Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer Company: Nova Home Loans Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States Job Type: Full-Time Category: Marketing & Creative Date Posted: November 12, 2025 Experience Level: 2-5 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is instrumental in executing creative concepts across digital, advertising, and marketing channels for Nova Home Loans.
• It involves close collaboration with senior design and marketing leadership to ensure brand consistency and effective visual communication.
• The position requires a strong foundation in graphic design principles and proficiency with industry-standard design software.
• A key aspect of this role is translating marketing objectives into compelling visual assets that resonate with target audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities, especially "coordinate, track and oversee projects for ROI" and "Guides internal NOVA departments and external vendors on the guidelines and compliance with the NOVA brand," suggest a strong connection to marketing operations and brand management, which is crucial for operations-focused candidates to understand.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Senior Creative and Design Team Lead and Senior Graphic Designers to conceptualize and execute creative projects for digital, advertising, and marketing materials.
• Develop and design engaging content for a variety of mediums including print, digital platforms, and social media channels.
• Assist in the creation of event design collateral, ensuring strict adherence to and reinforcement of the NOVA Home Loans brand identity.
• Review and meticulously proofread all graphic materials, making necessary adjustments and following established procedures for project completion.
• Coordinate with external vendor partners to obtain cost and time estimates for production orders, relaying this information to the creative team.
• Oversee projects from conception to completion, tracking progress and contributing to the assessment of Return on Investment (ROI).
• Guide internal NOVA departments and external vendors on brand guidelines and compliance, acting as a brand steward.
• Engage in continuous professional development to stay abreast of current industry trends, new graphic design techniques, and digital design innovations.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the marketing and creative team's objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Coordinate, track and oversee projects for ROI" and "Guides internal NOVA departments and external vendors on the guidelines and compliance with the NOVA brand" points towards a need for project management skills and an understanding of brand governance, which are often key components in marketing operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Graphic Design, or a closely related field; OR an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years of dedicated experience in graphic and digital design is required.
• One (1) to three (3) years of experience within the mortgage industry is preferred, offering a significant advantage.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in core Adobe applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential.
• Digital Design Execution: Proven ability to create compelling visual assets for digital platforms, including websites, social media, and online advertising.
• Print Design Capabilities: Strong skills in designing for traditional print media, such as brochures, flyers, and direct mail.
• Brand Stewardship: Ability to understand and apply brand guidelines consistently across all creative outputs.
• Project Management Fundamentals: Capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and adhere to deadlines.

Preferred Skills:

• Mortgage Industry Experience: Familiarity with the specific design needs and compliance considerations within the mortgage sector.
• Social Media Content Creation: Experience in designing graphics optimized for various social media platforms and engagement strategies.
• Event Collateral Design: Skill in creating visual materials for promotional events, conferences, and internal gatherings.
• Vendor Management: Experience liaising with external vendors for printing and production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a Bachelor's degree in a related field, combined with 2+ years of experience, positions this as an early to mid-career role. The preference for mortgage industry experience is a strong indicator for candidates to highlight any relevant background in regulated industries or financial services marketing.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Visual Showcase: A curated portfolio demonstrating a range of graphic design projects across digital, print, and social media.
• Brand Application Examples: Specific pieces that illustrate the ability to adhere to and effectively implement brand guidelines for a consistent visual identity.
• Concept to Execution: Projects that clearly show the design process, from initial concept development through to final execution.
• Cross-Medium Versatility: Examples highlighting proficiency in designing for diverse platforms and marketing channels.

Process Documentation:

• Design Workflow Demonstration: Showcase examples of how you manage design projects from brief to completion, including any personal workflow optimization strategies.
• Collaboration Evidence: If possible, include examples or descriptions of how you have collaborated with marketing teams, stakeholders, or vendors on design projects.
• Brand Guideline Adherence: Be prepared to discuss how you interpret and apply design briefs and brand standards to ensure project success.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to showcase not just aesthetic skill but also the ability to translate marketing objectives into visual assets and manage projects effectively, mirroring aspects of marketing operations. Candidates should be ready to articulate the process behind their designs.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Undisclosed. Based on industry standards for a Graphic Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Tucson, AZ, a competitive salary range would typically fall between $50,000 - $70,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in Tucson and the typical compensation for creative roles requiring proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and related experience.

Benefits:

• Employee Discount: Potential for discounts on company products or services.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Includes vacation, sick leave, and possibly personal days to support work-life balance.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.
• Life & Disability Insurance: Financial protection for employees and their families.
• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a valuable employer match, aiding long-term financial planning.
• Health Savings Account (HSA): With an employer contribution, offering pre-tax savings for healthcare expenses.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and work-related challenges.

Working Hours:

• This is a full-time position, typically involving approximately 40 hours per week. The company notes the need for overtime as required to meet deadlines and complete time-sensitive projects, which is common in creative and marketing roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical market rates for this role and location. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their salary expectations during the interview process. The inclusion of an HSA with an employer contribution is a notable benefit.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Mortgage Lending) Company Size: Nova Home Loans is part of Nova Financial & Investment Group, which has a significant presence, indicating a medium to large-sized organization with established operational structures. Founded: Nova Home Loans was founded in 1997, highlighting a company with considerable history, experience, and stability in the mortgage industry.

Team Structure:

• This Graphic Designer role reports into the Senior Creative and Design Team Lead and collaborates closely with Senior Graphic Designers.
• The creative team likely operates within a broader Marketing department, which in turn collaborates with Sales, Underwriting, and other operational units.
• The emphasis on brand consistency suggests a centralized brand management function.

Methodology:

• Brand-Centric Design: Focus on adhering to and promoting the NOVA brand across all visual communications.
• Collaborative Development: Work involves close interaction with senior team members for creative direction and project execution.
• Process-Oriented Execution: Emphasis on following procedures, proofreading, and coordinating production to ensure quality and efficiency.
• Data-Informed Creativity: The mention of tracking projects for ROI suggests an awareness of performance metrics influencing creative decisions.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values (Provide, Promote, Give Back) and its focus on employee enrichment and community involvement suggest a culture that values employee well-being and social responsibility, which can be a positive factor for candidates. The mortgage industry context implies a need for attention to detail and potentially regulatory compliance in design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an entry-level to early-career Graphic Designer (2-5 years of experience). It offers foundational experience in executing marketing and advertising creative, with exposure to brand management and project coordination.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports to a Senior Creative and Design Team Lead, who likely reports into a VP of Marketing or similar senior marketing leadership role. This structure provides mentorship and clear lines of communication for creative direction and project oversight.

Operations Impact: While primarily a creative role, the Graphic Designer contributes to operations by ensuring brand consistency, supporting marketing campaigns that drive leads and sales, and assisting with the efficient production of marketing materials. The responsibility for tracking projects for ROI underscores the connection to business outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design areas like digital, social media, or print, and gain advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Brand Management Acumen: Develop a strong understanding of brand strategy and governance through guiding internal departments and external vendors.
• Project Management Development: Gain experience in coordinating production, managing timelines, and understanding project ROI, which are transferable skills.
• Industry Insight: Preferred experience in the mortgage industry can open doors to specialized roles within financial services marketing.
• Mentorship: Learning from senior designers and leadership provides a solid foundation for career advancement within creative or marketing operations fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "ROI tracking" and "brand compliance" suggests that growth opportunities might lean towards marketing operations, brand management, or project management within a marketing department, rather than purely artistic design roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully on-site position, requiring candidates to work from one of the specified office locations. Office Location(s):

• Corporate Office in Tucson, AZ (85711)
• Metro Phoenix locations (specific addresses not provided, but implies multiple sites).

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Studio Environment: The role involves close collaboration with a Senior Creative and Design Team Lead and Senior Graphic Designers, suggesting a team-oriented workspace.
• Access to Tools: Candidates can expect to work with standard design software and hardware within a corporate IT infrastructure.
• Cross-Functional Interaction: Opportunities to interact with various internal departments (Sales, etc.) and external vendors, fostering a dynamic work environment.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work week is approximately 40 hours. However, the role explicitly mentions the need to work overtime as required to meet deadlines and complete time-sensitive projects, which is typical for creative roles in fast-paced industries like mortgage lending.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "fully on-site" requirement is a critical detail for candidates to consider. The mention of multiple metro Phoenix locations could offer some flexibility for candidates in that region, but the Tucson corporate office is also a primary base.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and design aesthetic.
• Portfolio Presentation: A key stage will involve presenting your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your design process, and how you've met project objectives. Be prepared to explain your role in each project.
• Skills Assessment: May include a design challenge or technical test to evaluate proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and your ability to interpret a brief.
• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Questions will assess your ability to collaborate, manage time, handle feedback, and work under pressure.
• Cultural Fit: Interviews will likely gauge your alignment with Nova Home Loans' core values (Provide, Promote, Give Back) and your ability to work within a team environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best represent the required skills (digital, print, social media, brand adherence).
• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your creative process, the tools used, challenges overcome, and the final outcome, including any ROI considerations if applicable.
• Highlight Brand Application: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to work within established brand guidelines.
• Quantify Achievements: If possible, mention any metrics or positive outcomes related to your design work (e.g., increased engagement, successful campaign).
• Tailor to Mortgage: If you have mortgage industry experience, prominently feature relevant projects.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Brief Interpretation: Practice quickly understanding and responding to design briefs.
• Time Management: For any timed design tasks, focus on completing a solid concept rather than perfection.
• Brand Consistency: If given a brand to work with, ensure your design aligns with its established identity.
• Explain Your Rationale: Be ready to articulate why you made specific design choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on ROI tracking and brand compliance in the responsibilities means candidates should be prepared to discuss how their design work contributes to business goals and maintains brand integrity, not just aesthetic appeal.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
• Digital Design Software: Experience with tools for web and mobile design (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) may be beneficial for digital deliverables.
• Presentation Software: Proficiency in platforms like PowerPoint or Google Slides for presenting concepts and project outcomes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for this role, understanding how to interpret basic design performance metrics (e.g., engagement rates on social media graphics, conversion rates on digital ads) would be advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role, though understanding how marketing materials integrate with CRM-driven campaigns could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary focus is on the Adobe Creative Suite. Candidates should emphasize their expertise in these core tools. Any additional digital design or prototyping tool proficiency is a bonus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Provide: Strive to deliver high-quality creative assets that effectively serve marketing and business objectives.
• Promote: Contribute to a positive and productive work environment, supporting team members and fostering professional growth for yourself and others.
• Give Back: Demonstrate a commitment to community and ethical practices, potentially through design contributions or by embodying company values.
• Collaboration: Work effectively within a team, sharing ideas and providing constructive feedback.
• Efficiency: Focus on delivering projects on time and within scope, while adhering to brand guidelines and production procedures.

Collaboration Style:

• Team-Oriented: Expect to work closely with senior designers and team leads, requiring open communication and receptiveness to feedback.
• Cross-Functional Engagement: Interact with various internal departments and external vendors, necessitating clear and professional communication.
• Brand Advocacy: Act as a guardian of the NOVA brand, guiding stakeholders on its proper use.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values (Provide, Promote, Give Back) are central to its culture. Candidates should be ready to discuss how they embody these values in their work and interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Compliance: Designing visually appealing materials while adhering to strict brand guidelines and potentially mortgage industry regulations.
• Managing Multiple Projects: Juggling various design requests with competing deadlines and priorities.
• Meeting Evolving Demands: Adapting to new design trends, digital platforms, and marketing strategies.
• Feedback Integration: Effectively incorporating feedback from senior team members and stakeholders into designs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to learn new software features and advanced design methodologies.
• Industry Trends: Staying current with graphic design, digital marketing, and mortgage industry trends through internal training or external resources.
• Brand Management Exposure: Gaining a deeper understanding of brand strategy and its application in marketing.
• Project Management Skills: Developing capabilities in project coordination, timeline management, and ROI assessment through practical application.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of balancing creativity with strict branding and regulatory requirements is a key aspect of working in a regulated industry like mortgage lending. Candidates who can demonstrate this balance will be highly valued.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing creative concepts for a marketing campaign."
• "How do you ensure brand consistency across different design projects and platforms?"
• "Walk us through a project where you had to manage multiple design requests with tight deadlines. How did you prioritize?"
• "How do you incorporate feedback into your designs, especially when it differs from your initial vision?"
• "Describe a time you had to work with a vendor or external partner on a design project. What was your role?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Nova Home Loans and the mortgage industry?"
• "How do you align with our core values of Provide, Promote, and Give Back?"
• "Describe your ideal team environment and your preferred collaboration style."
• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new technologies?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each project, tell a concise story: the problem/objective, your solution/design, and the outcome/impact.
• Focus on Process: Explain how you arrived at your design decisions, not just what the design is.
• Quantify Impact: If possible, mention metrics related to engagement, conversions, or successful campaign execution.
• Brand Adherence: Be ready to discuss how you applied brand guidelines.
• Conciseness: Keep your presentation focused and within allocated time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss not just your design skills but also your project management approach, ability to adhere to brand guidelines, and understanding of how design contributes to business objectives like ROI.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Paycom.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of digital, print, and social media design, with a clear demonstration of brand adherence and creative concept execution.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, your years of graphic and digital design experience, and any relevant experience in regulated industries or the mortgage sector. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, how you handle feedback, and your ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines. Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Nova Home Loans' mission, values, and recent marketing efforts to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit. Understand their position in the mortgage market.

⚠️ 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.

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