Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator
Company: Graza
Location: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Creative Operations / Brand Design
Date Posted: 2025-07-25T17:05:03.99
Experience Level: Senior (5+ years)
Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid potential implied by location type, but role description emphasizes physical presence for production).

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead visual identity development and execution for a growing olive oil brand, focusing on both digital and physical touchpoints.
• Drive creative concepting for product launches, brand campaigns, and overall brand storytelling through expert graphic design and illustration.
• Own and evolve the brand's unique illustration library, a critical asset for scaling brand recognition and consistency.
• Manage and execute design projects from brief to final delivery, ensuring meticulous attention to detail and adherence to brand guidelines across all channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the location_type is listed as TELECOMMUTE, the core responsibilities, particularly those involving packaging production and retail displays, strongly suggest an on-site presence is required in Brooklyn, NY. This role is positioned within Creative Operations, focusing on the execution and consistency of brand assets, rather than strategic GTM operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Concept, design, and illustrate across a diverse range of brand channels, including digital (social media, email, website, paid ads) and physical (packaging, print collateral, retail displays, OOH, events, merchandise).
• Lead creative concepting and execution for key initiatives such as product launches, seasonal campaigns, and broader brand storytelling efforts.
• Provide creative ownership and design direction during reviews, ensuring clarity, consistency, craft, and alignment with the brand's visual identity across all outputs.
• Develop and maintain Graza's brand illustration library, acting as the primary owner to ensure its growth, consistency, and effective application as the company scales.
• Collaborate effectively with internal teams, agency partners, and production vendors to ensure high-quality execution of design requests, including packaging development and print production, while maintaining brand guidelines and business objectives.
• Maintain and strengthen visual brand guidelines, ensuring consistent application across all markets, channels, and future brand expressions.
• Contribute to creative ideation sessions for new product categories, formats, and future brand expressions, pushing creative boundaries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a hands-on, execution-focused role within the creative function, leaning heavily into brand consistency and visual asset development. The emphasis on packaging production and vendor management highlights the need for strong operational understanding within the creative process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Illustration, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level creative roles of this nature. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.
Experience: 5+ years of professional experience in graphic design and illustration, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality creative work across multiple channels.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to create compelling visual designs for both digital and print media.
• Illustration Proficiency: Strong portfolio showcasing diverse illustration styles and techniques applicable to brand systems.
• Packaging Production: Extensive experience with packaging design, including understanding dielines, print file setup (CMYK, bleeds, spot colors), pre-press requirements, and working with print vendors to ensure accurate and high-quality output.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Mastery of core Adobe programs, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for design and production tasks.
• Figma Proficiency: Strong command of Figma for digital design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.
• Brand Guideline Management: Ability to maintain, evolve, and enforce brand guidelines to ensure visual consistency across all touchpoints.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain organization and creative rigor.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous focus on typography, layout, color, scale, and overall consistency in all design outputs.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a collaborative mindset to effectively work with cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Self-Starter Mentality: Ability to work independently, take ownership of projects from brief to completion with minimal oversight, and proactively identify opportunities.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics: Experience with After Effects or similar tools for creating animated graphics and visual effects.
• Digital Campaign Design: Experience designing assets for paid social media, email marketing, and website user interfaces.
• Retail Display Design: Familiarity with designing for point-of-purchase displays and in-store retail experiences.
• OOH Advertising: Experience designing for out-of-home media such as billboards and transit advertising.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on packaging production and vendor management suggests a need for operational understanding beyond pure creative execution. Candidates with experience in managing production timelines, understanding print specifications, and troubleshooting production issues will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional design and illustration work, with a strong emphasis on high-quality execution.
• Demonstration of expertise in packaging design and production, including examples of dielines, print-ready files, and successful vendor collaborations.
• Examples of brand system development, including consistent application of logos, typography, color palettes, and illustration across various media.
• Case studies or project examples that highlight creative concepting for product launches or brand campaigns, detailing the problem, your solution, and the impact.
• Visual evidence of illustration capabilities, showcasing versatility and ability to create a cohesive illustrated brand library.
• Examples of digital design work for social media, email, or web, demonstrating an understanding of digital best practices.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase a structured approach to managing design projects, from initial brief and concept development through to final asset delivery and production oversight.
• Illustrate experience in establishing and maintaining brand guidelines, demonstrating how you ensure consistency and quality control.
• Provide examples of how you collaborate with print vendors or production teams, highlighting your process for file handover, quality assurance, and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrate a process for creative ideation and concept development, potentially including mood boards, sketches, or early-stage visualizations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evaluation tool for creative skill, production knowledge, and brand stewardship. Candidates should be prepared to walk through specific projects, explaining their design choices, the production processes involved, and the rationale behind their creative decisions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator with 5+ years of experience in Brooklyn, NY, the estimated salary range is typically between $90,000 - $130,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for creative roles in major metropolitan areas, considering the required skill set and the company's growth stage.

Benefits:

• Health Care Plan: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Monthly Wellness Stipend: A dedicated budget to support employee well-being and health initiatives.
• Paid Time Off: Generous allocation for vacation, sick days, and public holidays, supporting work-life balance.
• Olive Oil Allowance: Access to Graza's premium olive oil products, likely at a discounted or complimentary rate.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are likely to be around 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time position. While the role is based in Brooklyn, the company may offer some flexibility for hybrid work arrangements, though on-site presence for key production and collaborative tasks is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry data for similar roles in the specified location and experience level. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific qualifications, portfolio strength, and negotiation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage (Direct-to-Consumer Olive Oil). Graza has established itself as a modern, accessible brand in the premium olive oil market, known for its innovative packaging and direct-to-consumer approach. Company Size: Graza is likely a growing startup or early-stage company, indicated by its focus on scaling and the need for a senior creative role to support this growth. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment where individuals can have a significant impact. Founded: While the exact founding date isn't provided, Graza is a relatively recent entrant to the market, positioning itself as a disruptor in the traditional olive oil industry. This suggests a culture that values innovation, fresh perspectives, and agility.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator will report directly to the Creative Director, indicating a structured creative department.
• This role will likely collaborate closely with marketing, product development, and potentially operations teams to ensure brand consistency and support various business initiatives.
• The team is expected to be relatively lean and agile, characteristic of a growing startup, requiring strong individual contribution and collaboration.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While creative-led, decisions are likely informed by market trends, customer feedback, and campaign performance metrics to ensure effectiveness.
• Agile Execution: The company likely employs agile methodologies for project management, allowing for rapid iteration and responsiveness to market changes.
• Brand Consistency Focus: A core operational methodology will be the rigorous maintenance and evolution of brand standards to ensure a cohesive customer experience across all touchpoints.

Company Website: graza.co

📝 Enhancement Note: As a D2C food brand, Graza likely fosters a culture that is passionate about quality, design, and customer experience. The emphasis on a "fun" and "easy-to-use" product suggests a brand voice that is approachable and energetic.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role is positioned to lead design and illustration efforts, taking significant ownership of key brand assets and creative output. It's a step beyond a mid-level designer, requiring strategic thinking alongside execution excellence. Reporting Structure: Reports to the Creative Director. This offers a clear line of mentorship and guidance within the creative function. Operations Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on the company's brand perception, customer acquisition, and retention through visually compelling marketing materials, packaging, and digital experiences. Strong design and illustration directly support sales and brand loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Creative Leadership: Potential to grow into a Creative Lead or Art Director role as the company expands its creative team.
• Brand Strategy Influence: Opportunity to significantly shape the visual direction and brand identity of a fast-growing consumer product.
• Specialization: Possibility to deepen expertise in specific areas like packaging design, illustration systems, or digital campaign creative.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience working closely with marketing, product, and business development teams, broadening understanding of the overall business operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies not just experience but also the ability to mentor or guide junior team members in the future, and to operate with a higher degree of autonomy and strategic input within the creative process.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Brooklyn, New York, suggesting a modern office environment that reflects the brand's aesthetic. Given the "TELECOMMUTE" location type, it's possible the company offers a hybrid work model, though the emphasis on packaging production and retail displays implies a need for regular on-site presence. Office Location(s): Brooklyn, New York. Specific accessibility details would need to be confirmed, but Brooklyn offers robust public transportation options.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is likely to be collaborative, encouraging interaction with the Creative Director and other team members.
• Access to necessary design software and hardware (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, etc.) is expected.
• Opportunities for hands-on work with physical materials related to packaging and print production may be available.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours, likely Monday through Friday. Flexibility may be offered in terms of start/end times, but core business hours and project deadlines will dictate overall availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid potential, if offered, would require candidates to be local to Brooklyn and willing to commute to the office for collaborative sessions and production-related tasks.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative fit.
• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: A session with the Creative Director to present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and answer questions about your experience, particularly regarding packaging production and illustration.
• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: Potentially a small design or illustration exercise to evaluate your approach to a specific task or problem relevant to Graza's brand.
• Team/Cross-Functional Interview: An opportunity to meet other members of the Graza team to assess cultural fit and collaborative abilities.
• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss the role's strategic importance and finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate the required skills, especially packaging design, illustration, and brand system development.
• Highlight Process: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your conceptual thinking, design execution, and any production considerations. Use visuals to show the journey.
• Showcase Packaging Expertise: Include detailed examples of packaging projects, explaining your role in dieline setup, print file preparation, color management (spot colors, CMYK), and vendor interaction.
• Illustrate Brand Systems: Demonstrate how you've built and applied illustration libraries consistently across different applications.
• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you can, mention any measurable results or positive feedback related to your designs (e.g., improved engagement, successful product launch).
• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, your process for managing feedback, and your experience with production challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research Graza's current branding, product, and target audience. Analyze their existing visual identity and communication style.
• Anticipate Creative Briefs: If a challenge is given, be prepared to quickly interpret a creative brief, brainstorm concepts, and present initial ideas or a refined design.
• Focus on Brand Alignment: Ensure any work produced during a challenge aligns with Graza's brand voice, aesthetic, and values.
• Demonstrate Problem-Solving: Show your ability to approach design challenges logically and present well-reasoned solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. It's not just about showing pretty pictures, but about demonstrating a deep understanding of design principles, production realities, and brand strategy. Candidates should view this as a presentation of their operational capabilities within the creative realm.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign are essential for all design and production tasks.
• Figma: Crucial for digital design, UI/UX elements, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.
• Packaging Design Software: Potentially specialized software for dieline creation or 3D mockups, though Adobe Suite often suffices.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analytics role, understanding how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., social media engagement rates, email click-through rates, website conversion rates) is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms like Google Analytics or social media insights tools could be a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool requirements are specified, but familiarity with project management tools (like Asana, Trello, Monday.com) for workflow management is highly probable.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma is non-negotiable. Experience with packaging production workflows and file preparation is a key technical requirement that bridges creative and operational aspects.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A commitment to producing work of the highest visual standard and meticulous attention to detail.
• Brand Integrity: Upholding and enhancing the Graza brand through consistent and compelling visual communication.
• Collaboration & Communication: Working effectively with internal teams and external partners to achieve shared goals.
• Innovation & Creativity: Bringing fresh ideas and pushing creative boundaries to elevate the brand.
• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for projects from conception to completion, ensuring successful outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working closely with marketing, product, and other departments to align creative outputs with business objectives.
• Feedback Integration: Openness to constructive criticism and the ability to iterate on designs based on feedback from the Creative Director and stakeholders.
• Vendor Management: Professional and clear communication with external vendors (printers, manufacturers) to ensure project success.
• Proactive Contribution: A willingness to contribute ideas and solutions beyond immediate task assignments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Graza's brand positioning suggests a culture that is energetic, modern, and perhaps a bit playful, balanced with the serious commitment to quality required for a food product.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Visual Identity: Maintaining brand consistency and quality as the company rapidly expands its product lines and market reach.
• Balancing Creative Vision with Business Needs: Effectively translating marketing objectives and business goals into compelling creative solutions.
• Managing Production Complexity: Navigating the intricacies of print production, vendor relationships, and ensuring high-quality execution for physical products.
• Adapting to Growth: Evolving design strategies and assets to meet the demands of a growing business and potentially a larger creative team.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Packaging Design: Deepening expertise in specialized packaging techniques, materials, and sustainable design practices.
• Brand Strategy Development: Contributing to the strategic evolution of the brand's visual identity and storytelling.
• Motion Graphics Proficiency: Developing skills in animation and motion design to enhance digital content.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced Creative Directors and potentially mentor future junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity to impact the visual trajectory of a growing brand, providing challenges that foster both creative and operational skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a new illustration style for a brand. How would you ensure it aligns with Graza's existing visual identity?"
• "Walk us through a complex packaging project you managed. What were the key production challenges, and how did you overcome them?"
• "How do you approach creative concepting for a new product launch? What steps do you take from brief to final design?"
• "How do you ensure brand consistency across diverse channels like social media, email, and physical packaging?"
• "Describe a time you had to manage conflicting feedback from stakeholders on a design project. How did you resolve it?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Graza's brand and product?"
• "How do you see your design and illustration skills contributing to Graza's growth?"
• "Describe your ideal work environment and how you collaborate with a team."
• "How do you stay updated on design trends and best practices in the food and beverage industry?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame each portfolio piece as a narrative – the problem, your approach, the solution, and the outcome.
• Showcase Your Range: Highlight projects that demonstrate both your graphic design and illustration capabilities, as well as your packaging production expertise.
• Explain Your Process: Be prepared to detail your workflow for each project, from initial concept sketches and mood boards to final file preparation for print or digital.
• Highlight Key Contributions: Clearly articulate your specific role and contributions, especially if you worked in a team or with external vendors.
• Be Enthusiastic and Confident: Show your passion for design and your belief in your abilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect questions that probe your understanding of the production process, your ability to manage creative projects from start to finish, and your capacity to think strategically about brand consistency and visual storytelling.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer & Illustrator position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable. Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and tailored to the role.
• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest work in packaging design, illustration, brand systems, and digital campaigns. Prioritize projects that demonstrate your ability to manage production files and collaborate with vendors.
• Resume Optimization: Highlight keywords such as "Graphic Design," "Illustration," "Packaging Production," "Adobe Creative Suite," "Figma," "Brand Guidelines," and "Project Management." Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your process, problem-solving skills, and how your work aligns with Graza's brand. Prepare to discuss your experience with print production and vendor management.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Graza's website, social media presence, and any recent news. Understand their brand voice, target audience, and market position to articulate your fit during interviews.

⚠️ 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.