Graphic Designer II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer II Company: Texas A&M University System Location: College Station, TX Job Type: PART_TIME, TEMPORARY/CASUAL STAFF (Fixed Term) Category: Marketing & Communications Operations Date Posted: 2025-07-23T00:00:00 Experience Level: 2-5 Years Remote Status: Remote OK (Part-time, flexible based on project needs)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on visual communication and digital content creation to support undergraduate recruitment initiatives at Texas A&M University.
• The position requires strong proficiency in graphic design software and a creative approach to storytelling for prospective students.
• Key responsibilities include designing and optimizing digital recruitment platforms and creating engaging promotional materials.
• The Graphic Designer II will collaborate with recruitment operations to track user engagement metrics and evaluate project ROI, contributing to data-driven marketing strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided job title is "Graphic Designer II," the core responsibilities and focus on digital recruitment initiatives, user experience metrics, and ROI evaluation indicate a strong alignment with marketing operations and digital content strategy within a higher education context. The role emphasizes process optimization for recruitment materials and data analysis for campaign effectiveness.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of the Digital Experience Guide, a mobile platform for prospective students, ensuring content aligns with strategic recruitment and matriculation goals.
• Convert key publications and guides into engaging, interactive digital formats for various stakeholder groups, including counselors and admitted students.
• Track, analyze, and report on user experience metrics for digital platforms, implementing iterative improvements to optimize reach and effectiveness.
• Design innovative and brand-aligned promotional materials for recruitment events, high school visits, college fairs, and specialized programs.
• Manage the creative fulfillment process for printed and digital materials, coordinating distribution and assessing product return on investment (ROI).
• Collaborate with recruitment operations staff and other university departments to ensure cohesive messaging, storytelling, and visual consistency across all recruitment materials.
• Research current trends in graphic design, higher education outreach, and recruitment to maintain fresh, cost-effective, and audience-relevant design strategies.
• Respond to ad hoc creative needs for special programs and initiatives, ensuring timely and high-quality design output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for process management in design fulfillment, digital content optimization through data analysis (user experience metrics, ROI), and strategic collaboration with cross-functional teams (recruitment operations, program assistants). This indicates an operations-centric approach to marketing and communications.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience in graphic design, digital arts, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of two years of experience in a graphic design role, demonstrating mastery in design principles and project execution.
• Proven experience working with many constituents and producing a wide array of design materials and products.
• Experience in higher education or student recruitment is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with modern User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) principles for digital and mobile platforms is preferred.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Mastery: Demonstrated proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Digital Publishing: Experience with digital publishing tools and creating interactive content.
• Visual Communication & Storytelling: Ability to craft compelling visual narratives that resonate with prospective students.
• Project Management: Strong organizational and project management skills to independently deliver projects from concept to implementation.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment and respond to feedback constructively.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail in all design and production aspects.

Preferred Skills:

• UX/UI Principles: Understanding of UX/UI principles for optimizing digital and mobile experiences.
• Higher Education Context: Experience working within a university setting or student recruitment environment.
• Bilingualism: Ability to speak Spanish and English is a plus, aiding communication with diverse student populations.
• Metrics & ROI Analysis: Familiarity with tracking engagement metrics and evaluating project ROI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite, digital publishing, UX/UI principles, project management, and metrics tracking points to a need for operational efficiency and data-informed design practices. The hybrid nature of the role (part-time, flexible, potentially remote) also requires strong self-management and communication skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is strongly suggested, showcasing a range of design projects that demonstrate creativity, technical skill, and strategic thinking.
• Portfolio pieces should highlight experience in digital design, including web graphics, social media content, and interactive digital publications.
• Include examples of print collateral, such as brochures, flyers, and promotional items, demonstrating brand consistency and effective messaging.
• Demonstrate ability to adapt design style to different target audiences and project requirements, particularly within a higher education context.
• Showcase projects that required collaboration with stakeholders and incorporated feedback for iterative improvement.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated, candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process, from initial concept development and user research to final asset delivery and post-launch analysis.
• Highlight experience in managing design workflows, including project timelines, asset organization, and version control.
• Be ready to explain how you track, analyze, and report on project success metrics, such as user engagement or campaign effectiveness, and how this informs future design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strong suggestion for a portfolio implies a need for candidates to showcase their process and tangible results. For operations-focused roles, this includes demonstrating how design processes are managed efficiently and how design outcomes are measured for impact and ROI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• $21.64 per hour. This is a wage position with a fixed hourly rate, commensurate with the part-time nature and specific project-based support.

Benefits:

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• Texas A&M contributes to employee health and basic life premiums.
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays.
• Eight hours of paid sick leave per month.
• Eight hours of paid vacation per month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS).
• Access to free exercise programs and wellness release time.
• Free LinkedIn Learning training and webinars for professional development.
• Employee Tuition Assistance and Educational Release time for completing a degree.

Working Hours:

• Part-time: No more than 15 hours per week.
• Work hours are flexible and based on project deadlines, workload, and the recruitment/admissions cycle.
• The role can be remote depending on project needs, offering significant flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is comprehensive for a part-time role, reflecting the employment structure within a large university system. The flexibility in working hours and remote potential are key operational advantages for candidates seeking work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education (University System) Company Size: Large (Texas A&M University System is a vast entity with tens of thousands of employees across multiple campuses and agencies). Founded: The Texas A&M University System was established in 1948, with Texas A&M University itself founded in 1876. This long history signifies a stable and established organizational culture with strong traditions.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment, specifically supporting the Admissions - Undergraduate Recruitment department.
• The designer will collaborate closely with the Assistant Director of Recruitment Operations, Recruitment Operations staff, a Program Assistant, and a Program Coordinator II.
• This structure suggests a collaborative environment where design support is integrated with operational recruitment strategies.

Methodology:

• The office focuses on recruiting and enrolling a diverse and academically prepared student body.
• Design work is expected to support strategic goals for recruitment, matriculation, and overall impact.
• There's an emphasis on leveraging digital platforms and tracking user engagement metrics to inform and optimize outreach efforts, indicating a data-informed approach to marketing operations.

Company Website: https://tamus.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: Working for a large university system like Texas A&M offers stability and extensive resources. The culture likely values tradition, academic excellence, and community service, aligned with the university's core values. The operations within Undergraduate Recruitment are geared towards data-driven student acquisition and engagement.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry to mid-level role (Graphic Designer II), suitable for individuals with 2-5 years of design experience. It offers exposure to marketing operations within higher education. Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer II reports to leadership within the Office of Undergraduate Recruitment, likely the Assistant Director of Recruitment Operations or a similar management role. Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the university's student recruitment efforts by creating compelling visual materials that influence prospective students' decisions. By optimizing digital experiences and promotional content, the designer contributes to increasing applicant numbers and enrollment yield.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in digital design, UX/UI, and data-driven marketing within the higher education sector.
• Project Leadership: Lead significant design projects like the Digital Experience Guide, gaining project management and strategic development experience.
• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience within a prestigious university system, which can be a strong credential for future roles in marketing, communications, or operations within higher education or related fields.
• Networking: Build professional relationships with key stakeholders in admissions and recruitment operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a part-time, fixed-term role, the experience gained in managing digital platforms, analyzing user metrics, and executing targeted campaigns provides a solid foundation for operations-focused career growth in marketing, communications, or student affairs management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position description states it can be remote depending on project needs, indicating a flexible work environment. If on-site, it would likely be within administrative offices supporting undergraduate recruitment at Texas A&M University. Office Location(s): College Station, Texas. Workspace Context:

• The role offers flexibility, allowing for remote work, which requires self-discipline and effective communication for collaboration.
• When on-site, the environment would be a typical university administrative office, supporting a dynamic recruitment team.
• Access to university resources and a collaborative team environment are expected.

Work Schedule: Part-time, with flexible hours totaling no more than 15 hours per week, adaptable to project deadlines and workload. This allows for integration with other commitments or studies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote OK" aspect is a significant operational benefit, requiring candidates to be self-motivated and adept at virtual collaboration tools and processes. The flexibility in hours is also a key operational consideration for work-life integration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and cover letter (strongly recommended).
• Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely be asked to submit a portfolio showcasing relevant design work. This is a critical step for evaluating creative skills and process.
• Interviews: Expect interviews with hiring managers and potentially team members from the Undergraduate Recruitment office. These will likely assess creative vision, project management skills, technical proficiency, collaboration abilities, and fit with the university's mission and values.
• Potential Design Challenge: While not specified, some roles may include a small design exercise or case study to assess problem-solving and design execution under timed conditions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize digital design, interactive content, and projects demonstrating impact or problem-solving.
• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the objective, your role, the process you followed, the tools used, and the outcome or impact. Highlight any data analysis or iterative improvements made.
• Highlight Operations: If possible, include examples that show how you managed project timelines, collaborated with stakeholders, or measured results (e.g., improved engagement metrics).
• Tailor to Higher Ed: If you have higher education or student recruitment design experience, ensure these projects are prominently featured.
• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate, whether it's a PDF or an online platform.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design process in detail, including how you approach project briefs, conduct research, gather feedback, and iterate on designs.
• Familiarize yourself with Texas A&M University's branding guidelines and its target audience (prospective students).
• Think about how you would approach designing for a university recruitment campaign, considering messaging, visual appeal, and digital accessibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "strongly suggested" portfolio indicates it's a key differentiator. Candidates should treat portfolio preparation as a crucial step, showcasing not just visual output but also process, collaboration, and results, aligning with operational expectations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop (required mastery).
• Digital Publishing Tools: Experience with platforms for creating interactive digital content.
• UX/UI Design Tools: Familiarity with modern UX/UI principles and potentially related software (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) is preferred for digital platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Metrics Tracking: Familiarity with tools or methods for tracking user engagement metrics and evaluating project ROI. This could involve Google Analytics, platform-specific analytics, or survey tools.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned for this role, understanding CRM principles and marketing automation concepts is beneficial in a recruitment context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite is a baseline requirement. The mention of "digital publishing tools" and "UX/UI principles" suggests a need for modern digital asset creation skills, which are increasingly important in marketing operations for creating engaging online experiences.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A drive to develop new and compelling visual solutions for recruitment.
• Collaboration: Working effectively with various teams and stakeholders to achieve shared goals.
• User-Centricity: Designing materials that resonate with and effectively communicate to prospective students.
• Efficiency & Impact: Delivering high-quality work on time and demonstrating the effectiveness of design through metrics and ROI.
• Attention to Detail: Ensuring accuracy, brand consistency, and high standards in all outputs.

Collaboration Style:

• The role requires close collaboration with recruitment operations staff, marketing teams, and potentially other university departments.
• Expect a team environment that values feedback, constructive criticism, and iterative design improvements.
• Communication is key, especially given the potential for remote work, necessitating proactive engagement and clear articulation of ideas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The university's core values (Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, Selfless Service) are likely to permeate the team culture. For this role, these translate to respectful collaboration, striving for excellence in design, leading creative initiatives, acting with integrity in brand representation, and demonstrating selfless service to the university's mission of student success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Projects: Juggling design needs for various recruitment events, campaigns, and digital initiatives within a part-time capacity.
• Adapting to Brand Guidelines: Consistently applying Texas A&M's established branding while also innovating visually.
• Remote Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and maintaining strong communication with team members when working remotely.
• Data Interpretation: Translating user engagement metrics and ROI data into actionable design improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Sharpening skills in digital design, interactive media, and potentially UX/UI.
• Higher Education Marketing: Gaining insights into the unique strategies and operational demands of student recruitment in a university setting.
• Data-Driven Design: Developing a stronger understanding of how to use analytics to inform and optimize creative processes.
• Professional Development Resources: Leveraging LinkedIn Learning and other university-provided training to enhance skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents an opportunity to develop operational skills in managing design projects within constraints (part-time, flexible hours) and to apply data analytics to creative output—a valuable combination for many marketing and operations roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through your process for designing a new digital recruitment guide or promotional campaign from start to finish. How do you incorporate feedback?"
• Collaboration: "Describe a time you collaborated with a team on a design project. How did you handle differing opinions or feedback?"
• Problem-Solving: "Imagine you need to design a recruitment piece for a segment of students who have shown low engagement. What would be your approach?"
• Metrics & Impact: "How have you used data or metrics to inform your design decisions or measure the success of your work?"
• Adaptability: "How do you stay current with design trends, and how do you balance creativity with brand consistency and project requirements?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about designing for Texas A&M University's Undergraduate Recruitment?"
• "How do you see your skills contributing to our student recruitment goals?"
• "How do you align with the university's core values?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each portfolio piece, tell a story that highlights the challenge, your solution, the process, and the impact.
• Quantify Results: If possible, use numbers to demonstrate success (e.g., "Increased engagement by X%," "Designed Y materials for Z events").
• Process Clarity: Clearly articulate the steps you took, especially any research, collaboration, or iteration phases.
• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most relevant projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent but also an understanding of operational processes, strategic thinking in marketing, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a structured environment like a university.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Workday portal, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.
• Portfolio Preparation: Curate and prepare your design portfolio, focusing on digital design, higher education relevance, and any projects demonstrating process management or impact measurement. Have a link or PDF readily available.
• Resume & Cover Letter Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight the 2+ years of experience, Adobe Creative Suite mastery, and any relevant higher education or recruitment experience. Write a compelling cover letter that articulates your passion for design and explains why you are a good fit for Texas A&M's recruitment goals.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Texas A&M University's mission, values, and current recruitment initiatives. Understand their target student demographics and branding.
• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your design process, collaboration experience, and how you use data to inform your work, using specific examples from your portfolio.

⚠️ 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.