Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: POOLHOUSE

Location: Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: February 18, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years Professional Experience

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and execute bold, strategic creative concepts across a multi-channel marketing and communications spectrum, including digital, social, web, print, and broadcast.

• Design compelling visual assets such as logos, campaign identities, and cohesive brand systems that align with strategic objectives and client brand guidelines.

• Create high-impact digital advertising creatives, persuasive landing pages, engaging email graphics, and polished presentation materials that drive engagement and communicate key messages effectively.

• Translate complex messaging and strategic directives into clear, visually storytelling narratives that resonate with target audiences.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including account managers, video editors, and producers, to ensure integrated campaign creative development and execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a political and advocacy-focused advertising and consulting agency, implying a need for designers who can adapt to fast-paced, high-stakes campaign environments. The emphasis on "bold, strategic, standout creative" suggests a requirement for innovative and impactful design solutions beyond standard corporate aesthetics. The integration of "Marketing Operations" into the category acknowledges the operational aspects of design production and asset management crucial for campaign success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on visual concepts for a diverse range of projects, ensuring alignment with campaign strategy and brand voice.

• Produce visually appealing and technically sound digital assets, including social media graphics, banner ads, and website elements.

• Develop and maintain brand identity elements for various campaigns and clients, ensuring consistency and impact.

• Create clear, persuasive, and graphically rich presentation decks and reports for internal teams and external stakeholders.

• Manage the preparation and packaging of final design files, meticulously adhering to technical specifications, placement requirements, and delivery deadlines.

• Effectively manage multiple design projects concurrently, prioritizing tasks and maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail.

• Integrate feedback from internal teams and clients efficiently and thoughtfully, ensuring creative integrity is preserved while meeting project objectives.

• Maintain organized file structures, consistent naming conventions, and well-managed asset libraries to facilitate efficient workflow and retrieval.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for design professionals who can operate within a dynamic, campaign-driven environment. The emphasis on "translating messaging and strategy into compelling visual storytelling" indicates that design is not just about aesthetics but also about strategic communication. The requirement for meticulous file management and preparation underscores the importance of operational efficiency and readiness for production.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Communications, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this nature, demonstrating foundational design principles.

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

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for creating and manipulating complex visual assets.

• Demonstrated ability to design bold, strategic creative across digital, social media, web, print, and broadcast mediums.

• Strong portfolio showcasing robust brand identity work, campaign systems, and versatile design styles.

• Proven experience in digital-first design thinking, with a focus on creating high-performing digital ads and landing pages.

• Solid understanding of typography, hierarchy, composition, color theory, and overall visual design principles.

• Ability to translate strategic direction and messaging into sharp, persuasive visual executions.

• Experience with collaborative design workflows and creating engaging presentation materials using tools like Google Slides.

• Excellent organizational skills with a disciplined approach to file management and asset organization.

• Clear and effective communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge of Adobe After Effects for motion graphics and animated content.

• Experience with Figma and Canva, particularly for web design, collaborative workflows, and rapid creative iteration.

• Familiarity with campaign or advocacy-specific design trends and best practices.

• Experience in translating complex data or policy information into accessible visual narratives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "3-5 years" experience level suggests a mid-level designer who can work independently but also collaborate effectively. The emphasis on a portfolio is critical, and candidates should prepare to showcase projects that demonstrate strategic thinking, versatility, and a strong understanding of campaign-driven design. The preference for Figma and Canva indicates a need for efficiency and adaptability in modern design workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory and will be a primary evaluation tool.

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects that highlight brand identity development, campaign creative, and digital design execution.

• Include case studies or descriptions that detail the strategic brief, your design process, challenges faced, and the outcomes/impact of your work.

• Demonstrate versatility across different design mediums (digital, social, print, web) and styles relevant to political or advocacy campaigns.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to articulate their design process for campaign creative development, from initial concept to final file delivery.

• Be prepared to discuss how you incorporate strategic messaging and client feedback into your design workflow.

• Demonstrate understanding of file management best practices, including naming conventions and asset organization, as applied in previous roles.

• Ability to explain the technical requirements and specifications for various design placements (e.g., digital ad specs, print bleed, social media dimensions).

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio is not just a collection of work but a demonstration of strategic thinking and process. Candidates should be ready to walk through their decision-making process for key design choices and articulate how they ensure their work aligns with campaign objectives and operational requirements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Competitive salary based on industry standards.

Estimated Salary Range (Washington D.C. Metro Area, 3-5 Years Experience):

• Minimum: $65,000 USD per year

• Average: $75,000 USD per year

• Maximum: $85,000 USD per year

• Methodology: This estimate is based on research of graphic designer roles with 3-5 years of experience in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, considering the agency's focus on political and advocacy campaigns which can sometimes command higher compensation due to the nature of the work. Data sources include industry salary aggregators (e.g., Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, Salary.com) and compensation reports for creative agencies.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary.

• 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee.

• 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, supporting professional growth in design and related fields.

Working Hours: The job description implies a standard full-time work schedule, likely around 40 hours per week, given the "Full-Time" employment type and the fast-paced agency environment. Flexibility may be required during peak campaign periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is robust, with a significant emphasis on health coverage for both employees and dependents, and strong support for professional development. The salary range is an estimate and candidates should be prepared to discuss their expectations during the interview process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Advertising, Consulting, Political Campaigns, Advocacy. POOLHOUSE operates at the intersection of creative advertising and strategic consulting within the high-stakes political and advocacy sectors. This means their work is often mission-driven, fast-paced, and requires a keen understanding of public opinion and communication strategy.

Company Size: The description doesn't explicitly state the company size, but the mention of collaborating with "account teams, video editors, producers" suggests a structured agency with multiple departments and a moderate to large team size.

Founded: Not specified, but the company's focus on modern creative and strategic approaches suggests it is likely a contemporary agency that values innovation and impact.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of a creative team, likely reporting to a Creative Director or Art Director.

• Collaboration is a key aspect, involving close work with account management teams, video production, and other design staff.

Methodology:

• POOLHOUSE emphasizes "bold, strategic, standout creative" and believes it makes a difference. This suggests a methodology that prioritizes innovative design solutions rooted in deep strategic understanding.

• The agency focuses on translating messaging and strategy into compelling visual storytelling, indicating a data-informed and audience-centric approach to design.

• There’s an implicit focus on efficiency and speed, given the mention of working under tight deadlines and managing multiple tasks.

Company Website: https://poolhouse.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely results-oriented, creative, and fast-paced, with a strong emphasis on impactful campaigns. Candidates should be prepared for an environment where design serves a strategic purpose, often within tight political or advocacy timelines.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Graphic Designer with 3-5 years of professional experience, positioning it as a mid-level position. The designer will be responsible for executing creative concepts and managing design tasks independently, but likely within a broader campaign strategy set by senior leadership or account teams.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Director, Art Director, or Lead Designer. They will collaborate extensively with account managers, project managers, and other creative specialists (e.g., copywriters, video editors).

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the visual effectiveness and strategic communication of campaigns. High-quality, on-strategy creative can significantly influence audience perception, engagement rates, and ultimately, campaign success (e.g., voter turnout, policy support, brand recognition). The operational aspect of timely, accurate file delivery is crucial for campaign execution.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in digital design, brand identity systems, and potentially motion graphics (with After Effects). Exposure to campaign strategy can broaden understanding of how design serves larger goals.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in specific areas like digital advertising design, social media campaign creative, or brand system development.

• Leadership Potential: With continued growth and demonstrated strategic impact, opportunities may arise for a Senior Graphic Designer role, leading projects or mentoring junior designers. Exposure to political and advocacy campaigns can also lead to roles with greater strategic influence.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Collaboration with account management and strategy teams provides insights into campaign planning, client relations, and broader marketing/communications principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a solid foundation for a designer looking to specialize in campaign-driven creative. Growth will likely involve increasing strategic input, project leadership, and potentially expanding into broader creative direction.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position requires the applicant to be "based in Washington, DC or Richmond, VA" and to "fulfill the role in person." This indicates a traditional, on-site office environment within one of these locations.

Office Location(s): Washington, DC or Richmond, VA. Applicants must be able to work from one of these physical office locations.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as a "fast-paced creative environment," suggesting a dynamic and potentially energetic workspace.

• Expect a collaborative setting where designers work closely with account teams, video editors, and producers.

• Access to standard agency creative tools and technology, including Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Canva, and Google Slides, is expected.

• The focus on "standout creative" implies an environment that encourages innovative thinking and pushing creative boundaries within strategic frameworks.

Work Schedule: While not explicitly defined, a full-time role in an agency, especially one focused on campaigns, often means adhering to standard business hours (e.g., 9 AM - 6 PM) but may require flexibility and extended hours during critical campaign periods or tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for in-person work is critical. Candidates must be willing and able to commute to either the Washington, DC or Richmond, VA office. This also suggests a culture that values in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and mandatory portfolio. Applications without a portfolio will not be considered.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, design process, strategic thinking, and how they handled feedback and deadlines.

• Skills Assessment: Potential for a design challenge or exercise to assess practical skills, speed, and problem-solving abilities under time constraints. This might involve adapting existing creative or developing a concept based on a brief.

• Team/Culture Fit Interview: Meetings with potential team members and managers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural alignment with POOLHOUSE's fast-paced, strategic environment.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss strategic contributions and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills and experience required for this role, emphasizing brand identity, digital campaign creative, and strategic storytelling.

• Showcase Process: For each project, be ready to articulate your thought process, the strategic brief, your design decisions, challenges encountered, and the final impact or outcome. Use visuals to highlight key stages of your process.

• Highlight Versatility: Demonstrate your ability to adapt your style and approach to different project types and client needs, especially within the political/advocacy context if possible.

• Emphasize Operations: Be prepared to discuss file management, adherence to specs, and efficient workflow practices, as these are critical for agency operations.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your online portfolio is clean, user-friendly, and error-free. Have a concise verbal presentation ready to guide interviewers through your work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with POOLHOUSE's work and the types of clients and campaigns they serve.

• Practice quick concept development and design execution based on briefs.

• Be prepared to articulate your design choices and rationale clearly and concisely.

• Focus on demonstrating speed, efficiency, and attention to detail, alongside creativity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio and in-person work suggests a strong focus on practical skills and team integration. Candidates should be prepared for a rigorous review process that tests not only design talent but also operational efficiency and strategic thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. These are the core tools for graphic design, illustration, and layout.

• Figma: Working knowledge is preferred for web design, collaborative workflows, and rapid iteration, indicating a move towards modern, cloud-based design platforms.

• Canva: Working knowledge is preferred, suggesting its use for quick-turn creative, social media assets, or internal presentations where ease of use and speed are paramount.

• Google Slides: Working knowledge is required for building and maintaining presentation decks, essential for client communications and internal strategy sharing.

Analytics & Reporting: While not directly listed as a required tool for the designer, an understanding of how design performance is measured (e.g., engagement rates for digital ads, click-through rates for emails) would be beneficial for optimizing future designs. The agency likely uses various analytics platforms for campaign performance tracking.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this design role, but awareness of how design assets are deployed within marketing automation platforms or CRM systems might be a subtle advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. Experience with Figma and Canva demonstrates adaptability to modern agency workflows and a capacity for rapid, collaborative design. Familiarity with Google Slides is crucial for internal and client-facing presentations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Standout Creative: A core value is producing design that is not just functional but memorable and impactful, differentiating clients in a crowded space.

• Strategic Alignment: Design decisions are expected to be rooted in strategy, ensuring visual output effectively communicates key messages and achieves campaign objectives.

• Speed & Efficiency: The fast-paced environment demands a commitment to working quickly and managing multiple tasks effectively without sacrificing quality.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulousness in design execution, file management, and adherence to technical specifications is highly valued.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork and effective communication across different departments and with external stakeholders.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with account management, strategy, video production, and other creative roles.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: An openness to receiving and incorporating feedback is essential for iterating on designs and ensuring client satisfaction.

• Agile Workflow: The nature of campaign work implies an agile and adaptable approach to project management and creative development, likely involving frequent check-ins and iterative design cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate an understanding that design at POOLHOUSE serves a strategic purpose within a high-energy, collaborative environment. Values like creativity, strategic thinking, efficiency, and teamwork are likely paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High-Paced Environment: The political and advocacy space is known for rapid shifts and tight deadlines, requiring resilience and adaptability.

• Balancing Creativity with Strategy: Consistently producing bold, creative work that also meets strict strategic objectives and client briefs can be demanding.

• Managing Multiple Projects: Juggling numerous campaigns and tasks simultaneously requires strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Incorporating Feedback: Navigating diverse stakeholder feedback while maintaining design integrity and project goals.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Campaign Design Expertise: Gaining in-depth experience in designing for political campaigns and advocacy efforts, a specialized and impactful niche.

• Advanced Tool Proficiency: Opportunities to master Adobe Creative Suite and potentially gain advanced skills in After Effects, Figma, or Canva through company-supported training.

• Strategic Design Thinking: Developing a deeper understanding of how design integrates with broader marketing and communication strategies.

• Industry Exposure: Learning from experienced professionals in advertising, consulting, and political communications.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Building a strong portfolio with high-profile campaign work.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for designers to hone their skills in a high-impact industry. The challenges presented are typical of agency life but are balanced by strong potential for professional growth and specialized skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex message into a simple, compelling visual. What was your process?" (Focus on strategic communication and design thinking).

• "How do you approach designing for a campaign with a specific political or advocacy goal? What are the unique considerations?" (Assess understanding of the industry and strategic application).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about POOLHOUSE's work, and why are you interested in working in the political/advocacy space?" (Research the company and articulate genuine interest).

• "How do you handle tight deadlines and shifting priorities? Give an example." (Highlight resilience, organization, and problem-solving).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative – the challenge, your solution, and the impact.

• Highlight Process: Don't just show the final product; explain why you made specific design choices and how they served the strategy.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, mention any measurable results (e.g., engagement rates, click-through rates) driven by your designs.

• Technical Details: Be ready to discuss file formats, specs, and delivery methods, showing your operational readiness.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your portfolio within a specified timeframe, focusing on the most relevant and impactful projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess not only design talent but also strategic thinking, adaptability, and cultural fit for a fast-paced agency environment. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio in detail and articulate how your design skills can contribute to campaign success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a mandatory portfolio through the provided Workable application link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features your strongest work in brand identity, digital campaign creative, and strategic visual storytelling. Select projects that best align with POOLHOUSE's focus on bold, impactful creative for political and advocacy campaigns.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight the 3-5 years of relevant agency or campaign experience, advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills, and any experience with Figma, Canva, or Google Slides. Use keywords from the job description, such as "digital design," "brand identity," "campaign creative," and "strategic visual execution."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic rationale behind your work, and how you handle feedback and deadlines. Prepare specific examples for common interview questions, especially those related to campaign design and fast-paced environments.

• Company Research: Thoroughly review POOLHOUSE's website and recent work to understand their style, client base, and strategic approach. Be ready to discuss why you are a good fit for their specific culture and industry.

⚠️ 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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