communicative approach.

• Feedback-Oriented: An openness to receiving and incorporating feedback from managers and peers to improve performance and outcomes.

• Process-Driven: A willingness to adhere to and contribute to established workflow processes, ensuring smooth project progression and timely delivery.

• Proactive Communication: Regularly communicating project status, potential risks, and capacity constraints to ensure transparency and efficient problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Core Competencies" section in the job description directly outlines the company's values and expected collaboration style, which are crucial for understanding the team's operating principles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: The need to produce assets quickly for various channels while maintaining high quality and strict brand adherence can be challenging.

• Managing Multiple Channel Requirements: Adapting assets for diverse digital, print, and social platforms, each with unique specifications and best practices, requires meticulous attention to detail.

• Incorporating Feedback Efficiently: Taking direction and incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders without compromising the integrity of the design or project timelines.

• Keeping Pace with Brand Evolution: Staying updated with evolving brand guidelines and ensuring all produced assets remain current and compliant.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Adobe Suite Features: Deepening expertise in advanced features of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign relevant to efficient production.

• Understanding Digital Performance: Gaining insights into how design impacts digital asset performance and user engagement metrics.

• Workflow Optimization Techniques: Learning and contributing to best practices in creative production workflows, asset management, and template utilization.

• Cross-Functional Campaign Understanding: Developing a broader understanding of integrated marketing campaigns by working closely with different creative disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a production-focused design role within a dynamic marketing environment, offering opportunities for skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to adapt a core creative concept for multiple channels. What was your process, and what were the key considerations for each channel?" (Focus on illustrating your understanding of channel-specific requirements and production workflow.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across all your design work, especially when working with tight deadlines?" (Highlight your knowledge of brand guidelines, attention to detail, and efficient production techniques.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Malibu Boats and the marine industry?" (Research Malibu's brand, products, and recent marketing campaigns. Show genuine interest.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-designers, such as copywriters or marketing managers?" (Emphasize clear communication, understanding their objectives, and finding common ground.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, briefly outline the brief, your role, the challenge, your solution (design process), and the outcome.

• Highlight Production Efficiency: Point out how you used templates, streamlined processes, or adapted assets efficiently.

• Demonstrate Brand Adherence: Explicitly mention how you ensured brand consistency in your chosen examples.

• Be Ready to Discuss Software: Be prepared to talk about the specific Adobe tools and features you utilized.

• Keep it Concise: Focus on the most impactful projects and be ready for questions rather than presenting every detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating practical skills, workflow understanding, and an ability to collaborate effectively within a structured creative production environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Paycom.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that showcase your ability to produce on-brand creative assets for digital, print, and social channels. Ensure examples highlight adaptation and production efficiency.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight relevant experience with Adobe Creative Suite, cross-channel asset production, workflow management, and any experience with asset libraries or brand guideline adherence. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare for a Design Challenge: Be ready to demonstrate your design skills and adherence to brand specifications under timed conditions.

• Research Malibu Boats: Familiarize yourself with Malibu's brand, product lines, target audience, and recent marketing efforts to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.

---