Graphic Designer III

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer III

Company: AECOM

Location: Orange, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2025-09-18T17:21:12.992

Experience Level: Mid-Level (Approx. 4 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop compelling visual assets and multi-page documents for proposals, reports, and presentations, focusing on clear hierarchy and impactful storytelling.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including writers, marketers, and project managers, to translate technical content into digestible and engaging visual formats.

• Maintain and enforce AECOM's brand standards, ensuring visual consistency and adherence to best practices across all design outputs for large, collaborative projects.

• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, from conception through final production for both print and digital channels, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality work.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is embedded within AECOM's Design and Consulting Services Marketing Group, indicating a strong focus on supporting business development efforts through high-quality marketing collateral and proposal documentation. The hybrid nature suggests a need for strong self-management and digital collaboration skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce visually engaging multi-page documents, including proposals, reports, and presentations, with a focus on clear hierarchy and persuasive storytelling.

• Create supporting visual elements such as infographics, diagrams, charts, and custom graphics to enhance the understanding and impact of technical content.

• Collaborate with writers, marketers, pursuit teams, and other designers to conceptualize and refine design solutions, incorporating feedback effectively.

• Ensure all design work strictly adheres to AECOM's brand guidelines, maintaining a consistent visual identity across all materials.

• Prepare final design files for both print and digital distribution, ensuring technical accuracy, print-readiness, and optimal digital performance.

• Design and format professional PowerPoint presentations and related visual aids for internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership and clients.

• Perform basic photo editing and enhancement, with familiarity and application of AI-powered editing tools.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and resources to meet competing deadlines while maintaining high-quality standards.

• Develop, maintain, and manage branded templates for various formats, including Word, PowerPoint, and InDesign, to streamline proposal and marketing material creation.

• Maintain organized and efficient digital file systems and design archives, facilitating easy access and reuse of assets across projects and teams.

• Provide direct design support for RFP responses and Statements of Qualifications (SOQs), often under tight deadlines, ensuring visual appeal and adherence to client requirements.

• Conduct thorough design reviews to ensure accuracy, consistency, polish, and brand compliance before materials are finalized and submitted.

• Stay abreast of current design trends, software advancements, and AI tools to continuously enhance AECOM's visual communication strategies and outputs.

• Coordinate with engineers, planners, and project managers to interpret complex technical information and translate it into clear, visually appealing formats.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative design execution and strategic support for business development, typical for a mid-level designer in a large, complex organization like AECOM. Emphasis on proposal support and technical content visualization suggests a need for strong information design skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a closely related field is preferred.

Experience:

• A minimum of 4 years of progressive experience in graphic design, with a strong portfolio showcasing relevant project work.

• Proven experience in developing and executing design solutions for both print and digital media is essential.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop for layout, illustration, and image manipulation.

• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency: Strong command of PowerPoint, Word, and Excel, with experience in Teams and SharePoint for document management and collaboration.

• Layout and Typography: Excellent skills in creating clear, effective layouts and applying typography for readability and visual impact, particularly in multi-page documents.

• Information Design: Ability to translate complex technical information into easily understandable visual formats such as infographics and diagrams.

• Brand Management: Proven ability to adhere to and enforce brand guidelines, ensuring visual consistency across all design outputs.

• Digital & Print Production: Understanding of pre-press requirements for print and optimization techniques for digital platforms.

Preferred Skills:

• AEC Industry Familiarity: Experience designing for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector is a significant advantage.

• Long-Form Document Expertise: Advanced skills in designing and managing complex, long-form documents like technical reports and proposals.

• AI-Powered Editing Tools: Familiarity or proficiency with AI-assisted design and photo editing tools.

• Creative Direction & Feedback: Ability to take creative direction, interpret feedback from diverse stakeholders, and contribute innovative design ideas.

• Organizational Skills: Exceptional attention to detail and robust organizational capabilities for file management and project tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "4 years of relevant Graphic Design Experience" requirement positions this as a mid-level role. The preference for AEC industry familiarity and long-form document expertise suggests that candidates with experience in consulting firms, engineering companies, or similar professional services environments will be highly competitive.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Versatility: Showcase a range of design projects, including multi-page documents (proposals, reports), infographics, presentations, and branding collateral.

• Highlight Process Improvement: Include case studies or project examples that detail your design process, problem-solving approach, and how your design solutions achieved specific objectives (e.g., improved clarity, enhanced engagement).

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Provide examples that clearly demonstrate your mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Microsoft PowerPoint for complex layouts and visual storytelling.

• Illustrate Brand Adherence: Include examples of work where you successfully applied existing brand guidelines or developed assets that maintained brand consistency.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): Where applicable, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your design work (e.g., improved proposal win rates, client feedback on presentation clarity).

Process Documentation:

• Applicants may be asked to describe their process for managing multiple design projects with competing deadlines, including prioritization and workflow management techniques.

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to incorporating feedback from various stakeholders and iterating on design concepts.

• Demonstrate an understanding of file organization best practices for large, collaborative projects and the importance of maintaining design archives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on proposals and technical documentation within a large firm, a portfolio that emphasizes information design, clarity in complex documents, and adherence to brand standards will be crucial. Candidates should be ready to articulate their design process and how they manage projects efficiently.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), and Disability Benefits.

• Paid Time Off & Leave: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and various Leaves of Absence options.

• Voluntary Benefits & Perks: Access to a suite of Voluntary Benefits and employee Perks programs.

• Flexible Work Options: Support for hybrid work arrangements that balance remote and in-office collaboration.

• Well-being Resources: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and other Well-being Resources.

• Financial Security: Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k) and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).

• Professional Support: Business Travel Insurance and Service Recognition Awards.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are likely 40 hours per week, aligning with typical full-time employment. Due to the nature of proposal support, there may be occasional requirements to work beyond standard hours to meet critical deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate. AECOM, as a Fortune 500 company, typically offers a competitive benefits package, reflecting the comprehensive list provided. The hybrid work arrangement implies a need for flexibility and self-discipline.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Infrastructure Consulting (Architecture, Engineering, Construction - AEC)

Company Size: Large (50,000+ global employees)

Founded: AECOM has a long history, tracing roots back to 1910, evolving into a global leader. This extensive history suggests a stable, established corporate environment with a focus on long-term projects and client relationships.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Design and Consulting Services Marketing Group, part of a larger marketing or business development function. This team likely comprises writers, marketing specialists, pursuit managers, and other designers.

• The reporting structure will likely be to a Marketing Manager or Creative Director within this group.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: While a creative role, AECOM's operational success relies on data. Design decisions often need to be justified by how they support communication objectives and business development strategies.

• Process Optimization: Emphasis on developing and using templates, maintaining organized file systems, and adhering to brand standards indicates a focus on efficiency and process-driven workflows.

• Automation & Efficiency: The mention of AI-powered editing tools suggests an openness to leveraging technology to improve productivity and creative output.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: AECOM's scale means a structured, corporate environment with established processes. The integration into a marketing group supporting consulting services implies a focus on professionalism, client-centricity, and the ability to translate technical expertise into compelling visual narratives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Graphic Designer III, indicating a mid-level position. It signifies a level of autonomy and expertise beyond entry-level, with the expectation of contributing significantly to project outcomes and supporting less experienced team members.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer III will likely report to a Marketing Manager, Creative Lead, or Director within the Design and Consulting Services Marketing Group. They will collaborate closely with various internal clients, such as project managers and business development leaders.

Operations Impact: The graphic design function directly impacts AECOM's ability to win new business and effectively communicate its expertise. High-quality proposals, presentations, and marketing collateral are critical for differentiating AECOM in a competitive market and showcasing the value of its engineering and consulting services.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like information design, presentation design, or digital media within the AEC sector.

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into a Senior Graphic Designer role, leading projects, mentoring junior designers, or managing specific creative initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain exposure to different project types and client needs across AECOM's diverse service lines (water, environment, transportation, buildings), potentially leading to roles in specialized marketing or communications.

• Advanced Training: AECOM's commitment to award-winning training programs offers avenues for developing advanced technical skills, project management capabilities, and leadership competencies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "III" designation suggests a defined career ladder within AECOM's creative services. Growth likely involves increasing project complexity, client interaction, and potentially team leadership, rather than a complete career pivot.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: AECOM operates a hybrid work model. This implies a professional office environment for collaborative tasks, client meetings, and team synergy, balanced with remote work flexibility.

Office Location(s): While the primary focus is Orange, CA, AECOM also considers candidates in Sacramento, CA, and Denver, CO for this role, indicating a distributed team structure with regional hubs. The Orange office is likely situated in a business district, offering professional amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be a modern, collaborative open-plan office environment or dedicated designer workstations, equipped with industry-standard hardware and software.

• Access to AECOM's internal network, project management tools, and digital asset management systems will be provided.

• Opportunities for interaction with a diverse team of marketing professionals, technical experts, and project leaders will be frequent, fostering a dynamic and knowledge-rich environment.

Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour work week will likely offer flexibility in terms of start and end times, provided core business hours and project deadlines are met. The hybrid model allows for a balance between focused individual work at home and collaborative team activities in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature. Candidates should be comfortable working independently from home and actively participating in team activities and in-person meetings when required by the hybrid schedule.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely review applications and portfolios to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Technical Interview/Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, design process, problem-solving approaches, and technical skills. Expect questions about Adobe Creative Suite, information design, and brand adherence.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager focusing on experience, collaboration style, project management skills, and cultural fit within the marketing team.

• Cross-Functional/Team Interview: Potentially an interview with team members or stakeholders (e.g., a writer, project manager) to evaluate collaboration and communication abilities.

• Final Interview (if applicable): May involve a senior leader for final approval.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-8 strong, relevant projects that best showcase your skills in multi-page documents, information design, and presentation graphics. Prioritize work that demonstrates understanding of technical content.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the objective, your role, the challenges faced, your design process, the solutions implemented, and the final outcome or impact.

• Showcase Process: Include brief explanations or visuals of your workflow, wireframes, or concept development stages to illustrate your thought process.

• Highlight Technical Skills: Be prepared to discuss the tools and techniques used for each project.

• Address Brand Consistency: Include examples where you meticulously followed brand guidelines.

• Prepare for Digital Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible online (e.g., PDF, personal website, Behance) and practice presenting it concisely.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design exercises that might involve adapting a piece of technical text into a visually appealing infographic or refining a rough presentation slide deck.

• Focus on demonstrating your ability to quickly understand requirements, apply brand standards, and produce polished results under a time constraint.

• Practice articulating your design choices and rationale clearly and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. Candidates should prepare a presentation that not only showcases visual output but also demonstrates their strategic thinking, process, and ability to collaborate effectively with non-designers.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign (primary for layout/documents), Illustrator (vector graphics, infographics), Photoshop (image editing, retouching). Acrobat for PDF manipulation and output.

• Microsoft Office Suite: PowerPoint (crucial for presentations), Word (proposals, reports), Excel (data visualization, charts).

• Microsoft Teams & SharePoint: For collaboration, file sharing, and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, understanding how to visualize data from reports (e.g., project performance, market data) using Excel charts or Illustrator is important.

CRM & Automation:

• While the designer is not expected to manage the CRM, understanding how marketing materials tie into CRM campaigns or business development pipelines (e.g., proposal submission tracking) can be beneficial.

• Familiarity with template creation and management in Word and PowerPoint can be seen as a form of workflow automation for recurring tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint and InDesign, is non-negotiable. Experience with collaborative platforms like Teams and SharePoint is also essential for a hybrid, large-team environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in design and communication, ensuring accuracy and honesty in all visual representations.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams, valuing input from writers, engineers, and marketing specialists to achieve collective goals.

• Innovation: Embracing new design trends, technologies (like AI tools), and creative approaches to enhance AECOM's visual communication.

• Excellence: Delivering high-quality, polished, and effective design solutions that meet or exceed client expectations and brand standards.

• Client Focus: Understanding the needs of internal and external clients to create designs that support business objectives and communicate value.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with project teams, providing design expertise to support engineers and planners in communicating technical concepts.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: Openness to constructive criticism and a willingness to iterate on designs based on feedback from various stakeholders to achieve the best outcome.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a shared pool of design assets, templates, and best practices within the marketing team for broader team benefit and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: AECOM's culture likely emphasizes professionalism, technical excellence, and a strong work ethic, reflecting its role as a global infrastructure leader. A collaborative spirit and adaptability are key for success in this role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Technical Content: The primary challenge will be interpreting complex engineering and consulting information and translating it into visually accessible and engaging formats for diverse audiences.

• Managing Competing Deadlines: Balancing multiple high-priority projects with tight turnaround times, especially during peak proposal periods.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring strict adherence to AECOM's brand guidelines across a vast array of materials and numerous contributors.

• Adapting to Feedback: Effectively incorporating feedback from non-designers who may have varying levels of understanding of design principles.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to learn and apply advanced techniques in infographic design, data visualization, and presentation interactivity.

• Industry Exposure: Gain deep insights into the infrastructure, engineering, and consulting sectors, understanding the unique communication needs of these fields.

• Software Proficiency: Potential to become proficient in emerging design tools and AI technologies relevant to graphic design.

• Career Path Advancement: Clear pathways to Senior Graphic Designer roles, team lead positions, or specialization within AECOM's broader marketing and communications functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant opportunities for professional growth by immersing the designer in the complex world of infrastructure consulting and providing exposure to high-stakes business development processes.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through your process for designing a complex multi-page proposal document from brief to final delivery." Be prepared to discuss research, concept development, layout, typography, collaboration, and file preparation.

• Technical Visualization: "How would you approach designing an infographic to explain a complex engineering process or environmental impact study?" Focus on clarity, accuracy, and visual hierarchy.

• Brand Adherence: "Describe a situation where you had to strictly adhere to brand guidelines for a critical project. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?"

• Collaboration & Feedback: "How do you handle constructive criticism on your designs from stakeholders who may not have a design background?" Provide examples of incorporating feedback effectively.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for AECOM and specifically within our Design and Consulting Services Marketing Group?" Research AECOM's recent projects and values.

• "How do you envision yourself contributing to a hybrid work environment and collaborating with a distributed team?" Emphasize communication and proactivity.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio presentation logically. Start with an overview of your role and skills, then dive into 3-4 key projects. For each project, clearly state the objective, your contribution, the process, and the outcome.

• Highlight Key Skills: Make sure your chosen projects explicitly demonstrate proficiency in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, PowerPoint, information design, and brand consistency.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, use data or client testimonials to support the success of your design work.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure it's engaging, informative, and within any specified time limits. Be ready to answer questions about any project in your portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare specific examples that directly address the responsibilities listed in the job description. Demonstrating a clear understanding of AECOM's industry and business needs will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer III position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters. Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and tailored to the role.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature multi-page documents, infographics, and presentation design examples relevant to technical or consulting services. Highlight your process and problem-solving.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description, such as "Adobe Creative Suite," "InDesign," "presentation design," "information design," "brand consistency," and "proposal support." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear communication of your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare answers to common interview questions related to collaboration, project management, and technical skills.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with AECOM's services, recent projects, and company values. Understand the context of infrastructure consulting and how design supports business development in this sector.

⚠️ 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.