Senior Graphic Designer

AECOM
Full-time$75k-100k/year (USD)Boston, United States

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: AECOM

Location: Tampa, Florida, United States (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing Operations / GTM Support

Date Posted: March 03, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

  • This role is critical for supporting AECOM's business development and operations teams by creating high-impact visual assets for client solicitations and pursuits.

  • The Senior Graphic Designer will be responsible for translating complex technical information and strategic messaging into compelling visual narratives for proposals, presentations, and interviews.

  • A key focus will be on developing custom graphics, illustrations, and multimedia content that adheres to brand guidelines while effectively communicating AECOM's value proposition and discriminators.

  • This position requires a proactive approach to collaboration, working closely with proposal managers, capture managers, and subject matter experts to ensure cohesive and persuasive client-facing materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Graphic Designer," the responsibilities clearly indicate a strong alignment with Go-To-Market (GTM) and Sales Operations support. The emphasis on proposal development, RFPs, client solicitations, and collaboration with business development teams positions this role as a crucial operational function within the GTM strategy, focusing on the visual communication and presentation of AECOM's capabilities to win new business.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Design advanced graphics and multimedia elements for large-scale, complex, and critical proposals, including Statements of Qualifications (SOQs).

  • Collaborate with proposal managers and capture managers on high-priority pursuits, regional initiatives, and alternative delivery projects, ensuring clear communication and active participation in team meetings.

  • Develop creative and custom presentation designs, taking a lead role in storyboarding and content planning for proposal and interview teams.

  • Produce visually engaging documents and presentations for both print and digital distribution, ensuring strict adherence to AECOM's branded templates and style guidelines.

  • Create custom graphics, illustrations, and templates that support key messaging and themes, and source appropriate photography or imagery from digital asset libraries.

  • Actively participate as a member of pursuit teams during planning sessions, storyboarding, and review phases (e.g., Pink and Red Team reviews).

  • Work with subject matter experts (SMEs) and authors to develop custom illustrations for technical information, including diagrams, process flows, charts, and photorealistic graphics.

  • Provide technical and logistical support for presentations, virtual meetings, storyboarding sessions, critical review meetings, and final document reviews.

  • Process comments and edits efficiently on graphic elements, collaborating with SMEs and authors to resolve issues before submission deadlines.

  • Uphold quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) standards for all proposal and marketing materials, ensuring consistency and meticulous attention to detail.

  • Contribute to the marketing organization by providing input and best practices for graphic design and template development.

  • Assist in the adoption and integration of new tools and technologies to enhance design efficiency, creativity, and team collaboration.

  • Participate regularly in focused internal teams, such as marketing best practices and graphics roundtables, providing and receiving constructive feedback.

  • Oversee the finalization of documents for production, packaging, and shipping, ensuring professional presentation.

  • Manage challenging client interactions and sensitive issues with diplomacy and discretion, maintaining professional composure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic operational function that directly impacts the sales pipeline and revenue generation. The emphasis on "must-win pursuits," "client solicitations," and "collaboration with business development and operations teams" underscores the role's GTM operational significance. The expectation to "identify appropriate photography or imagery" and "develop custom illustrations for technical information" points to a need for visual storytelling that supports complex service offerings.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

  • Minimum of 4 years of relevant graphic design experience, with a strong focus on proposal and presentation development within a corporate or consulting environment.

Required Skills:

  • Advanced Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: In-depth expertise in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop is essential for creating high-impact layouts and graphics.

  • Presentation Software Expertise: Demonstrated skill in developing compelling presentations using PowerPoint or similar tools.

  • Document Creation & Management: Proficiency in creating and managing documents for both print and digital formats, including experience with interactive PDFs using Adobe Acrobat.

  • Visual Communication Strategy: Strong understanding of graphic design principles and marketing best practices to effectively convey messages, themes, discriminators, and evaluation criteria responses.

  • Collaboration Tools: Working knowledge of collaborative platforms such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and other project management tools.

  • Microsoft Office Suite: Solid proficiency across the Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Skills:

  • A/E Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (A/E) industry, including an understanding of AECOM’s business lines, clients, projects, and competitors.

  • Multimedia Design: Experience with multimedia design tools and techniques for enhanced visual storytelling.

  • Illustration & Infographics: Proven ability to create custom illustrations, infographics, and complex diagrams to simplify technical information.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a blend of technical design proficiency and strategic application within a business development context. The mention of "conveying messages, themes, discriminators, and responses to evaluation criteria" directly links graphic design skills to sales strategy and proposal win rates, reinforcing the role's operational importance in GTM.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Visual Design Excellence: A robust portfolio showcasing a wide range of graphic design work, including proposals, presentations, branding, and digital assets, demonstrating creativity and technical skill.

  • Proposal & Presentation Focus: Specific examples of work on RFPs, RFQs, SOQs, and client presentations, highlighting the ability to translate complex information into clear, persuasive visuals.

  • Brand Adherence & Customization: Examples demonstrating the ability to work within established brand guidelines while also creating custom, impactful designs for specific pursuits.

  • Technical Illustration Capability: Samples of custom illustrations, diagrams, charts, or infographics that effectively explain technical processes or data.

Process Documentation:

  • Workflow Optimization: Evidence of designing and implementing efficient workflows for graphic production, especially within proposal development cycles.

  • Collaboration Process: Examples of how you have collaborated with cross-functional teams (e.g., proposal managers, technical experts) to gather input and refine visual content.

  • Quality Control Implementation: Demonstrations of processes used to ensure accuracy, consistency, and adherence to quality standards in all design outputs.

  • Tool Integration: Experience documenting and implementing the use of design tools and collaborative platforms within a project or team process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are critical for this role, as they serve as the primary evidence of a candidate's ability to execute the core responsibilities. The emphasis on "proposal development," "translating complex information," and "brand adherence" directly relates to the operational needs of winning new business. The expectation for "workflow optimization" and "collaboration processes" points to the need for candidates who can manage their design process efficiently within a larger GTM framework.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

  • Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.

  • Disability benefits (short-term and long-term).

  • Generous paid time off (PTO) and leaves of absence.

  • Access to voluntary benefits programs.

  • Employee perks and well-being resources.

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential support.

  • Business travel insurance.

  • Service recognition awards.

  • Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k)).

  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).

Working Hours:

  • Standard full-time hours, approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected due to the nature of proposal deadlines and client demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Senior Graphic Designer role with significant GTM operational responsibilities in the specified regions. The extensive list of benefits reflects AECOM's commitment to employee well-being and professional development, which are important considerations for operations professionals seeking long-term career stability. The mention of "flexible work options" aligns with the hybrid work arrangement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Infrastructure Consulting (Engineering, Construction, Architecture)

Company Size: Over 50,000 employees globally, indicating a large, established organization with significant resources and complex operational structures.

Founded: AECOM has a long history, though the specific founding date isn't provided, its status as a Fortune 500 firm implies decades of operation and market leadership.

Team Structure:

  • Design Studio Team: This role sits within a dedicated Design Studio Team, suggesting a specialized group focused on delivering high-quality design services.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close partnership with East Region business development and operations teams, as well as proposal managers, capture managers, and subject matter experts. This highlights a highly collaborative and integrated GTM operational environment.

  • Reporting: Likely reports to a Design Studio Manager or a Marketing/Business Development Director, with direct project-based collaboration across multiple functional groups.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on conveying "technical information," "data," and "evaluation criteria" suggests that design decisions will be informed by data and strategic objectives.

  • Pursuit-Centric Workflow: Design processes are heavily influenced by client solicitation timelines (RFQs, RFPs) and the need for rapid, high-quality output.

  • Best Practices Integration: Continuous improvement through participation in marketing best practices and graphics roundtables, focusing on efficiency and creativity.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: AECOM's position as a global leader in infrastructure consulting means the operations and marketing functions are sophisticated and essential for winning large-scale projects. The company culture likely values expertise, collaboration, and a commitment to delivering impactful solutions, which translates to a demanding but rewarding environment for operations professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior level, indicating a need for significant experience, autonomy, and the ability to mentor junior designers. This role is key in supporting the operational efficiency of the business development function.

Reporting Structure: Reports into a design or marketing leadership function, with extensive dotted-line reporting and collaboration across sales, operations, and technical teams. This structure requires strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer directly impacts AECOM's ability to win new business by creating compelling visual narratives that differentiate the company and clearly communicate its value proposition. This role is integral to the sales enablement and GTM strategy execution.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership Development: Potential to lead design aspects of major pursuits, mentor junior designers, and contribute to strategic marketing initiatives.

  • Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like multimedia design, data visualization, or advanced illustration techniques relevant to the infrastructure sector.

  • Industry Exposure: Gain deep insights into complex infrastructure projects and the business development processes of a global leader, which can open doors to broader operational or marketing roles within AECOM.

  • Process Improvement Contribution: Play a role in refining and optimizing the design and production processes for proposals and marketing materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: This Senior Graphic Designer role is more than just a creative position; it's a strategic operational role within the GTM engine. Growth opportunities are tied to contributing to the operational efficiency and effectiveness of sales pursuits, making it an attractive path for those looking to leverage design skills in a business-critical function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, combining remote work flexibility with in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): The role can be based in multiple East Region locations including Miami, FL; Tampa, FL; Orlando, FL; Arlington, VA; Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA; New York City, NY; Raleigh, NC; Boston, MA. This offers significant geographic flexibility.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Hubs: In-office time is likely focused on collaborative activities such as storyboarding sessions, team meetings, and client presentation preparation, leveraging shared resources and fostering team cohesion.

  • Technology-Rich Environment: Access to industry-standard design software and collaborative platforms is expected, enabling seamless work across remote and in-office settings.

  • Cross-Functional Interaction: Frequent interaction with diverse teams, including business development professionals, engineers, project managers, and proposal coordinators, fostering a dynamic and engaging work environment.

Work Schedule:

  • Primarily standard business hours (approx. 40 hours/week), but with essential flexibility required to meet proposal deadlines and critical project milestones. This requires strong time management and prioritization skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and multiple location options provide significant flexibility, a key factor for many operations professionals. The emphasis on collaboration and cross-functional interaction suggests an environment where design is integrated into broader operational processes, rather than being siloed.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience and technical skills.

  • Technical Assessment/Portfolio Review: In-depth discussion of the candidate's portfolio, focusing on design process, problem-solving, and ability to meet the specific requirements of proposal and presentation design. Candidates will likely be asked to walk through specific projects.

  • Skills-Based Interview: Questions assessing proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint, and collaborative tools, as well as understanding of design best practices for business development.

  • Behavioral/Situational Interview: Questions focused on collaboration, handling pressure, managing deadlines, working with diverse teams, and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment.

  • Final Round: May involve a presentation or a more strategic discussion about how design contributes to winning pursuits, potentially with senior marketing or business development leaders.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select projects that directly demonstrate experience with proposals, RFPs, SOQs, presentations, and technical illustrations. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., "contributed to winning a $XX million proposal").

  • Showcase Process: Be prepared to discuss your design process for each project – how you gathered requirements, collaborated with teams, solved visual challenges, and iterated on designs.

  • Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize instances where you worked closely with non-designers (engineers, proposal managers) to achieve a common goal.

  • Demonstrate Brand Versatility: Include examples that show adaptation to different brand guidelines or the creation of compelling custom designs within constraints.

  • Technical Clarity: For technical illustrations, explain how you simplified complex information for a broader audience.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Design Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario where you might need to design a key graphic or presentation slide for a specific type of AECOM project, outlining your approach.

  • Time Management: Understand the pressures of proposal deadlines and be ready to articulate how you manage your workload and prioritize tasks effectively.

  • Communication Skills: Practice articulating your design choices and their strategic rationale clearly and concisely, especially when explaining technical or complex visual elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are heavily geared towards assessing the candidate's ability to function as a strategic GTM operations partner. The emphasis on portfolio content, process explanation, and collaboration skills is paramount for candidates to demonstrate their value beyond just technical design proficiency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Adobe Creative Suite:

    • Adobe InDesign: Core tool for layout, long-form documents, and proposal production. Essential for template adherence and sophisticated typography.
    • Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for creating vector graphics, logos, icons, and complex illustrations.
    • Adobe Photoshop: Used for image editing, manipulation, and creating raster-based graphics.
  • Presentation Software:

    • Microsoft PowerPoint: The primary tool for creating client presentations and interview materials. Proficiency in advanced features, animations, and template integration is expected.
  • Document Management:

    • Adobe Acrobat Pro: For creating, editing, and managing interactive PDFs, including forms and security features.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Data Visualization Tools (Potentially): While not explicitly listed, experience with tools that can help visualize data for charts and graphs (e.g., Excel charts, potentially Tableau/Power BI for inspiration) would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

  • Microsoft Office Suite: Essential for general productivity, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

  • Collaboration Platforms:

    • Microsoft Teams: For real-time communication, file sharing, and virtual meetings.
    • SharePoint: For document management, version control, and team collaboration on proposal materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite and PowerPoint is non-negotiable for this role. The integration of collaborative tools like Teams and SharePoint is also critical, highlighting the operational need for seamless teamwork in a hybrid environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Excellence in Execution: A commitment to delivering high-quality, polished design work that meets stringent deadlines and client expectations.

  • Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing open communication, mutual support, and the ability to work effectively with diverse teams to achieve collective goals.

  • Client Focus: Understanding that the ultimate goal of design work is to support AECOM's clients and win business.

  • Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging the exploration of new design techniques, tools, and processes to enhance efficiency and creative output.

  • Integrity & Professionalism: Maintaining high ethical standards, discretion with confidential information, and a professional demeanor in all interactions.

Collaboration Style:

  • Proactive Engagement: Actively seeking input from stakeholders and initiating communication to ensure alignment and gather necessary information.

  • Constructive Feedback Loop: Open to receiving and providing constructive feedback to improve design quality and team processes.

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Working seamlessly with technical experts, proposal managers, and business development professionals, bridging the gap between technical content and visual communication.

  • Shared Ownership: Contributing to the overall success of pursuits by taking ownership of design-related tasks and collaborating towards shared objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on collaboration, client focus, and continuous improvement aligns with the operational demands of a GTM support role. Success in this role requires not only design talent but also strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to supporting the broader business objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • High-Pressure Deadlines: The demanding nature of proposal cycles requires managing multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines, necessitating exceptional time management and stress resilience.

  • Balancing Creativity with Constraints: Creating innovative designs while adhering to strict brand guidelines, client requirements, and technical information can be challenging.

  • Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Effectively interpreting and integrating feedback from various stakeholders, including technical experts and executives, requires strong communication and negotiation skills.

  • Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Keeping pace with new design software, collaboration tools, and digital presentation trends to maintain a competitive edge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to attend workshops or online courses focused on advanced graphic design, illustration, or multimedia production.

  • Industry-Specific Training: Learning more about AECOM's specific infrastructure sectors (water, environment, transportation, buildings) to better inform design choices.

  • GTM & Sales Enablement: Gaining a deeper understanding of the sales process, proposal strategies, and how design contributes to winning new business.

  • Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior design or marketing leaders, or to mentor junior designers, fostering leadership skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a significant opportunity for growth by tackling complex GTM operational challenges. The ability to navigate high-pressure environments and contribute strategically to sales wins will be key differentiators for career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a complex proposal you supported. What was your role, what were the key visual challenges, and how did your design contribute to the win?" (Focus on process, collaboration, and impact).

  • "How do you approach translating highly technical information into easily understandable visuals for a non-technical audience?" (Demonstrate problem-solving and communication skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What do you know about AECOM and the infrastructure consulting industry?" (Showcase research and genuine interest).

  • "How do you see your role as a Senior Graphic Designer contributing to AECOM's business development and operations goals?" (Connect your skills to GTM strategy).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Tell a Story: For each portfolio piece, explain the "why" behind your design decisions, the client's objective, and the outcome.

  • Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, highlight the tangible results of your work (e.g., "This presentation was credited by the client for clarifying our unique approach," or "This proposal design helped us secure a $X million contract").

  • Showcase Process: Be ready to discuss your workflow, from initial brief to final delivery, including any challenges and how you overcame them.

  • Focus on Relevance: Prioritize showcasing projects directly related to proposals, presentations, and technical illustrations, as these are core to the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also an understanding of the GTM operational context, the importance of clear communication, and the ability to collaborate effectively under pressure.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

  • Submit your application through the AECOM careers portal via the provided link.

  • Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (link or PDF) and prominently features projects relevant to proposal development, presentation design, and technical illustration. Tailor your selection to highlight your experience with RFPs, SOQs, and client-facing collateral.

  • Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize keywords related to graphic design, proposal support, business development, operations collaboration, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and PowerPoint. Quantify achievements and responsibilities where possible.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, collaboration strategies, and how your visual solutions directly support business objectives. Prepare to discuss specific projects from your portfolio in detail.

  • Company Research: Familiarize yourself with AECOM's recent projects, services, and its commitment to "delivering a better world." Understand how the Senior Graphic Designer role fits into the company's broader GTM and operational strategy.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

A Bachelor's degree plus 4 years of relevant graphic design experience is the minimum requirement, though 6 years is preferred. Candidates must be highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), skilled in creating interactive PDFs, experienced with presentation software, and possess a strong understanding of design best practices for conveying messages in proposals.