Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer Company: JLL Location: Chicago, IL Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services Date Posted: 2025-07-31T00:00:00 Experience Level: 2-5 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for supporting JLL's business development efforts through high-impact visual communication, specifically focusing on creating compelling collateral for proposals and presentations.
• The Senior Graphic Designer will be responsible for translating complex information and verbal/written input into innovative and visually engaging graphic illustrations and marketing materials.
• Key to this position is the ability to manage multiple, often complex design projects from initial concept through to final delivery, ensuring alignment with both client preferences and JLL's established brand standards.
• The role requires a proactive approach to design, staying current with industry trends and software advancements to continuously enhance the quality and effectiveness of JLL's marketing and business development materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is titled "Senior Graphic Designer," its focus on supporting "business development," "proposals," and "presentations" positions it within a broader GTM (Go-To-Market) and Marketing Operations context, requiring an understanding of sales enablement and client-facing communication strategies. The emphasis on translating "verbal and written input into compelling graphic illustrations" highlights a need for strong conceptualization and visual storytelling skills, which are vital in operations-focused creative roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop a wide range of print and interactive collateral, including proposals, offering memorandums, graphics/covers, flyers, maps, aerials, logos, floor plans, and bound books for business development initiatives.
• Apply professional graphic design principles and innovative thinking to create visually appealing and effective materials that support JLL's business development objectives.
• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of complex design projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards.
• Provide expert design advice and guidance to deal teams, effectively translating their input into compelling visual narratives and illustrations.
• Create dynamic and engaging designs for email blasts and broader marketing campaigns to support JLL's outreach and client engagement strategies.
• Ensure all created designs are consistent with JLL's brand guidelines and meet the specific preferences of deal teams and clients.
• Continuously research and stay updated on advancements in design software and emerging marketing/design trends relevant to the real estate industry and beyond.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance presentation quality and effectiveness through the application of new design concepts and techniques.
• Demonstrate initiative by proactively identifying needs, assisting team members, and contributing to a collaborative and efficient workflow.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment characterized by shifting priorities and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities indicate a need for proficiency in producing detailed, often data-heavy, visual assets for client-facing proposals and presentations. This suggests a requirement for strong layout skills, data visualization capabilities, and the ability to work with detailed specifications under tight deadlines – common in Sales Operations and Marketing Operations support roles. The mention of "offering memorandums" and "commercial real estate" knowledge being a plus points to a specialized B2B environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Graphic Designer role, though equivalent practical experience may be considered.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of professional design experience is required, with a strong emphasis on practical application using design software.
• Experience in managing multiple design projects simultaneously, demonstrating excellent time management, planning, and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven ability to design within established branding standards and translate client-specific requirements into cohesive visual assets.
• Demonstrated experience in creating print and digital collateral for business development, sales enablement, or client presentations.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for creating high-quality print and digital assets.
• Graphic Design Principles: Strong understanding of typography, color theory, layout, and visual hierarchy to create aesthetically pleasing and effective designs.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Excellent ability to communicate design concepts, provide and receive feedback, and collaborate effectively with deal teams and stakeholders.
• Time Management & Planning: Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Problem-Solving Abilities: Capacity to tackle design challenges creatively and efficiently, offering innovative solutions.
• Creativity and Innovation: Ability to develop fresh ideas and apply new concepts to enhance presentation quality and effectiveness.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of Commercial Real Estate: Familiarity with the real estate industry, its terminology, and specific design needs for proposals and marketing materials.
• Presentation Software: Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint or similar presentation software for creating visually rich slides and integrating designed elements.
• Digital Marketing Design: Experience designing email blasts, social media graphics, or other digital marketing collateral.
• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with project management software for tracking project progress and managing workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite and specific collateral types (proposals, offering memorandums) suggests that candidates with a portfolio showcasing B2B marketing collateral and sales support materials will be highly regarded. The "Senior" title implies a need for not just technical skill but also strategic thinking in design application and project management.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Project Management: Showcase a range of projects that illustrate your ability to manage complex design requests from brief to completion, highlighting your organizational skills and process.
• Brand Consistency & Adaptability: Include examples that clearly demonstrate your skill in adhering to strict brand guidelines while also adapting designs to meet specific client or deal-team needs.
• Collateral Specialization: Feature samples of proposals, offering memorandums, presentations, flyers, maps, and other print/digital collateral relevant to business development and sales support.
• Impact and Effectiveness: Where possible, provide context or metrics that illustrate how your designs contributed to the success of a business development effort or proposal, demonstrating ROI.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Candidates may be asked to describe their typical design workflow, from receiving a brief to final file delivery, emphasizing efficiency and quality control.
• Collaboration & Feedback Integration: Be prepared to discuss how you incorporate feedback from multiple stakeholders and manage revisions effectively within your design process.
• File Management & Archiving: Demonstrate an understanding of organized file management practices for design assets, ensuring easy retrieval and version control.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, the portfolio is critical. It should not only display aesthetic quality but also the ability to produce professional, brand-aligned collateral within the context of business development and sales enablement. Candidates should be ready to articulate the process behind their work, not just the final output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The estimated total compensation for this position is between $70,000.00 and $75,000.00 USD per year. This range is an estimate and may vary based on the applicant's qualifications, experience, geographic location, internal equity, and market data.

Benefits:

• 401(k) Plan: Company contributions are matched, providing a valuable long-term savings opportunity.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes Medical, Dental, and Vision care plans to support employee well-being.
• Paid Parental Leave: Offers 100% of salary for new parents, promoting work-life balance during significant life events.
• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and company holidays are provided to support work-life balance and employee rejuvenation.

Working Hours:

• The role is expected to be a standard full-time position, likely around 40 hours per week. While the description doesn't explicitly mention flexibility, the "ability to meet tight deadlines" suggests that occasional overtime may be required to support critical business development deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Senior Graphic Designer role in a major metropolitan area like Chicago, especially within a large, established corporation like JLL. The benefits package is comprehensive and reflects an employer that values employee well-being and long-term commitment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Commercial Real Estate Services and Investment Management. JLL operates globally, providing a wide array of services including property management, leasing, investment advisory, and technology solutions for real estate clients. Company Size: JLL is a large, global corporation. While specific employee numbers for the Chicago office aren't detailed here, JLL as a whole employs tens of thousands of people worldwide. This size suggests a structured environment with established processes and opportunities for specialization. Founded: JLL has a long history, founded in 1783, indicating stability, extensive market knowledge, and a deep-rooted presence in the real estate industry.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer likely works within a marketing department or a dedicated creative services team that supports various business lines or deal teams within JLL.
• The reporting structure would typically be to a Marketing Manager, Creative Director, or a Senior Operations Lead responsible for business development support.
• Cross-functional collaboration is expected, primarily with sales teams, brokers, business development managers, and potentially other marketing specialists (e.g., content writers, digital marketers).

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While creative, the role emphasizes translating data and client needs into clear visual communication, suggesting a data-informed approach to design rather than purely aesthetic-driven work.
• Process Optimization: The need to manage projects efficiently and meet deadlines implies an adherence to structured project management methodologies.
• Brand Stewardship: A core operational function is ensuring all creative output aligns with JLL's global brand standards, requiring a systematic approach to brand asset management and application.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: JLL's global presence and long history suggest a culture that values professionalism, client service, and a structured approach to business. The marketing and creative teams likely operate with a focus on supporting revenue-generating activities, making efficiency and impact key metrics.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Senior" individual contributor within the creative/marketing operations spectrum. It signifies a level of expertise and autonomy above junior designers, with the expectation of handling more complex projects and potentially mentoring less experienced team members. Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager, Creative Director, or a Head of Business Development Support. This position is integral to the Business Development and Marketing functions, providing critical visual assets that support sales enablement and client acquisition efforts. Operations Impact: The role directly impacts JLL's ability to win new business by creating professional, persuasive, and on-brand proposals and presentations. High-quality collateral can significantly influence client perception, deal outcomes, and the overall brand image of JLL in competitive markets. Effective design is a key component of sales enablement and revenue generation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Potential to specialize further in specific types of collateral (e.g., high-end offering memorandums, digital campaign design) or within a particular industry vertical served by JLL.
• Team Leadership: Progression to a Lead Designer or Creative Manager role, overseeing junior designers and managing larger creative projects or teams.
• Cross-Functional Roles: Opportunity to move into broader marketing roles, project management, or even client management within the real estate services sector, leveraging design expertise as a foundation.
• Skill Development: Access to internal training, industry workshops, and potentially support for certifications in advanced design software or marketing technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies that candidates are expected to be largely self-sufficient and capable of contributing strategically to design solutions for business development challenges. Growth opportunities would likely involve increasing project complexity, leadership, or specialization within JLL's diverse service offerings.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "On-site – Chicago, IL," indicating a traditional office-based work environment. This suggests a collaborative workspace designed for team interaction and access to company resources. Office Location(s): Chicago, IL. Specific details about the office building or amenities are not provided, but JLL is a major player in commercial real estate, so its offices are typically modern and well-equipped.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is likely fast-paced and deadline-driven, typical of supporting sales and business development teams.
• Expect a collaborative atmosphere where designers work closely with marketing professionals and deal teams to understand project requirements and deliver effective visual solutions.
• Access to necessary design hardware, software licenses, and potentially a library of brand assets and templates will be provided.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected. However, given the nature of supporting proposals and client presentations, flexibility may be required to meet critical deadlines, potentially involving occasional work outside standard business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in a major city like Chicago implies a professional corporate setting. Potential candidates should be comfortable with an office environment, regular team collaboration, and the dynamics of supporting client-facing business units.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative capabilities.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: Expect a session where you present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and answer technical questions related to Adobe Creative Suite and design principles. This is where you'll demonstrate your ability to translate concepts into visual assets.
• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: You might be given a small design task or a case study related to creating collateral for a business proposal or presentation to evaluate your practical skills and problem-solving approach.
• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Questions will assess your ability to manage projects, collaborate with teams, handle feedback, and work under pressure. Focus on providing specific examples from your experience.
• Final Round: Typically involves meeting with the hiring manager or key stakeholders to discuss role fit, career aspirations, and cultural alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills relevant to business development collateral, proposals, and presentations. Prioritize quality over quantity.
• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief/objective, your creative process, the tools used, and the outcome. Highlight any challenges you overcame.
• Demonstrate Brand Adherence: Include examples where you successfully worked within brand guidelines, and perhaps one where you had to adapt them creatively.
• Highlight Real Estate/B2B Context: If you have experience with commercial real estate or B2B marketing materials, make sure these are prominent. If not, emphasize transferable skills in creating professional, persuasive collateral.
• High-Quality Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is professionally presented, whether digital (PDF, website) or physical, with clear navigation and high-resolution images.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand JLL's Brand: Research JLL's current branding, marketing materials, and recent projects to understand their visual language and messaging.
• Practice Presentation Skills: Be ready to articulate your design choices and justify them based on project objectives and best practices.
• Anticipate Real Estate Scenarios: Think about how you would approach designing a proposal cover, an offering memorandum layout, or a presentation slide for a commercial real estate deal.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design process and strategic thinking. Candidates should prepare to discuss how their design work supports business objectives and client engagement, particularly within the B2B context of commercial real estate.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential. Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is paramount for creating proposals, offering memorandums, flyers, logos, maps, aerials, presentation graphics, and bound books.
• Presentation Software: While not explicitly listed, strong skills in Microsoft PowerPoint are highly advantageous for integrating designed elements into presentations and for creating dynamic slides.
• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or JLL's internal project management systems would be beneficial for managing workflows and deadlines.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Basic understanding of how to represent data (e.g., market statistics, property metrics) visually within charts and infographics is expected. Experience with tools that integrate with Excel or data analysis platforms could be a plus.
• Web Analytics (Potentially): If involved in digital collateral, basic awareness of how analytics track engagement with digital assets might be relevant.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Integration (Indirect): While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how marketing collateral supports CRM-driven sales processes (e.g., lead nurturing emails, sales collateral) is helpful.
• Marketing Automation Platforms (Indirect): Familiarity with platforms like Salesforce Marketing Cloud, HubSpot, or Marketo could be beneficial if designing email campaigns or digital assets that are deployed through these systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite. Proficiency in presentation software is also highly valuable for integrating designs into client-facing materials. Understanding how creative assets fit into broader marketing and sales workflows is a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client Focus: A strong emphasis on understanding and meeting the needs of internal clients (deal teams) and ultimately external clients, ensuring all creative output is aligned with business objectives.
• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to producing high-quality, polished work that reflects positively on JLL's brand and expertise.
• Collaboration: A culture that values teamwork, open communication, and mutual support among team members and across departments.
• Efficiency & Timeliness: An understanding of the importance of meeting deadlines and managing projects effectively to support fast-paced business development cycles.
• Innovation: Encouragement to bring fresh ideas and creative solutions to design challenges, improving the impact of JLL's marketing materials.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with brokers, deal teams, and marketing professionals, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills to gather requirements and present design concepts.
• Feedback-Driven Improvement: A willingness to receive and incorporate feedback constructively to refine designs and ensure they meet stakeholder expectations.
• Knowledge Sharing: An environment where best practices in design, software usage, and project management are shared to foster continuous improvement within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: JLL's culture, as a large service-oriented firm, likely promotes professionalism, client-centricity, and a collaborative spirit. For a designer, this means being adaptable, communicative, and focused on delivering business-impactful creative solutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Priorities: Juggling numerous projects with competing deadlines from various deal teams requires strong organizational and prioritization skills.
• Translating Complex Information: Effectively visualizing intricate real estate data, financial information, and market analysis into clear, compelling graphics.
• Adhering to Brand Standards: Maintaining brand consistency across a wide array of collateral while also meeting unique client or deal-specific needs.
• Fast-Paced Environment: Working under pressure to deliver high-quality designs within tight turnaround times, common in sales-driven industries.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite or explore new design technologies and plugins.
• Real Estate Industry Knowledge: Gaining insights into the commercial real estate market, transaction processes, and client needs, which can enhance design relevance and impact.
• Project Management Skills: Developing skills in managing complex projects, client communication, and workflow optimization through practical experience.
• Exposure to Global Brands: Working within a large, international organization provides exposure to diverse markets and design strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around managing workflow in a high-demand environment and effectively communicating complex information visually. Growth opportunities are tied to developing specialized skills, deepening industry knowledge, and potentially taking on more responsibility within the creative or marketing operations functions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Problem Solving: "Describe your process for creating a proposal from start to finish. How do you handle conflicting feedback from multiple stakeholders?" Focus on your workflow, communication strategies, and how you ensure quality and adherence to objectives.
• Brand Management: "How do you ensure brand consistency across various marketing materials while still allowing for creative expression?" Be ready to discuss brand guidelines and your approach to creative problem-solving within constraints.
• Impact & Efficiency: "Can you give an example of a design project where your work directly contributed to a successful business outcome or improved efficiency? How did you measure its impact?" Prepare a case study highlighting your design's contribution to business goals.

Company & Culture Questions:

• JLL's Business: Research JLL's services, recent deals, and market position. Be prepared to discuss how design supports their business development efforts.
• Team Collaboration: "How do you prefer to collaborate with non-designers, such as brokers or sales teams?" Discuss your communication style and how you build relationships with internal clients.
• Staying Current: "How do you stay up-to-date with the latest design trends and software?" Show your commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each portfolio piece, don't just show the final output. Explain the project's objective, your role, your design process, and the impact of your work.
• Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasize projects that demonstrate your ability to create professional collateral for business development, sales enablement, or client presentations. Showcase your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Quantify Results (If Possible): If you have any metrics or client testimonials related to your work, incorporate them to demonstrate the value you bring.
• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your software usage, design techniques, and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a blend of technical design skill, creative thinking, project management capability, and strong communication. Your portfolio is your primary tool, but your ability to articulate your process and strategic thinking behind the designs is equally important.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the JLL careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of proposals, offering memorandums, presentations, and other business development collateral. Prioritize projects showcasing strong layout, typography, and data visualization within a professional B2B context.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, your experience in managing design projects, and any relevant experience in real estate or B2B marketing. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on the strategic thinking, process, and impact behind your designs. Prepare to discuss how you collaborate with internal clients and manage deadlines effectively.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with JLL's services, brand guidelines, and recent marketing efforts to demonstrate your understanding of their business and how your creative skills can contribute to their success.

⚠️ 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.