Graphic Designer (Contractor) at Better Together

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (Contractor)
Company: Better Together
Location: Naples, Florida, United States
Job Type: CONTRACTOR
Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services
Date Posted: August 14, 2025
Experience Level: Intermediate (2-5 years)
Remote Status: Remote Solely (Must reside in Florida)

🚀 Role Summary

This role focuses on bringing a mission-driven brand to life through compelling visual storytelling across both digital and print mediums, aligning with marketing operations and creative services needs.
The Graphic Designer will be responsible for creating impactful social media imagery and print materials that resonate with the organization's mission to end the root causes of poverty and dependency.
Success in this role requires a strong understanding of current design trends, particularly for social media platforms, and the ability to translate organizational messages into visually engaging content.
This is a part-time, contract position, offering flexibility for intermediate-level designers seeking to contribute to a meaningful cause.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the organization's mission-focused nature and the specific mention of social media and print design, this role likely bridges traditional graphic design with marketing operations by ensuring brand consistency and execution across various communication channels. The "intermediate level" experience suggests a need for demonstrated proficiency rather than entry-level tasks.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Design and produce high-quality visual assets for social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), ensuring brand consistency and engagement.
Create visually appealing print materials, such as brochures, flyers, reports, and event collateral, that effectively communicate the organization's mission and impact.
Collaborate with internal teams to understand project requirements and translate them into creative design concepts that align with brand guidelines.
Manage design projects from concept to completion, ensuring timely delivery of all assets within the contract duration.
Adapt existing brand assets and create new ones to support marketing campaigns, fundraising initiatives, and organizational communications.
Maintain a strong understanding of current design trends, software capabilities, and best practices in visual communication for non-profit organizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed to emphasize the operational aspects of design: consistent execution, project management within a defined scope, and adaptation of assets for specific marketing and communication objectives, which are core to marketing operations support.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, Communications, or a related field is typically expected for intermediate-level roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.
Experience: 2-5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a proven track record in creating digital and print assets, ideally within a non-profit or mission-driven organization.

Required Skills:

Proficiency in design software, including Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign.
Demonstrated experience in creating engaging social media imagery for various platforms.
Strong understanding of visual design principles, including typography, color theory, layout, and composition.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a contract environment.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills to effectively work with internal stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with video editing software or motion graphics for social media content.
Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) or social media scheduling tools.
Understanding of brand strategy and how to apply it across different design outputs.
Experience in designing for fundraising campaigns or non-profit advocacy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on specific software (Canva, Adobe Suite) and social media imagery creation points to a need for practical, hands-on skills directly applicable to modern marketing and communication workflows, common in operations-focused roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A curated portfolio showcasing a range of design projects, with a strong emphasis on social media graphics and print materials.
Examples should demonstrate proficiency in the required design tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) and highlight the designer's ability to adapt to different brand styles.
Case studies or project descriptions within the portfolio should ideally explain the design process, the problem addressed, and the outcome or impact of the design work.
Include examples of how designs were adapted for specific channels or campaigns to showcase strategic thinking.

Process Documentation:

While formal process documentation isn't explicitly required for this contractor role, the ability to understand and follow established brand guidelines and project briefs is crucial.
Candidates should be prepared to discuss their personal workflow for managing design projects, from initial concepting to final delivery, emphasizing efficiency and adherence to project scope.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contractor role, the portfolio serves as the primary evidence of process and system proficiency. The expectation is that the designer can demonstrate efficient workflows and adherence to brand standards through their past work, rather than formal process documentation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $30 - $40 per hour, commensurate with experience and skill level.

Benefits: As a contractor, standard employee benefits are typically not provided. However, this role offers:

Flexible, part-time remote work arrangement.
Opportunity to contribute to a meaningful mission and gain experience with a non-profit organization.
Potential for contract extension based on performance and organizational needs.
Exposure to a variety of design projects supporting a growing organization.

Working Hours: Part-time, estimated at less than 30 hours per week. The specific hours can be flexible, allowing for work around other commitments, provided project deadlines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hourly rate aligns with intermediate-level graphic design freelance or contract roles in the US, particularly in markets with a moderate cost of living like Naples, FL, adjusted for the remote nature. The lack of traditional benefits is standard for contract positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Non-profit / Social Services. Better Together focuses on addressing the root causes of poverty, dependency, divorce, and child abuse by partnering with local churches to support struggling families.
Company Size: While specific size isn't provided, the remote and contract nature of this role suggests a lean, agile team structure common in non-profits focused on impact.
Founded: Information not explicitly provided, but the organization's mission implies a history of community engagement and program development.

Team Structure:

The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager, Communications Director, or a similar role overseeing brand and outreach efforts.
Collaboration will be cross-functional, involving program staff, leadership, and potentially fundraising teams to gather design needs and feedback.
The team culture is expected to be mission-driven, collaborative, and focused on achieving tangible results for families.

Methodology:

The organization's approach is community-based, leveraging local churches as hubs for support and intervention.
Design work will support this methodology by creating accessible and inspiring materials for community members, donors, and church partners.
Data-driven decision-making is likely applied to program effectiveness, with design supporting the communication of impact and needs.

Company Website: https://bettertogetherus.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission is central to its culture. Designers are expected to align with these values and translate them visually, meaning an understanding of the target audience (families, churches, donors) is beneficial.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an intermediate-level contractor, offering hands-on experience in executing design strategies for a non-profit organization. It provides practical application of design skills in a real-world marketing and communications context.
Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a marketing or communications lead, receiving project briefs and feedback directly from this individual.
Operations Impact: The graphic designer's work directly impacts the organization's brand perception, outreach effectiveness, and ability to communicate its mission. High-quality visuals can enhance engagement on social media and improve the clarity and appeal of print materials, ultimately supporting fundraising and program participation.

Growth Opportunities:

Skill Development: Opportunity to expand portfolio with mission-driven design projects, enhance social media graphic creation skills, and gain experience with specific design tools requested.
Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience working within the non-profit sector, understanding its unique communication challenges and opportunities.
Networking: Potential to build connections with professionals in marketing, communications, and the non-profit sector in Florida.
Potential Extension: If successful, there's a possibility of contract extension or future project-based work, allowing for continued contribution and skill application.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contractor, growth is primarily measured by portfolio enhancement and practical skill application. While direct career progression within the company might be limited, the experience gained is valuable for future freelance or permanent roles in marketing and design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position.
Office Location(s): While the company is based in Naples, FL, the contractor is not required to be physically present at an office. The requirement is for the applicant to reside in Florida.

Workspace Context:

The designer will work from their own home office setup, requiring a reliable internet connection and personal computer capable of running the specified design software.
Collaboration will primarily occur through digital channels (email, video conferencing, project management tools).
The environment is expected to be professional yet mission-focused, encouraging creativity and efficiency in delivering design assets.

Work Schedule: Part-time (less than 30 hours/week) with flexibility in daily scheduling, as long as project deadlines and communication responsiveness are maintained. This allows operations professionals to manage their workload effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first, contract nature of the role emphasizes autonomy and self-management. The key environmental factor is the requirement for the candidate to be based in Florida, likely for logistical or legal reasons related to employment contracts or local initiatives.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Application: Submit resume and cover letter to [email protected].
Portfolio Submission: Include a link to your portfolio or specific examples of past social media graphics and print materials.
Screening Call: A brief call to discuss your design tools, how you stay updated on trends, and what excites you about designing for their mission. This assesses cultural fit and basic qualifications.
Potential Project/Task: While not explicitly stated, be prepared for a small design test or a discussion about a hypothetical design challenge relevant to their work.
Final Interview: May involve a more in-depth discussion about your experience, approach to design, and how you can contribute to their brand.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight Relevance: Prioritize examples of social media graphics and print materials that are similar in style or purpose to what Better Together needs.
Showcase Process: Briefly explain the context, your role, the tools used, and the outcome for key projects. This demonstrates your operational approach to design.
Tool Proficiency: Clearly indicate which tools (Canva, Adobe Suite) were used for each piece.
Clarity and Quality: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and showcases high-resolution work.
Mission Alignment: In your cover letter and interview, articulate your enthusiasm for their mission and how your design skills can contribute to their goals.

Challenge Preparation:

Familiarize yourself with Better Together's current branding and social media presence.
Think about how you would approach designing a social media graphic or a flyer for a hypothetical campaign (e.g., a family support event, a fundraising drive).
Be ready to articulate your design choices and rationale, focusing on how they serve the organization's mission and target audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes practical proof of skills (portfolio) and alignment with the organization's mission. Preparing specific examples and articulating your design process are key to standing out.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Canva: Essential for quick, accessible social media graphics and potentially other digital assets, indicating a need for efficiency and ease of use within a non-profit context.
Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and creating complex digital graphics.
Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
Adobe InDesign: For layout and design of print materials like brochures, flyers, and reports.

Analytics & Reporting:

While not directly a design tool, an understanding of how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., social media likes, shares, click-through rates) is beneficial. The designer may need to interpret basic performance data to inform future designs.

CRM & Automation:

No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned for the designer's direct use, but awareness of how design assets integrate into marketing automation platforms or CRM campaigns might be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Canva alongside Adobe Creative Suite suggests a practical approach where both powerful professional tools and user-friendly platforms are valued for efficiency and broad applicability within the organization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Mission-Driven: All work should align with and support the organization's core mission of helping families and ending poverty's root causes. Designers are expected to be passionate about this cause.
Collaboration: Working effectively with various internal teams to understand needs and deliver appropriate design solutions.
Efficiency: Delivering high-quality work in a timely manner, crucial for a contractor role and a mission-focused organization.
Creativity & Impact: Utilizing design skills to not just create aesthetically pleasing visuals but to drive engagement and communicate impact effectively.
Stewardship: Making good use of resources (time, budget) to maximize the organization's reach and effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

Expect a collaborative approach where designers receive briefs, provide drafts, and incorporate feedback from marketing/communications leads and potentially program staff.
Open communication regarding project status, challenges, and creative ideas is encouraged.
The team likely values proactive communication and a solution-oriented mindset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is heavily influenced by the non-profit mission. Designers should be prepared to integrate their creative work with the organization's social impact goals, demonstrating both artistic skill and a commitment to the cause.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Balancing Mission and Aesthetics: Effectively translating complex social issues into visually appealing and accessible designs without oversimplifying or misrepresenting the mission.
Working with Diverse Stakeholders: Catering to the design needs of various internal departments, each potentially having different priorities and feedback styles.
Contractual Time Constraints: Managing workload effectively within a part-time contract to meet project deadlines and deliver high-quality output.
Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication and creative synergy with the team while working remotely.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Portfolio Expansion: Adding mission-focused, impactful design work to your professional portfolio.
Non-Profit Sector Insights: Gaining experience and understanding of the unique design challenges and communication strategies within the non-profit industry.
Tool Proficiency Enhancement: Deepening skills in Canva and Adobe Creative Suite through practical application on diverse projects.
Social Media Design Trends: Staying current with evolving best practices and visual trends for social media engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for adaptability, strong communication, and a focus on delivering results within defined parameters, all key attributes for successful operations and contract roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Tell us about your experience designing for social media platforms. What makes a social media graphic effective for an organization like ours?" (Prepare by referencing specific examples from your portfolio and discussing engagement metrics.)
"How do you approach translating a mission or a complex message into visual design? Walk us through a project where you did this." (Focus on your process, research, and creative decision-making.)
"Describe your experience with Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite. For which types of projects do you prefer to use each tool?" (Be specific about your workflows and tool selection rationale.)
"How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks when working on multiple design projects with different deadlines?" (Emphasize organizational skills and project management methodologies.)

Company & Culture Questions:

"What excites you most about designing for a mission-driven organization like Better Together?" (Research the organization's specific programs and impact.)
"How do you stay updated on current design trends, especially for social media?" (Mention specific resources, blogs, or influencers you follow.)
"Describe your ideal working relationship with a client or manager in a contract role." (Focus on communication, feedback, and project clarity.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Concise Storytelling: For each featured project, briefly explain the objective, your role, the tools used, and the outcome. Keep it brief and impactful.
Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is visually clean and well-organized, mirroring good design principles.
Tool Demonstration: Be ready to speak about the specific features or techniques you employed within Canva or Adobe Suite to achieve the final design.
Mission Connection: Explicitly link your design choices and their effectiveness back to the organization's mission and communication goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to articulate not just what you designed, but why, and how it served the organization's objectives. Demonstrating an understanding of their mission and audience is as critical as showcasing technical skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

Submit your application through the application link provided or directly via email to [email protected].
Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights experience with the specified design tools (Canva, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and relevant projects (social media graphics, print materials). Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed social media graphics that increased engagement by X%").
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Clearly state your interest in the contractor role, express your alignment with Better Together's mission, and briefly mention your relevant skills and portfolio.
Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest, most relevant work samples. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., a link to a personal website, Behance, or a shared cloud folder) and clearly showcases your social media and print design capabilities.
Prepare for the Interview: Review the company's website and social media to understand their current branding and messaging. Be ready to discuss your design process, tool proficiency, and passion for their mission.

⚠️ 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.

Graphic Designer (Contractor)