Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer Company: New South Wales Government (NSW Electoral Commission) Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Job Type: Full-time, Temporary (up to 30 March 2027) Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Government & Public Sector Date Posted: 4th November 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: On-site (Elizabeth Street, Sydney office; potential for other venues during election events)

🚀 Role Summary

• This Graphic Designer role is crucial for supporting the design and communication needs of the NSW Electoral Commission, specifically contributing to one of the State’s largest events.
• The position offers an excellent opportunity to enhance technical design skills within the public sector, working within an agile team environment that supports flexible working arrangements.
• The role involves creating diverse communication materials, adhering strictly to brand guidelines, and collaborating effectively with the Communications Unit and various stakeholders to ensure impactful visual representation.
• Success in this role hinges on proficient use of industry-standard design software, exceptional project management skills for handling tight deadlines, and maintaining a high degree of political neutrality.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data specifies "Graphic Designer," the context of the NSW Electoral Commission and its mandate for public sector operations, particularly during elections, implies a need for robust process adherence, clear communication, and meticulous attention to detail, akin to operational roles that ensure smooth execution of large-scale initiatives. The emphasis on "designing and producing communications materials in both print and digital areas" and "following brand guidelines" highlights the operational necessity for consistency and compliance.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce a wide range of communication materials, including print-ready documents and interactive digital assets, ensuring adherence to established brand guidelines.
• Collaborate closely with the Communications Unit and other internal stakeholders to understand project requirements and deliver design solutions that meet diverse needs.
• Manage and prioritize multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery against non-negotiable deadlines, particularly in the lead-up to significant electoral events.
• Develop and execute design strategies for various campaigns and initiatives, ensuring visual consistency and effectiveness across all platforms.
• Contribute to the overall visual identity and communication effectiveness of the NSW Electoral Commission through high-quality design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities emphasize not just creative output but also the operational aspects of project management, stakeholder collaboration, and deadline adherence, which are critical for the successful execution of communication strategies within a government agency, especially during election cycles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field, OR equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

• Demonstrated professional experience in designing and developing interactive forms and print-ready documents.
• Proven track record of successfully juggling multiple projects with non-negotiable deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Advanced skills in Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop on a PC platform.
• Productivity Software: High proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Print & Digital Design: Experience in creating both print-ready documents and interactive digital materials.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet strict deadlines effectively.
• Stakeholder Communication: Skill in engaging with stakeholders for design briefs and understanding project scope.
• Brand Compliance: Strong understanding and application of brand guidelines.
• Political Neutrality: Demonstrated understanding and commitment to maintaining political neutrality, with no affiliation to political parties or lobbyists/campaigners.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the public sector or government agencies.
• Familiarity with electoral processes or public administration communications.
• Experience in designing for large-scale events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Political Neutrality" and "maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the electoral system" suggests that candidates must demonstrate a high level of ethical conduct and discretion, which is a critical qualifier in government roles and needs to be clearly articulated. The requirement for "equivalent professional experience" alongside tertiary qualifications indicates flexibility for candidates with strong practical skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Work Examples: A curated portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a range of design projects, with a specific focus on forms and print-ready documents.
• Project Involvement: Each portfolio piece must include a brief description of the candidate's specific role and contribution to the project.
• Format & Length: The portfolio should be concise, not exceeding 10 pages, demonstrating efficiency in presentation.
• Print & Digital Focus: Showcase proficiency in both print design and the creation of interactive digital forms.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a deliverable, the ability to document design processes and rationale will be beneficial, especially in explaining project evolution during an interview.
• Demonstrate an understanding of workflow for design projects, from brief to final asset delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio focusing on "forms and print ready documents" and "brief description of your involvement" is a direct operational expectation. This isn't just about showcasing creativity, but also about demonstrating the candidate's ability to execute specific design tasks that serve a functional purpose within the organization's operational framework.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• As this is a NSW Government role, salary is determined by the Public Service Act 1999 and relevant Awards/Agreements. Based on the experience level and responsibilities, a salary range typical for a Graphic Designer in Sydney, Australia, within the public sector would likely fall between AUD $70,000 - $95,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience. Specific salary will be confirmed upon offer.

Benefits:

• Work/Life Balance: 35-hour working week, flex leave, and generous holiday and leave conditions.
• Professional Development: Career development opportunities through study and face-to-face training, plus access to self-paced expert-led training via LinkedIn Learning.
• Wellbeing: Employee Assistance Program for wellbeing support and free annual flu vaccination.
• Wellness & Recreation: Access to Fitness Passport for eligible staff.
• Convenience: Convenient CBD location with easy access to public transport.
• Team Engagement: Staff social events to foster connections with colleagues.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours equate to a 35-hour working week, with flexibility offered. Specific daily hours may vary but will align with standard public sector operational requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits list is extensive and aligns with typical public sector offerings, emphasizing work-life balance and professional growth. The specific mention of a "35 hour working week" is a concrete detail that appeals to candidates seeking predictable work schedules. No salary range was provided in the input, hence the estimation is based on typical public sector roles in Sydney for this experience level.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Government & Public Sector / Electoral Services Company Size: Part of the broader New South Wales Government, the Electoral Commission is a significant public sector agency. Founded: The NSW Electoral Commission has a long history of serving the state's democratic processes.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the Communications Unit, working within an agile team.
• Reporting is directed by the Communications Unit and other stakeholders, indicating a collaborative and potentially matrixed reporting structure.
• Close collaboration is expected with the Studio and Design Lead, Amber Breeze.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on adhering to brand guidelines ensures consistent and compliant communication outputs, a key operational methodology in government bodies.
• Agile team structure suggests adaptability and iterative work processes.
• A strong focus on supporting democratic processes underscores a commitment to public service and integrity.

Company Website: https://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: The NSW Electoral Commission's mission to "maintain confidence in the integrity of the democratic process" shapes its culture towards meticulousness, impartiality, and public trust. This implies a work environment that values accuracy, transparency, and adherence to established protocols.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-level Graphic Designer position within a government agency. It involves executing design tasks independently and managing projects, but likely with oversight from a Design Lead or Communications Manager.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Communications Unit and other stakeholders, with direct contact for role information provided by the Studio and Design Lead. This suggests a clear hierarchy for design direction and feedback.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts public perception and understanding of electoral processes and events. High-quality, clear, and compliant design materials are essential for effective voter engagement, information dissemination, and maintaining the integrity of the electoral system. This role ensures that critical information is communicated accurately and professionally, supporting the operational success of elections.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in print and interactive form design within the government sector.
• Project Exposure: Gain experience working on large-scale public events and critical electoral initiatives.
• Public Sector Experience: Build a strong foundation and network within the NSW Public Service, potentially leading to other roles within government.
• Training & Development: Access to LinkedIn Learning and potential for further study and face-to-face training.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "temporary full-time basis up to 30 March 2027" suggests this role might be project-driven, likely tied to specific electoral cycles or initiatives, providing a focused yet impactful period of work. Growth within this specific role is limited by its temporary nature, but the experience gained is highly valuable for future public sector or large-scale project roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the Elizabeth Street, Sydney office, described as a convenient CBD location. This is a standard government office environment.

Office Location(s):

• Primary location: Elizabeth Street, Sydney.
• Potential for other venues during election events, requiring some flexibility in physical location.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as an "agile team," suggesting a collaborative and dynamic workspace.
• Access to necessary design tools (Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office, SharePoint) is expected.
• Opportunities for connection with colleagues through staff social events.

Work Schedule:

• A 35-hour working week is standard, with flexible working arrangements offered. This implies a structured yet adaptable schedule, allowing for effective management of project timelines and personal work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of needing to "work from other venues during election events" indicates that the role may require some on-the-ground presence or support outside the main office during critical operational periods. This is a common requirement for roles supporting public events or large-scale operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Submission of resume, covering letter, and portfolio. Applications will be assessed against the role requirements, with particular attention to the portfolio's focus on forms and print-ready documents.
• Targeted Questions: Candidates must directly address two specific questions related to managing conflicting deadlines and stakeholder communication during design briefings. Responses have strict word limits.
• Assessment Techniques: The selection process will involve a range of assessment techniques to evaluate suitability. This may include interviews, design exercises, or psychometric testing.
• Final Evaluation: Assessment will focus on technical skills, experience, cultural fit, and demonstrated understanding of political neutrality and public sector requirements.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select your strongest examples of forms and print-ready documents. Ensure they clearly demonstrate your technical skill in software like InDesign and Acrobat.
• Highlight Your Role: For each piece, clearly articulate your specific contributions, design decisions, and the problem you were solving. This demonstrates your understanding of the design process and stakeholder needs.
• Quantify Impact (if possible): While difficult for design, if your work led to improved usability, clarity, or efficiency, mention it.
• Conciseness is Key: Adhere strictly to the 10-page limit. This demonstrates your ability to present information efficiently and effectively, a crucial operational skill.

Challenge Preparation:

• Deadline Management: Be prepared to discuss strategies for negotiating with stakeholders, reprioritizing tasks, and managing expectations when faced with conflicting deadlines. Use specific examples from your experience.
• Stakeholder Briefings: Prepare to articulate your approach to initial design meetings. Focus on active listening, asking probing questions, and ensuring you fully grasp the scope, objectives, and audience of the brief.
• Political Neutrality: Be ready to discuss your understanding of political neutrality in a public sector context and how you would ensure your work remains impartial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process is highly structured, emphasizing specific deliverables (portfolio, targeted question responses) and clear criteria. This mirrors the structured nature of government operations, where processes and documentation are paramount. The word limits for the targeted questions are critical to note.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • Adobe InDesign: Essential for print layout, forms, and multi-page documents.
  • Adobe Acrobat: Critical for creating, editing, and managing interactive PDFs and print-ready files.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and complex illustrations.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
• Microsoft Office Suite:
  • Microsoft Word: For creating documents, reports, and text-heavy materials.
  • Microsoft PowerPoint: For presentations and visual aids.
• Collaboration & File Management:
  • SharePoint: For document management, collaboration, and workflow processes within the NSW Government.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for this role, understanding how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., website analytics, form completion rates) would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this Graphic Designer role, but awareness of how design integrates with broader communication campaigns managed through CRM or automation platforms might be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of specific software (Adobe InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint) is a direct indicator of the expected technical proficiency and the operational systems in place. Proficiency in Acrobat for interactive forms is particularly highlighted.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity & Impartiality: Upholding political neutrality and ensuring public trust in the electoral process is paramount.
• Service Delivery: Commitment to delivering essential services that support democracy in New South Wales.
• Collaboration: Working effectively within an agile team and with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellence: Striving for high-quality design and communication outputs that are clear, accurate, and compliant.
• Efficiency: Managing projects effectively to meet deadlines and resource constraints.

Collaboration Style:

• The role operates within an "agile team" and requires collaboration with the "Communications Unit and other stakeholders." This suggests a dynamic, communicative, and potentially iterative approach to teamwork.
• Expectation of clear communication for design briefings and project updates.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values of the NSW Electoral Commission revolve around trust, integrity, and public service. For a designer, this translates to a responsibility to produce clear, unbiased, and accurate visual communications that serve the public interest.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High-Stakes Projects: Working on major electoral events demands exceptional accuracy and adherence to strict timelines and brand standards.
• Political Sensitivity: Navigating the requirement for strict political neutrality in all design outputs requires constant vigilance and understanding of government protocols.
• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Juggling design requests from multiple stakeholders with potentially competing priorities and deadlines.
• Temporary Contract: Adapting to a fixed-term contract and potentially onboarding quickly to contribute to critical ongoing projects.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Deepen expertise in interactive form design and print production within a government context.
• Public Sector Operations: Gain invaluable experience in the operational framework and communication protocols of a government agency.
• Industry Exposure: Work on projects that have a direct impact on the democratic process in New South Wales.
• Formal Training: Access to LinkedIn Learning and potential for further study/training.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in balancing creative execution with the rigorous operational demands of a government body, especially one dealing with politically sensitive processes. The temporary nature of the role presents a challenge in terms of long-term career integration but offers concentrated experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Conflicting Deadlines: Prepare a STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) answer detailing a specific instance of managing conflicting deadlines. Focus on your negotiation skills with stakeholders, prioritization techniques, and how you ensured projects were still delivered to expectation. Emphasize communication and problem-solving.
• Design Briefing Strategy: Outline your process for initial stakeholder meetings. Detail the types of questions you ask to uncover the full scope, target audience, objectives, tone, and any constraints. Highlight your active listening and information-gathering techniques.
• Political Neutrality: Be ready to articulate your understanding of political neutrality within the NSW public service context. Discuss how you ensure your design choices and communications remain impartial and professional, avoiding any perception of bias.

Company & Culture Questions:

• NSW Electoral Commission's Role: Research the commission's mandate, current initiatives, and upcoming events (if publicly available). Understand how design supports their mission.
• Public Sector Values: Familiarize yourself with NSW Public Service values (e.g., integrity, trust, service). Be prepared to discuss how your work ethic aligns with these.
• Agile Team Dynamics: Consider how you contribute to an agile team environment – communication, feedback, adaptability.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each selected piece, tell a concise story: the brief/challenge, your design process/decisions, and the outcome/impact.
• Focus on Functionality: For forms and print-ready documents, explain how your design enhances usability, clarity, and accessibility for the target audience.
• Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to briefly discuss your software choices and techniques used to achieve specific design outcomes.
• Brand Adherence: If applicable, show how you adapted designs while respecting established brand guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only creative talent but also crucial operational competencies like project management, stakeholder interaction, and adherence to strict public sector protocols, especially political neutrality.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobsnsw.taleo.net.
• Portfolio Customization: Select and refine your portfolio, ensuring it prominently features examples of interactive forms and print-ready documents. Clearly articulate your specific involvement in each project.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience with Adobe Suite (especially InDesign and Acrobat), project management, deadline adherence, and any public sector or large-scale event experience. Integrate keywords from the job description naturally.
• Targeted Question Preparation: Draft clear, concise, and impactful responses to the two targeted questions, adhering strictly to the 300-word limit for each. Practice articulating your experience in managing deadlines and stakeholder communication.
• Company & Role Research: Thoroughly research the NSW Electoral Commission, its mission, and the importance of political neutrality in its operations. Understand the role of design in public sector communication and electoral processes.

⚠️ 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.