Graphic Designer - PT - IMRF

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - PT - IMRF

Company: Arlington Heights Park District

Location: Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Part-Time

Category: Marketing & Communications / Creative Services

Date Posted: April 06, 2026

Experience Level: Entry-level

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on supporting the Creative Brand & Design Specialist in producing a wide array of marketing and communication materials for the Arlington Heights Park District.

• The position requires hands-on graphic design skills, including the creation of flyers, digital graphics, advertisements, and social media assets to drive community engagement.

• A significant component of the role involves serving as a photographer and videographer to document district programs and events, capturing the essence of community connection and recreation.

• The Graphic Designer will be instrumental in upholding and facilitating the brand identity of the District across all platforms and collateral, ensuring consistency and professional presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data describes a "Graphic Designer," the role's responsibilities, particularly photography, videography, and community engagement focus, align it closer to a Marketing & Communications or Creative Services function within a public sector/recreation organization. The "IMRF" designation indicates eligibility for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, a key benefit for public sector employees in Illinois.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce a variety of printed and electronic materials, including but not limited to flyers, advertisements, posters, banners, social media graphics, postcards, and signage, to support District initiatives.

• Support and actively facilitate the consistent application and enhancement of the Arlington Heights Park District's brand identity across all facilities and communication channels.

• Develop and maintain design templates for essential District communications such as email newsletters, letterhead, signage, and business cards to ensure brand coherence and efficiency.

• Create visually compelling social media graphics and banners for all District websites and online platforms to increase visibility and drive participation.

• Serve as a primary photographer and videographer for District events and programs, capturing high-quality visual content that reflects community engagement and recreational activities.

• Diligently follow and enforce established branding guidelines for the District to maintain a cohesive and professional brand image.

• Manage and prioritize design production assignments effectively to meet all deadlines and project timelines.

• Attend work regularly and reliably to ensure continuity and timely completion of responsibilities.

• Perform all job duties safely and in compliance with District policies, procedures, work rules, and the employee handbook.

• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient work environment that supports productivity and safety.

• Undertake additional duties as assigned, fitting within the scope and nature of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are directly extracted from the provided job description, with added detail and context to emphasize the operational aspects of graphic design and visual content creation within a municipal park district setting. The inclusion of "facilitate the brand identity" and "support and actively facilitate" implies a proactive role in brand management, not just execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong portfolio showcasing design skills is implicitly required. A degree or certification in Graphic Design, Marketing, Communications, or a related field is often preferred for roles of this nature.

Experience: This is an entry-level position, suggesting that candidates with 0-2 years of experience in graphic design and visual content creation are being sought. Practical experience in a similar role, internships, or significant project work will be highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Strong proficiency in graphic design software, including but not limited to Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator.

• Demonstrated strong knowledge of photography and videography principles and techniques for capturing engaging visual content.

• Solid understanding of social media platforms, digital marketing concepts, and basic marketing analysis.

• Excellent knowledge of layout and design principles, including typography, color theory, and composition.

• Good knowledge of writing, editing, and proofreading promotional copy to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within a public sector or municipal organization, particularly in parks and recreation.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) for website updates.

• Basic understanding of video editing software.

• Experience with email marketing platforms.

• Knowledge of project management tools for tracking design assignments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are directly derived from the "REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE" section of the job description, rephrased for clarity and keyword optimization. The preferred skills are inferred based on the nature of the role and the environment of a park district, aiming to provide a more comprehensive picture of an ideal candidate profile. The "Entry-level" AI classification supports the absence of explicit years of experience requirements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of graphic design projects, including print collateral (flyers, posters, brochures), digital assets (social media graphics, web banners), and branding examples.

• Specific examples of work demonstrating proficiency in Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

• Visual evidence of photography and videography skills, ideally featuring events, people, or community activities.

• Demonstrations of understanding and application of brand guidelines in design work.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates may be asked to describe their design process from brief to final delivery, highlighting how they manage projects and meet deadlines.

• Ability to articulate how they ensure brand consistency across different media types.

• Showcase an understanding of how design choices impact audience engagement and communication goals.

• Demonstrate a systematic approach to gathering requirements and incorporating feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't explicitly detail portfolio requirements, it heavily emphasizes the need for strong design skills, photography, and videography. This section infers what a strong portfolio should contain to meet those demands, focusing on demonstrating practical application of required software and techniques within a community-focused context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $22 - $26 per hour, commensurate with qualifications (DOQ).

Benefits:

• PTAC Membership to ARC (Arlington Ridge Center) - Offers access to fitness facilities and programs.

• Discounts on some programming offered by the Park District.

• KinderCare Discount - Provides a benefit for childcare expenses.

• IMRF Eligibility - Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund participation, a significant retirement savings benefit for public employees.

Working Hours: This is a part-time position.