Integrated Communications Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Integrated Communications Graphic Designer

Company: People Science

Location: Long Island City, New York

Job Type: Temporary (Temp to Perm)

Category: Creative & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: December 23, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site (with potential for remote flexibility upon conversion)

🚀 Role Summary

• Develops and executes compelling visual narratives across internal, external, and customer-facing communication channels.

• Ensures brand consistency and strategic alignment in all visual storytelling efforts.

• Collaborates closely with Communications, Marketing, and Social Media teams to deliver integrated, high-impact campaigns.

• Leverages proactive thinking and trend awareness to create timely and relevant creative content.

• Contributes fresh, innovative ideas to elevate the company's visual identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is explicitly stated as "Temp to Perm," indicating an initial contract period with the possibility of conversion to a permanent position. The "On-site" designation for Long Island City, NY, suggests a primary need for in-person collaboration, though remote flexibility might be negotiated post-conversion.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Visual Storytelling & Creative Design:

  • Design engaging visuals for presentations, newsletters, digital content, and social media platforms.
  • Create on-brand graphics, templates, and layouts to support both internal and external communications.
  • Translate complex business priorities into simple, clear, and compelling visual narratives.
  • Ensure all creative output is polished, consistent, and adheres strictly to the client's brand guidelines and strategic objectives.
  • Proactively monitor and leverage social media trends to develop quick, polished, ready-to-post creative content from concept to completion.
  • Apply urgency, proactive thinking, and strong trend awareness to all design assignments.

• Campaign & Key Moment Support:

  • Produce creative assets for leadership forums, employee storytelling initiatives, all-hands meetings, and significant enterprise-wide updates.
  • Design external-facing graphics for press releases, social media announcements, and owned digital platforms.
  • Develop visuals for customer communications that reinforce loyalty, retention, and product understanding.

• Innovation & Creative Strategy:

  • Generate and propose new, forward-thinking creative concepts and ideas proactively, often before they are explicitly requested.
  • Benchmark best-in-class brands and creative work to identify opportunities for elevating the company's visual identity.
  • Operate with speed and agility while consistently maintaining a high standard of creative quality.

• Cross-Functional Partnership:

  • Collaborate closely with communications, marketing, and social media teams to ensure cohesive and impactful brand expression across all channels.

  • Partner with communications, social media, and production teams to execute integrated, high-impact campaigns.

  • Provide flexible support across projects, stepping in wherever necessary to ensure successful and timely delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of tactical design execution and strategic creative input. The emphasis on "proactive thinking," "trend awareness," and "innovation" suggests the company is looking for a designer who can not only execute but also anticipate needs and contribute to the evolution of their visual brand. The "Temp to Perm" nature means initial performance will be critical for demonstrating these qualities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for mid-level roles. A strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a focus on integrated communications, corporate branding, and digital content creation. Experience in a temp-to-perm or project-based role is beneficial.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Expert-level skills in industry-standard design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Visual Storytelling: Proven ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling visual narratives.

• Brand Consistency: Strong understanding of brand guidelines and the ability to maintain them across diverse assets.

• Digital Content Creation: Experience designing for social media, web, email newsletters, and digital presentations.

• Layout & Typography: Excellent command of design principles, including layout, composition, and typography.

• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Collaboration & Communication: Strong interpersonal skills for effective teamwork with various departments.

• Proactive Mindset: Demonstrated initiative, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to contribute fresh ideas.

• Trend Awareness: Keen understanding of current design and social media trends.

• Agility & Speed: Ability to work efficiently and adapt quickly to changing project requirements.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion graphics or video editing software (e.g., After Effects, Premiere Pro).

• Familiarity with presentation software beyond basic templates (e.g., advanced PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides).

• Experience in a corporate communications or agency environment.

• Understanding of customer loyalty and retention marketing principles.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) or digital asset management (DAM) systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level suggests a need for candidates who are past the entry-level stage and can work with a degree of autonomy, bringing established skills and a proactive approach. The emphasis on "proactive thinking" and "trend awareness" implies a desire for a designer who can anticipate needs and contribute strategically.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive digital portfolio showcasing a diverse range of design projects, demonstrating proficiency in various mediums (digital, print, social).

• Specific examples of visual storytelling that effectively communicate complex ideas or business priorities.

• Case studies or project highlights that demonstrate an understanding of brand consistency and strategic alignment.

• Work samples that illustrate the ability to design for internal communications (e.g., newsletters, presentations) and external-facing content (e.g., social media graphics, press assets).

Process Documentation:

• The portfolio should implicitly or explicitly showcase the candidate's design process, from concept development to final execution.

• Examples of how the candidate has translated project briefs or business objectives into visual solutions.

• Evidence of iterative design processes, including revisions and feedback incorporation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a graphic design role, the portfolio is paramount. It must clearly articulate the candidate's ability to translate communication objectives into effective visual designs. The "Temp to Perm" nature means the portfolio will be heavily scrutinized to assess long-term potential and fit.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the "Temp to Perm" nature, the location (Long Island City, New York), and the 2-5 years of experience, a competitive hourly rate for a contract Graphic Designer in this market would typically range from $25 to $40 per hour. Upon conversion to a permanent role, the annual salary could range from $60,000 to $80,000, depending on performance and the specific responsibilities of the permanent position.

Benefits:

• During Contract Period: Standard contractor benefits may apply, such as access to a professional network, potential for consistent project work, and the opportunity to gain experience with a new client.

Specific benefits like health insurance or paid time off are not typically provided by the hiring company for temp roles unless mandated by local law or agreed upon in the contract.

• Upon Conversion to Permanent: Comprehensive benefits package typically includes:

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

  • Paid Time Off (PTO) including vacation, sick leave, and holidays

  • Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401(k) with company match)

  • Potential for professional development and training opportunities

  • Life and Disability Insurance Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week. The role is designated as "On-site," implying a standard office schedule, likely Monday through Friday during business hours. Some flexibility may be possible, especially when transitioning to a permanent role, but initial expectations are for full-time, in-office presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on industry benchmarks for graphic designers with 2-5 years of experience in the New York City metropolitan area. The "Temp to Perm" structure means benefits and compensation will evolve significantly upon successful conversion.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company is "People Science," which suggests a focus on human resources, talent management, organizational psychology, or consulting related to people operations. The client they serve is not explicitly named, but the role is for their "client," implying People Science is a staffing or consulting firm. The role itself is within "Corporate Communications" for the client, indicating the client is likely a larger organization with established communication functions.

Company Size: People Science's size is not provided. However, the nature of the role (reporting to a Director of Corporate Communications) suggests the client company is of moderate to large size, with a dedicated corporate communications department.

Founded: People Science's founding date is not provided.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will report directly to the Director of Corporate Communications (Integrated Communications).

• They will work closely with internal communications, customer communications, and social media teams within the client's organization.

• Collaboration will also extend to marketing and production teams.

Methodology:

• The communications team likely employs a data-informed approach to content strategy and visual design, aiming for clarity and impact.

• Emphasis is placed on translating business objectives into compelling visual narratives.

• A proactive and agile approach to content creation, particularly for social media, is expected.

• Maintaining brand consistency and strategic alignment across all visual output is a core methodology.

Company Website: https://www.people-science.com/ (This is the website for People Science, the staffing agency. The client's website is not provided.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The context provided is for People Science, the employer of record or staffing agency. The actual company culture and industry will be that of the client company where the designer will be working. The role within "Corporate Communications" suggests the client operates in a sector where consistent branding and clear messaging are crucial, such as technology, finance, or consumer goods.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Graphic Designer, typically requiring 2-5 years of experience. It's an individual contributor role focused on design execution and creative input.

Reporting Structure: The designer reports to the Director of Corporate Communications, a senior leadership position within the communications function. This provides exposure to strategic decision-making and high-level communication initiatives.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role in the sense of sales or revenue operations, this position has a significant impact on the perception and effectiveness of the client's communications. Strong visual design enhances brand recognition, clarifies messaging, improves engagement rates on digital platforms, and supports customer loyalty, all of which indirectly contribute to business objectives and operational efficiency in communication delivery.

Growth Opportunities:

• Permanent Conversion: The primary immediate growth opportunity is conversion to a full-time permanent role, which typically comes with increased responsibility, stability, and a comprehensive benefits package.

• Skill Specialization: The role offers opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas like social media design, presentation design, or even basic motion graphics, depending on project needs and personal interest.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working closely with Communications, Marketing, and Social Media teams provides exposure to broader marketing and communication strategies, potentially opening doors to related roles.

• Portfolio Development: Successful completion of projects can significantly enhance the designer's professional portfolio, making them more competitive for future roles.

• Leadership Potential: Over time, with demonstrated success and leadership qualities, there could be opportunities to move into Senior Designer roles, Art Director positions, or even management roles within design or communications teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Graphic Designer," the "Integrated Communications" aspect suggests a focus on how design serves broader communication goals. This can be a stepping stone to roles like "Communications Designer," "Brand Designer," or even "Marketing Designer" with further experience.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" in Long Island City, New York. This implies working within a traditional office setting, likely in a professional corporate environment.

Office Location(s): Long Island City, New York. This is a vibrant commercial hub in Queens, accessible via public transportation, offering a dynamic work environment.

Workspace Context:

• The designer will likely work within a collaborative office space, potentially sharing desks or having a dedicated workstation.

• Access to standard office technology, design software, and potentially specialized creative equipment will be provided.

• Frequent interaction with members of the Corporate Communications, Marketing, and Social Media teams is expected, fostering a collaborative and dynamic work atmosphere.

• The environment is described as "fast-paced," requiring adaptability and efficiency.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is expected to be 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, during typical business hours. Given the "Temp to Perm" nature and the need to impress for conversion, a willingness to occasionally work beyond standard hours for critical deadlines might be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is significant. Candidates should be prepared for a traditional office setting and understand that remote work is not the primary mode, though it may become an option later.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio by People Science and potentially the client's HR or hiring manager.

• Portfolio Review & Skills Assessment: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, discusses their design process, and potentially completes a design exercise or takes-home assignment. This is crucial for evaluating design judgment, technical skills, and creative thinking.

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Interviews with the Director of Corporate Communications and potentially other team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, problem-solving abilities, and proactive approach.

• Final Interview: May involve a broader team or senior stakeholders to confirm fit and discuss the transition to permanent employment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best align with the responsibilities outlined (visual storytelling, brand consistency, social media, internal/external comms).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your role, your process, and the outcome. Quantify results where possible (e.g., "Increased engagement by X%," "Streamlined template creation process").

• Highlight Process: Be prepared to walk through your design thinking, from initial brief interpretation to final asset delivery. Show sketches, mood boards, or early concepts if relevant.

• Showcase Versatility: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to work across different mediums and for different audiences.

• Brand Alignment: Explicitly discuss how your work aligns with brand guidelines and strategic objectives.

• Trend Awareness: If possible, include a project that demonstrates your ability to leverage current trends effectively and creatively.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge, which might involve creating a social media graphic, a presentation slide, or a conceptual visual based on a prompt within a limited timeframe.

• Practice articulating your design choices clearly and concisely, focusing on how your solution meets the brief's objectives.

• If a take-home assignment is given, treat it with the same professionalism and attention to detail as a client project. Ensure it's well-presented and adheres to any specified guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component for this role. Candidates should tailor their presentation to showcase skills directly relevant to corporate communications and integrated marketing, emphasizing clarity, brand adherence, and strategic impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Presentation Software: Advanced skills in PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides for creating dynamic internal and external presentations.

Visual Storytelling & Digital Content Tools:

• Familiarity with tools for creating graphics for social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter).

Collaboration & Project Management Tools:

• Experience with collaboration platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Asana for team communication and project tracking.

Preferred Tools:

• Motion Graphics/Video: Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro for animated graphics or short video assets.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD for potential UI/UX-related design tasks, though likely secondary.

• Stock Asset Platforms: Experience with platforms like Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Getty Images for sourcing assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite for graphic design. Proficiency in presentation software is also highlighted as critical for "Integrated Communications."

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values (for the client's Communications team):

• Clarity & Precision: A commitment to delivering clear, concise, and accurate visual communications.

• Brand Integrity: Upholding and championing the company's visual identity with rigor.

• Proactivity & Innovation: Encouraging and rewarding forward-thinking ideas and a proactive approach to design challenges.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Fostering a team-oriented environment where cross-functional collaboration is seamless and valued.

• Efficiency & Agility: Operating with speed and adaptability to meet the demands of a fast-paced environment while maintaining high quality.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creative, decisions are often informed by communication goals, audience engagement metrics, and strategic priorities.

Collaboration Style:

• The team likely operates with a high degree of cross-functional interaction, requiring designers to be adept at understanding and integrating with the needs of various departments (Comms, Marketing, Social).

• A culture of constructive feedback and iteration is expected, where designers are comfortable sharing work-in-progress and incorporating feedback.

• Knowledge sharing and mentorship, particularly between senior and junior members, may be encouraged.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a balance between creative excellence and strategic communication objectives, underpinned by efficiency and teamwork. This is crucial for a designer working within a corporate communications function.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Quality: The "fast-paced environment" and need for "speed and agility" while maintaining a "high bar for quality" can be a significant challenge.

• Translating Business to Visuals: Effectively translating complex business priorities or technical information into easily understandable and compelling visuals requires strong conceptualization skills.

• Trend Integration: Staying current with rapidly evolving social media trends and creatively integrating them into brand-appropriate content without appearing inauthentic.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholders: Collaborating effectively with various teams (Comms, Marketing, Social, Production) each with potentially different priorities and feedback styles.

• Demonstrating ROI: For a designer, clearly articulating the impact of their visual work on communication effectiveness and business outcomes can be challenging.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering New Tools: Opportunities to learn or deepen skills in motion graphics, advanced presentation design, or emerging design software.

• Strategic Communication Insights: Gaining exposure to high-level communication strategies and how design supports them.

• Industry Best Practices: Learning from experienced professionals in corporate communications and marketing.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Each successful project can serve as a building block for future career growth and portfolio development.

• Conversion to Permanent: The ultimate growth opportunity is securing a permanent position with expanded responsibilities and benefits.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a creative role in a dynamic corporate setting. The growth opportunities are heavily tied to the success of the initial temporary assignment and the potential for permanent conversion.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex business concept into a simple visual. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses visual storytelling and conceptualization).

• "How do you stay current with design trends, particularly on social media? Can you give an example of a recent trend you incorporated into a design?" (Evaluates trend awareness and proactive creativity).

• "Walk me through your process for ensuring brand consistency across different communication channels and asset types." (Tests understanding of brand management and execution).

• "Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple design projects with competing deadlines. How did you prioritize, and what was the result?" (Assesses project management and time management skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about our client's industry and brand? How would you approach designing for them?" (Requires research on the client's sector and brand identity).

• "What interests you about this 'Temp to Perm' opportunity specifically?" (Assesses motivation and long-term potential).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your portfolio, then dive into 3-5 key projects. For each project, clearly state the client/context, objective, your role, your process (concept, design, revisions), and the final output/impact.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly connect your project examples to the requirements: visual storytelling, brand consistency, social media trends, internal/external comms, agility.

• Showcase Process: Be ready to discuss the "why" behind your design choices – color palettes, typography, layout decisions, and how they serve the communication goal.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, use metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., engagement rates, click-throughs, positive feedback).

• Engage: Be prepared for questions about your work and to discuss alternative approaches or solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill, but also strategic thinking, adaptability, and a proactive approach aligned with the "Integrated Communications" aspect of the role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Integrated Communications Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your resume and a link to your digital portfolio through the People Science application portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work that showcases visual storytelling, brand consistency, social media graphics, and presentation design. Tailor your project selection to highlight examples relevant to corporate communications.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and presentation software, and experience in fast-paced environments. Use keywords from the job description like "visual storytelling," "brand consistency," "integrated communications," and "social media trends."

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to discuss your design process, how you handle feedback, and your approach to staying ahead of trends. Practice walking through your portfolio projects with a focus on objectives, process, and outcomes.

• Research the Client: If possible, research the client company's industry, brand, and recent communications to tailor your approach and demonstrate genuine interest during interviews. Understand the context of "People Science" as an employer.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with People Science or the hiring organization before making application decisions.