Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer Company: POOLHOUSE Location: Richmond, Virginia, United States Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Creative & Design / Marketing Operations Date Posted: February 18, 2026 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and execute bold, strategic creative assets across a variety of channels including digital, social media, web, print, and broadcast, aligning with POOLHOUSE's distinctive approach to political and advocacy campaigns.
• Develop compelling brand identities, including logos, campaign identities, and comprehensive brand systems that are both intentional and cohesive.
• Create high-performing digital advertising materials, landing pages, email graphics, and presentation decks that are clear, persuasive, and visually optimized for engagement and conversion.
• Translate complex messaging and strategic objectives into visually engaging storytelling that resonates with target audiences.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including account managers, video editors, and producers, to ensure integrated and impactful campaign creative.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within a political and advocacy advertising and consulting agency, requiring a designer adept at creating standout creative that differentiates from typical industry work. The emphasis on "bold, strategic, standout creative" and "hardest issues" suggests a need for a designer who can handle pressure, think conceptually, and execute with precision in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. The "operations" aspect emerges from the need for meticulous file preparation, organization, and efficient workflow management to support campaign execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and design visually striking creative assets for digital platforms (social media ads, web banners, email campaigns) and traditional media (print collateral, broadcast elements).
• Develop and maintain cohesive brand identities for campaigns, ensuring consistency in visual language, typography, and color palettes across all touchpoints.
• Craft persuasive and visually appealing presentation decks and sales collateral, effectively communicating strategic messaging and campaign goals.
• Manage the end-to-end design process for multiple projects concurrently, ensuring timely delivery while maintaining high standards of quality and attention to detail.
• Prepare and package final design files according to specific technical requirements and platform specifications, adhering to strict naming conventions and organizational practices.
• Actively incorporate feedback from stakeholders and team members, demonstrating an ability to iterate thoughtfully on designs without compromising creative integrity or strategic intent.
• Maintain organized digital asset libraries and project file structures to facilitate efficient collaboration and future asset retrieval.
• Collaborate with content creators, strategists, and account managers to ensure visual creative aligns with overarching campaign objectives and messaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and process management crucial for operations. The emphasis on "preparing and packaging final files," "managing multiple active tasks," "maintaining speed, organization, and attention to detail," and "clean file structures, consistent naming conventions, and organized asset libraries" directly points to the operational rigor expected from this role, akin to tasks managed within a marketing operations or creative operations function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is preferred, or equivalent professional experience.

Experience: 3–5 years of professional design experience, ideally within an agency, campaign, advocacy, or similarly fast-paced creative environment.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for creating and manipulating design assets.
• Proven experience in developing strong brand identities, including logo design and comprehensive brand systems.
• Expertise in digital-first design thinking, with a portfolio showcasing high-performing digital ads, landing pages, and email graphics.
• Strong understanding of typography, visual hierarchy, composition, and color theory to create impactful and clear designs.
• Ability to translate strategic direction and complex messaging into compelling visual storytelling.
• Excellent organizational skills with a disciplined approach to file management and asset organization.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge of Adobe After Effects for motion graphics and animation.
• Experience with Figma and Canva for collaborative design workflows and rapid creative iteration.
• Proficiency in Google Slides for building and maintaining professional presentation decks.
• Familiarity with web design principles and best practices for user interface (UI) elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite" combined with "working knowledge of Figma and Canva" suggests a need for efficiency and collaborative tools, common in modern design operations. The emphasis on "translating strategic direction" and "translating messaging and strategy into compelling visual storytelling" indicates that this role requires more than just aesthetic skill; it demands strategic thinking and an understanding of campaign objectives, crucial for GTM alignment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a minimum of 3-5 years of professional design work.
• Demonstrate strong brand identity work, including logo design and cohesive campaign systems.
• Highlight digital-first design thinking with examples of high-performing digital ads, landing pages, and email graphics.
• Include case studies or examples that illustrate the translation of strategic messaging into compelling visual storytelling.
• Showcase versatility across different styles and media (digital, social, web, print, broadcast).
• Evidence of meticulous file preparation and organization for delivered assets.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly a documentation role, the portfolio should implicitly demonstrate an understanding of efficient design workflows and asset management.
• Examples should reflect the ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently and incorporate feedback effectively.
• Submissions should implicitly convey discipline in file naming conventions and organization of asset libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio, coupled with the described responsibilities around file management and collaboration, implies that candidates are expected to demonstrate not just creative output but also an organized and efficient design process. This aligns with the operational aspect of ensuring creative assets are produced, managed, and delivered effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Competitive salary based on industry standards. For a Graphic Designer with 3-5 years of experience in Richmond, Virginia, the estimated salary range is typically between $60,000 and $85,000 annually, depending on specific skills, portfolio strength, and the exact scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 100% employer-covered medical insurance for dependents.
• 12 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) annually.
• Generous paid holiday schedule, including Thanksgiving week and a Christmas break.
• Comprehensive Parental Leave policy.
• 401k retirement plan with an employer match.
• Monthly cell phone stipend.
• Company funding for relevant continued education and skill development.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time, on-site role in the design industry. The fast-paced environment may occasionally require flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research for Graphic Designer roles with 3-5 years of experience in the Richmond, VA metropolitan area, considering the agency and political/advocacy sector. Benefits are detailed as provided, with emphasis on comprehensive coverage and professional development, which are key considerations for attracting and retaining talent in specialized creative roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Advertising & Consulting, with a specialization in political and advocacy campaigns. Company Size: POOLHOUSE is described as a "top advertising and consulting agency," and while an exact employee count isn't provided, the context suggests a dynamic, growing firm likely with more than 50 employees, but potentially not exceeding 200. Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company's description implies a modern, established agency focused on impactful, contemporary creative.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will likely be part of a broader Creative team, which could include Art Directors, Senior Designers, Copywriters, and potentially Motion Designers.
• This team collaborates closely with Account Management, Strategy, and Production departments to deliver integrated campaign solutions.
• Reporting will likely be to a Creative Director or Art Director, with direct collaboration with account teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creative: Emphasis on "bold, strategic, standout creative" suggests a blend of artistic vision and data-informed decision-making, particularly for campaign effectiveness.
• Speed and Agility: The need to "work fast" and manage "multiple active tasks" points to agile workflows, common in agency environments facing tight deadlines.
• Collaborative Integration: "Collaborate with account teams, video editors, producers" highlights a cross-functional, integrated approach to campaign development.
• Detail-Oriented Execution: "Sweats the details" and "attention to detail" underscore a commitment to high-quality output and precision.

Company Website: https://poolhouse.co

📝 Enhancement Note: POOLHOUSE positions itself as an innovator in political and advocacy creative, aiming to break away from conventional styles. This suggests a culture that values bold ideas, strategic thinking, and high-impact execution. The operational implication is the need for efficient processes that support rapid creative iteration and delivery within demanding campaign cycles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Graphic Designer role is positioned as a Mid-Level professional, requiring 3-5 years of experience. It involves executing creative briefs with a degree of autonomy but still within a structured team and reporting framework.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a Creative Director or Art Director, with significant collaboration expected across Account Management, Strategy, and Production teams. This cross-functional interaction is vital for understanding campaign objectives and ensuring creative alignment.

Operations Impact: While primarily a creative role, the Graphic Designer's impact on revenue and business decisions is indirect but crucial. High-quality, strategically aligned creative directly influences campaign performance, voter persuasion, issue advocacy success, and ultimately, client satisfaction and retention. Efficient design operations ensure campaigns launch on time and within budget.

Growth Opportunities:

• Creative Advancement: Progression to Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, or Creative Director roles, leading larger creative projects and teams.
• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific areas like brand identity systems, digital advertising creative, or motion graphics.
• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead creative brainstorming sessions, and contribute to strategic campaign planning.
• Skill Expansion: Utilizing company-funded education to learn new design software (e.g., advanced After Effects, 3D rendering) or related skills like UX/UI design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for creative professionals to grow within a specialized agency. The emphasis on "strategic creative" and "visual storytelling" means that designers who can connect their work to campaign outcomes will be well-positioned for advancement. Understanding the operational aspects of design delivery (efficiency, organization, collaboration) will be key for moving into leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "based in Washington, DC or Richmond, VA; applicants must be willing and able to fulfill the role in person." This indicates an on-site or hybrid work environment, prioritizing in-person collaboration and access to office resources.

Office Location(s): Washington, DC and Richmond, VA.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on collaboration with account teams, video editors, and producers suggests a dynamic, team-oriented workspace where creative ideas are shared and developed collectively.
• Resource Availability: Being on-site likely provides access to necessary hardware, software, and a professional creative studio environment conducive to high-quality design output.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues, facilitating quick feedback loops, brainstorming sessions, and knowledge sharing critical for fast-paced campaign work.

Work Schedule: Primarily a standard full-time schedule (approx. 40 hours/week). However, the nature of agency work, especially in political campaigns, can involve demanding periods with potentially longer hours to meet critical deadlines. Flexibility and a commitment to project completion are expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" requirement is a significant factor, suggesting that POOLHOUSE values in-person collaboration for its creative process. This environment is likely designed to foster rapid iteration and direct communication, which are essential for the high-stakes, fast-turnaround nature of political and advocacy campaigns.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess creative skills, relevant experience, and alignment with company culture.
• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, their role, creative process, and the impact of their work. Be prepared to articulate design choices and strategic rationale.
• Skills Assessment: Potential for a design challenge or a skills-based exercise to evaluate technical proficiency and problem-solving abilities under pressure.
• Team/Cultural Fit Interviews: Discussions with hiring managers and potential team members to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural alignment with POOLHOUSE's values.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss overall strategic fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your skills in brand identity, digital-first design, strategic storytelling, and versatility. Include examples relevant to campaign or advocacy work if possible.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your creative process, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Highlight Operations: Subtly showcase your organizational skills through clean file structures in shared examples, clear naming conventions, and descriptions of your workflow efficiency.
• Tailor to POOLHOUSE: Emphasize projects that align with POOLHOUSE's mission of creating "bold, strategic, standout creative" and that demonstrate an understanding of persuasive visual communication.
• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and any experience with Figma, Canva, or After Effects.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the brief quickly and prioritizing tasks.
• Demonstrate your ability to translate strategic objectives into visual concepts efficiently.
• Be prepared to explain your thought process and design decisions clearly and concisely.
• For a hypothetical challenge, consider how you would approach designing an ad for a political issue or a campaign identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio required" and the need to "translate messaging and strategy into compelling visual storytelling" means candidates must prepare to go beyond simply showing pretty pictures. They need to articulate the strategic underpinnings and operational execution of their creative work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is fundamental for all design tasks, from asset creation to final file preparation.
• Figma: Working knowledge is preferred for collaborative design workflows, particularly for web and digital assets, enabling real-time co-creation and efficient iteration.
• Canva: Preferred for quick-turn creative needs and collaborative design processes, indicating a need for versatility and speed.
• Google Slides: Working knowledge is expected for building and maintaining presentation decks, a key deliverable for client communications and internal strategy sessions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary function, understanding how design impacts metrics (e.g., click-through rates on digital ads, engagement on social media) is beneficial. Designers may need to interpret basic performance data provided by account teams.

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or marketing automation tools are specified as required for the designer, but an understanding of how design assets integrate into broader marketing or advocacy campaigns is implied.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified tools highlight a modern design stack. Proficiency in Adobe Suite is standard, but the inclusion of Figma and Canva points to a need for collaborative and efficient workflows, common in operations-focused creative departments. The mention of Google Slides emphasizes the importance of presentation design in client-facing roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Bold Creativity: A core value is producing "bold, strategic, standout creative" that differentiates from competitors, encouraging innovative thinking and pushing creative boundaries.
• Strategic Focus: Designs must be rooted in strategy, effectively translating messaging and objectives into visual communication that drives desired outcomes.
• Detail-Oriented Execution: A strong emphasis on "sweating the details" and maintaining "attention to detail" ensures high-quality, polished deliverables.
• Speed and Agility: The ability to "work fast" and manage multiple tasks under pressure is critical in a campaign environment.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Valuing close collaboration with account teams, editors, and producers to achieve integrated campaign success.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Campaign Approach: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with various departments to ensure creative is cohesive and supports broader campaign goals.
• Feedback-Rich Environment: Openness to incorporating feedback quickly and thoughtfully demonstrates a culture of continuous improvement and shared ownership.
• Cross-Functional Communication: Clear and effective communication with non-designers (account managers, strategists) is essential for translating strategic needs into visual execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: POOLHOUSE's culture appears to be high-energy, results-driven, and focused on impactful creative. The operational implication is that designers must be adaptable, responsive, and adept at collaborating within a fast-paced, mission-oriented structure.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maintaining Creative Distinction: Consistently producing "standout creative" that avoids the common tropes in political and advocacy design requires ongoing innovation and strategic insight.
• Fast-Paced Campaign Cycles: Working under tight deadlines and managing multiple high-priority campaigns simultaneously can be demanding.
• Translating Complex Messaging: Effectively visualizing complex policy issues or political strategies in a clear, persuasive, and engaging manner.
• Balancing Speed with Quality: Ensuring that rapid turnaround times do not compromise the strategic integrity or aesthetic quality of the design work.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Enhancement: Access to company funding for continued education allows for deepening expertise in areas like motion graphics, advanced digital design, or emerging creative software.
• Industry Exposure: Working on high-profile political and advocacy campaigns provides invaluable experience and exposure to cutting-edge creative strategies.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced Art Directors and Creative Directors within the agency.
• Portfolio Growth: The nature of the work provides consistent opportunities to build a strong, impactful portfolio with diverse project types.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dynamic and demanding nature of agency work in the political/advocacy space. Growth opportunities are framed around both creative and operational skill development, supporting career progression within specialized design fields.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex strategic message into a visual concept. What was your process, and what was the outcome?"
• "How do you approach creating a brand identity for a campaign that needs to be both bold and cohesive?"
• "Imagine you have a tight deadline for a digital ad campaign. How do you prioritize tasks and ensure quality while working fast?"
• "How do you incorporate feedback from stakeholders who may not have a design background?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about POOLHOUSE and our work in the political/advocacy space?"
• "How does your design philosophy align with our goal of creating 'bold, strategic, standout creative'?"
• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you work with account teams and other creative disciplines?"
• "What are your thoughts on the importance of organization and file management in a creative role?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the objective, your role, the strategic brief, your creative process, specific challenges, your solutions, and the impact/results.
• Quantify Where Possible: If a project led to measurable results (e.g., increased engagement, successful fundraising), highlight these metrics.
• Showcase Process: Briefly explain your workflow, how you managed feedback, and how you ensured file organization. This demonstrates operational competence.
• Be Enthusiastic and Prepared: Show passion for your work and for POOLHOUSE's mission. Be ready to discuss your design choices in detail and answer questions about your technical skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also strategic thinking, process discipline, and collaborative capability, all of which are key indicators of success in a fast-paced operational environment like POOLHOUSE.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.
• Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience in agency, campaign, or advocacy environments. Quantify achievements where possible and emphasize skills like "digital design," "brand identity," "Adobe Creative Suite," and "file management."
• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible, well-organized, and showcases your strongest work relevant to the job description. Focus on brand identity, digital execution, and strategic storytelling.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, articulating your process, strategic rationale, and any operational aspects of your work (organization, collaboration).
• Research POOLHOUSE: Understand their mission, recent campaigns, and overall creative approach to articulate why you are a good fit for their unique culture and goals.

⚠️ 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.