Marketing - Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: Golden 1 Credit Union

Location: Sacramento, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing & Creative Operations

Date Posted: February 25, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in leading the creative output for marketing campaigns, focusing on high-impact visual design for both print and digital channels.

• Responsible for ensuring all creative assets strictly adhere to brand guidelines, acting as a brand guardian for the credit union.

• Key contributor to the end-to-end production process of marketing collateral, from concept to final delivery, managing timelines and vendor relationships.

• Owns the creation of professional, on-brand PowerPoint presentations for executive leadership, requiring strong visual storytelling and communication skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is titled "Senior Graphic Designer," its responsibilities extend into a broader marketing operations context by overseeing production processes, ensuring brand consistency across diverse materials, and directly supporting executive-level communications. This suggests a hybrid role with significant operational oversight beyond traditional design tasks.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead design administrator and brand expert for the marketing department, responsible for both print and digital creative execution.

• Develop, create, and lead new design concepts from ideation through final delivery, collaborating with copywriters, other designers, creative agencies, and internal business owners to meet project deadlines.

• Design professional, on-brand PowerPoint presentations for credit union executives, translating complex information into visually compelling narratives.

• Oversee the digital and print production process and execution of marketing and advertising initiatives, including direct mail, brochures, signage, advertisements, annual reports, trade show graphics, sales collateral, and credit card designs.

• Ensure all print and digital production materials strictly adhere to Golden 1 Credit Union's brand standards and guidelines.

• Collaborate with the Digital Content Designer to create integrated digital assets for various online platforms and promotions.

• Create, update, and manage the scheduling of visuals for print and digital displays in branches and back-office locations.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, effectively prioritizing tasks and meeting tight deadlines while working with internal teams and external creative agencies.

• Research and identify emerging design trends, techniques, and technologies, making recommendations to management for adoption and innovation.

• Demonstrate knowledge of different multimedia/design formats (e.g., MP4, WAV) and their optimization, compression, and modification for departmental needs.

• Maintain an organized, online archive of all print and digital assets for easy access and retrieval.

• Uphold a thorough understanding of state and federal laws and regulations related to credit union compliance, including Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering laws, as applicable to the position.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of "Serve as the lead design administrator" and "Oversee the digital and print production process" indicates a responsibility that goes beyond pure design execution, touching on project management and operational workflow for creative assets. This implies a need for organizational skills and an understanding of production pipelines.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in a related field (e.g., Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing with a design focus), or equivalent relevant work experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional graphic design experience, preferably in both an agency setting and an internal marketing department.

• Five (5) or more years of experience in digital and print production management, including vendor management and oversight of production workflows.

• Five (5) or more years of experience in corporate branding development and the consistent implementation of brand guidelines across various collateral and merchandising materials.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat.

• Strong understanding of print and digital design principles, layout, typography, and color theory.

• Demonstrated ability to create high-impact, on-brand multimedia graphics for online, social media, and member-facing promotions.

• Proven experience in designing professional and impactful PowerPoint presentations for executive audiences.

• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written, for effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to coordinate multiple projects concurrently and maintain organized digital and print asset archives.

Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge of Adobe After Effects and Adobe Animate for motion graphics and animation.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Experience with window system software.

• Typing speed of thirty-five words per minute (preferred).

• Familiarity with credit union compliance regulations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "expert level use of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Acrobat, and Adobe Illustrator" is critical. The inclusion of "Working knowledge of Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate" suggests a growing need for dynamic and animated content, aligning with modern digital marketing strategies. The typing speed requirement, while unusual for a senior design role, is explicitly stated and should be noted.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a wide range of print and digital design projects, demonstrating expertise in branding, typography, and layout.

• Specific examples of high-impact advertisements (digital and print) and member-facing promotional materials that align with brand standards.

• Case studies highlighting the creation of professional PowerPoint presentations for executive audiences, demonstrating visual storytelling and data visualization capabilities.

• Evidence of experience in managing the production process for marketing collateral, ideally with examples of direct mail, brochures, signage, or event graphics.

Process Documentation:

• The portfolio should illustrate the candidate's process for concept development, from initial brief to final design execution.

• Examples should showcase an understanding of production workflows, including print vendor management and digital asset delivery.

• Demonstrations of how design solutions were tested or optimized, especially for digital channels, would be beneficial.

• Evidence of ability to manage project timelines and coordinate with multiple stakeholders throughout the design and production lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Graphic Designer role, a portfolio is paramount. The emphasis on "lead design administrator" and "oversee the production process" suggests that candidates should include examples demonstrating project management and workflow oversight, not just aesthetic output. This includes showcasing how they managed projects with copywriters, other designers, agencies, and business owners.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $37.23 - $45.00 Hourly

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions (e.g., 401k or similar).

• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education in design and marketing.

Working Hours:

• Standard 40-hour work week.

• The role is explicitly designated as "NON-EXEMPT," meaning overtime pay will be provided for hours worked beyond the standard workweek in accordance with labor laws.

• While primarily on-site, occasional local travel may be required for off-site promotional events or material pickup/delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided hourly. For a comprehensive view, it's converted to an annual salary range assuming a standard 40-hour work week. As a non-exempt role, candidates should be aware of potential overtime pay. Benefits are inferred based on industry standards for full-time positions at a financial institution of this size and type.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Credit Union)

• Golden 1 Credit Union operates within the highly regulated and service-oriented financial industry. This context implies a strong emphasis on trust, security, compliance, and member-centricity. Marketing efforts must align with these core values, balancing promotional messaging with regulatory requirements.

Company Size: Large (implied by "large organization" in some job boards or typical for credit unions of this scale)

• A larger organization typically means established processes, cross-functional teams, and opportunities for specialization. For a Senior Graphic Designer, this offers exposure to a wide range of marketing initiatives and the chance to collaborate with various departments, but also may involve navigating more formal approval processes.

Founded: Information not directly provided, but Golden 1 Credit Union has a long history, founded in 1934.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer reports to a Creative Services Manager, indicating a hierarchical structure within the Marketing department.

• The role involves collaboration with department copywriters, other designers (including a Digital Content Designer), creative agencies, and internal business owners across various levels of management.

Methodology:

• The role emphasizes creating "high-impact, multimedia graphics for online, social media and member-facing promotions that are on brand." This points to a data-informed approach to design, where visuals are strategically developed to resonate with specific audiences and achieve marketing objectives.

• Emphasis on "brand standards" and "compliance" indicates a process that prioritizes consistency, accuracy, and regulatory adherence in all creative outputs.

• The requirement to "present and communicate efficiently the vision and purpose of creative assets" to management highlights a process that values clear articulation of design strategy and rationale.

Company Website: golden1.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Golden 1 Credit Union is a significant financial institution. The marketing department likely operates with established processes to ensure brand consistency and compliance, which are critical in the financial sector. The "Senior" title suggests this role will be a key player in upholding these standards.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Contributor / Lead

Reporting Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer reports to a Creative Services Manager. This indicates a clear line of management and a structured environment where creative projects are overseen and directed from a higher level.

Operations Impact:

• The visual assets created by this role directly impact member perception, brand recognition, and the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. High-quality, on-brand design is crucial for driving engagement, promoting products/services, and reinforcing the credit union's image.

• By ensuring brand consistency and compliance, the designer plays a vital role in risk mitigation and maintaining the integrity of the credit union's communications.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like motion graphics (After Effects, Animate), digital advertising, or presentation design.

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Creative Services Manager role or lead design projects, mentoring junior designers and managing agency relationships more extensively.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Gaining deeper understanding of financial services marketing, compliance, and member engagement strategies through close collaboration with other marketing functions and business units.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in design trends, new software capabilities, and multimedia formats to stay at the forefront of visual communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a mentorship or lead role, even if not directly managing people. This role is expected to be a go-to expert for design and brand within the marketing department, guiding operational aspects of creative production.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site

• The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a requirement to work from Golden 1 Credit Union's Sacramento office. This fosters in-person collaboration, team cohesion, and immediate access to resources.

Office Location(s): Sacramento, California

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is likely a professional office environment within a larger corporate setting.

• Access to standard office equipment, including computers, printers, and potentially specialized creative hardware, is expected.

• The environment will support direct interaction with other marketing team members, copywriters, and potentially executives, facilitating a collaborative and dynamic workflow.

Work Schedule:

• The role involves a 40-hour work week, typical for full-time positions.

• As a "NON-EXEMPT" position, it is subject to standard labor laws regarding overtime, ensuring fair compensation for any hours worked beyond the regular schedule.

• While the core hours will be during the business day, the nature of design projects and deadlines may occasionally require flexibility to meet critical delivery dates.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is a key differentiator. Candidates should be prepared for a traditional office-based work environment, emphasizing in-person collaboration and adherence to a set schedule, with potential for overtime compensation.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and design aesthetic against the job requirements.

• Technical Assessment/Portfolio Review: Likely a dedicated session to present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and potentially complete a design challenge or critique exercise relevant to marketing and brand guidelines. This is where you'll demonstrate your expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and your understanding of brand consistency.

• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager (Creative Services Manager) and potentially other team members or stakeholders. Questions will focus on your experience managing projects, collaborating with teams, handling feedback, and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment.

• Executive Presentation Simulation: Given the emphasis on executive PowerPoint presentations, you may be asked to demonstrate this skill, either by presenting a past project or a simulated task.

• Final Round: Potentially an interview with higher-level management or HR to discuss cultural fit and final compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that best represent the requirements: print ads, digital graphics, executive presentations, and examples of brand application.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, your design process, challenges faced, and the final outcome/impact. Highlight how you ensured brand adherence and met deadlines.

• Highlight Executive Presentations: Include specific examples of PowerPoint presentations you've designed for leadership, emphasizing clarity, visual appeal, and effective data communication.

• Demonstrate Production Oversight: If possible, include examples or descriptions of how you managed production workflows, worked with vendors, or ensured quality control for print materials.

• Be Ready to Discuss Tools: Be prepared to talk in detail about your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and any experience with After Effects or Animate.

• Tailor to Golden 1: Research Golden 1's current marketing campaigns and brand aesthetic. If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to reflect an understanding of their style and needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a practical design exercise. This might involve creating a social media graphic, a small print ad concept, or a key slide for an executive presentation based on a provided brief.

• Practice articulating your design choices clearly and concisely, justifying them based on brand guidelines, target audience, and project objectives.

• Focus on efficiency and problem-solving under a time constraint, demonstrating your ability to deliver quality work quickly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on executive presentations and production oversight means candidates should prepare to showcase not just design skills but also strategic thinking, communication abilities, and project management experience within the creative process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Expert Level):

  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital graphic creation.
  • Adobe InDesign: For layout and design of print materials (brochures, direct mail, signage, annual reports) and digital publications.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
  • Adobe Acrobat: For creating, editing, and managing PDF documents, essential for print-ready files and digital distribution.

• Microsoft Office Suite (Working Knowledge):

  • PowerPoint: Crucial for creating executive-level presentations, requiring strong design and storytelling skills.
  • Word: For document creation and collaboration.
  • Excel: For data handling and potential integration into designs or presentations.
  • Outlook: For communication and calendar management.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned for this role, indicating the focus is primarily on creative asset production rather than sales or marketing automation system management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for "Expert level use of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Acrobat, and Adobe Illustrator" is the core technical skill. The "Working knowledge of Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate" indicates a need for proficiency in motion graphics, which is increasingly important for digital marketing.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Brand Integrity: A strong commitment to upholding and enhancing the Golden 1 brand identity across all creative outputs. This means meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of brand guidelines.

• Member Focus: Designing with the credit union member in mind, ensuring communications are clear, accessible, and beneficial to the member experience.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A willingness to work closely with copywriters, other designers, marketing managers, and executives, valuing input and fostering a positive team dynamic.

• Efficiency & Timeliness: A dedication to meeting deadlines and managing projects effectively, understanding the fast-paced nature of marketing campaigns and the importance of timely execution.

• Compliance & Accuracy: A conscious effort to ensure all creative materials adhere to financial industry regulations and internal compliance standards.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires seamless collaboration with copywriters to align visuals with messaging, with digital content designers for integrated campaigns, and with business owners to understand project objectives.

• External Agency Partnership: The ability to manage and collaborate effectively with external creative agencies, providing clear direction and feedback to ensure alignment with brand and project goals.

• Executive Communication: A professional and clear communication style when presenting design concepts and rationale to senior leadership, incorporating feedback constructively.

• Feedback Incorporation: An open attitude towards receiving and incorporating feedback from various stakeholders to refine designs and achieve optimal results.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given Golden 1 is a credit union, values like member-centricity, trust, and community are likely core. The marketing team's operations would reflect these, emphasizing clarity, accuracy, and a service-oriented approach in their creative output.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Creative Innovation: Maintaining strict brand adherence while also pushing creative boundaries to keep marketing materials fresh and engaging.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Demands: Juggling requests and feedback from various internal departments, executives, and external agencies, each with potentially differing priorities.

• Meeting Tight Deadlines in a Fast-Paced Environment: The constant need to deliver high-quality design work under pressure, common in marketing campaign cycles.

• Adapting to Evolving Digital Trends: Staying current with new design platforms, formats, and best practices for digital advertising and social media to ensure effectiveness.

• Ensuring Compliance in Creative Assets: Navigating the complexities of financial industry regulations and ensuring all visual communications are compliant.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe After Effects, Adobe Animate, or explore new design software and tools.

• Brand Strategy Workshops: Gaining deeper insights into brand management and marketing strategy within the financial services sector.

• Presentation Skills Development: Enhancing skills in visual storytelling and executive communication through practice and feedback.

• Production Process Optimization: Learning best practices in print and digital production management, vendor negotiation, and workflow efficiency.

• Industry Conferences/Webinars: Attending relevant design and marketing events to stay abreast of industry trends and network with peers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior creative role in a regulated industry, emphasizing the need for strong organizational skills, adaptability, and a keen eye for detail. Growth opportunities focus on deepening technical skills and strategic understanding.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative vision with strict brand guidelines. How did you ensure both were met?" (Assesses brand stewardship and problem-solving).

• "Walk us through your process for designing an executive-level PowerPoint presentation from receiving content to final delivery." (Evaluates presentation design skills and workflow).

• "How do you manage competing priorities and feedback from multiple stakeholders on a single design project?" (Tests project management and communication).

• "Tell us about a time you identified an emerging design trend and incorporated it into a project. What was the outcome?" (Gauges proactivity and understanding of design evolution).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Golden 1 Credit Union's brand and its mission?" (Tests research and cultural fit).

• "How do you ensure your designs are inclusive and accessible to a diverse member base?" (Probes understanding of modern design ethics and member focus).

• "Describe your experience working with compliance requirements in a financial or regulated industry." (Assesses awareness of industry-specific constraints).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, present 3-5 key projects, dedicating 3-5 minutes to each.

• Highlight Lead/Admin Role: For each project, emphasize your role in leading the design, managing the process, coordinating with others, and overseeing production where applicable.

• Executive Presentation Showcase: Dedicate a specific segment to your executive presentation design capabilities. Explain your approach to translating complex data into clear, compelling visuals.

• Brand Consistency Emphasis: For every project, explain how you adhered to or implemented brand guidelines.

• Metrics & Results: Whenever possible, discuss the impact of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, successful campaign metrics). If direct metrics aren't available, discuss the strategic intent and expected outcomes.

• Q&A Readiness: Prepare thoughtful questions about the team, current projects, design challenges, and opportunities for growth within the department.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent but also leadership, project management, communication, and an understanding of the financial services industry's specific needs regarding brand, compliance, and member engagement.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position at Golden 1 Credit Union:

• Submit Your Application: Complete and submit your application through the provided link on the Golden 1 careers portal (jobs.dayforcehcm.com).

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your design portfolio to prominently feature work that aligns with the job description's requirements, specifically highlighting print/digital ads, executive presentations, and brand adherence examples. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., via a link in your resume or a dedicated portfolio website).

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of experience in graphic design, digital/print production, vendor management, and corporate branding. Use keywords from the job description, such as "lead design administrator," "brand expert," "Adobe Creative Suite," and "production process." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review the "Interview Preparation" section above. Practice articulating your design process, project management skills, and experience with executive presentations. Prepare a concise walkthrough of your portfolio, focusing on the requirements of this role.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Golden 1 Credit Union's mission, values, recent marketing campaigns, and overall brand aesthetic. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest during the interview process.

⚠️ 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.