Senior Graphic Designer, Marketing

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer, Marketing

Company: Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: October 3, 2025

Experience Level: 10+ Years (Senior Level)

Remote Status: On-site (Requirement to be present at the PNE's Hastings Park location)

🚀 Role Summary

• This Senior Graphic Designer role is crucial for leading the visual strategy and execution of marketing campaigns for high-profile PNE events, including the annual Fair, Playland, Fright Nights, and the PNE Prize Home Lottery.

• The position demands a strategic design leader capable of overseeing the creation of diverse creative assets, ensuring brand consistency and impact across all guest and partner touchpoints, from initial concept to final production.

• A key aspect of this role involves evolving the PNE's visual identity by integrating innovative design approaches, staying abreast of industry trends, and championing best practices in accessibility and sustainability within the creative output.

• This role requires a blend of hands-on design execution and leadership, managing a creative pipeline, prioritizing projects, and collaborating effectively with marketing teams and external stakeholders in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Graphic Designer, Marketing," the responsibilities heavily lean into a strategic creative leadership role within marketing operations. The emphasis on brand consistency, integrated campaigns, and overseeing a broad range of assets (print, digital, web, motion, site look) positions this as a critical function for driving marketing effectiveness and guest engagement, aligning with core operations principles of process, consistency, and impact measurement. The "marketing operations" category is inferred due to the strategic oversight of campaign asset creation and brand consistency across multiple channels in support of revenue-generating events.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end creative development, design, and execution of integrated campaign assets across print, digital, web, motion graphics, and on-site visual applications for key PNE events and initiatives.

• Champion and meticulously oversee the PNE’s brand identity and visual standards, ensuring unwavering consistency and impact across all guest and partner-facing touchpoints.

• Collaborate strategically with the Marketing Team and cross-functional departments to conceptualize and execute integrated marketing campaigns for major PNE attractions and year-round events.

• Proactively manage and prioritize a diverse pipeline of design projects, ensuring strict adherence to timelines and deliverables within a high-volume, fast-paced operational environment.

• Serve as the primary liaison with internal stakeholders and external collaborators, overseeing the entire production process from prepress preparation to the execution of large-format print collateral.

• Drive the evolution of the PNE’s design standards by introducing innovative creative approaches, staying current with emerging industry trends, and actively promoting best practices in design accessibility and environmental sustainability.

• Maintain and enforce rigorous brand standards, guaranteeing all creative applications are accurate, consistent, and fully aligned with the PNE’s overarching visual identity.

• Provide hands-on design contributions as needed, ensuring that the quality and creativity of all visual outputs remain at the highest professional standard.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a leadership role in managing the creative production pipeline, which is a core function of marketing operations. The emphasis on brand consistency, campaign integration, and managing multiple project streams aligns with operational efficiency and effectiveness. The inclusion of "evolving design standards" and "best practices in accessibility and sustainability" indicates a forward-thinking approach to creative operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive professional graphic design experience.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, for sophisticated design creation and manipulation.

• Demonstrated expertise in managing a creative pipeline, balancing hands-on design tasks with project oversight and team leadership.

• Strong understanding of prepress procedures and the technical requirements for various print production processes, including large-format applications.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts clearly and persuasively to both creative and non-creative audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion graphics and video editing tools such as Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro.

• A strong portfolio showcasing expertise across both print and digital media, including examples of large-format signage, wayfinding systems, comprehensive marketing campaigns, and digital content creation.

• Familiarity with design for large-scale events, the entertainment industry, or the tourism sector.

• A passion for storytelling, experiential marketing, and developing designs that resonate with diverse audience demographics.

• Knowledge of current industry trends, best practices in accessibility, and sustainable design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The minimum experience level (8 years, with 2 in leadership) and the requirement for a strong portfolio across diverse media suggest a role that moves beyond basic design execution to strategic creative direction and operational management of design projects. The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite and specific production knowledge is standard for senior design roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a strong track record of expertise across both print and digital design mediums.

• Demonstrate experience in creating and managing design assets for large-format applications, such as signage and wayfinding systems.

• Include examples of integrated marketing campaigns, illustrating the ability to maintain brand consistency across multiple channels and deliverables.

• Present a variety of digital content examples, highlighting proficiency in web graphics, social media assets, and other digital marketing collateral.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process from concept ideation through to final production and implementation, highlighting quality control measures.

• Demonstrate an understanding of workflow optimization within a creative environment, including how projects are initiated, managed, and delivered efficiently.

• Showcase an ability to adapt design processes to meet diverse project requirements, tight deadlines, and evolving creative briefs.

• Be ready to articulate how design decisions align with marketing objectives and contribute to overall campaign success and brand perception.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio demonstrating specific types of work (large-format, integrated campaigns, digital content) and the implicit need to discuss process and workflow are critical for a senior operations-focused role. This indicates that the hiring team will assess not just creative output but also the candidate's ability to manage and execute design projects efficiently and strategically.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000 - $78,000 CAD per annum.

• This range reflects a pay-for-performance philosophy, acknowledging individual and team contributions.

Benefits:

• Free or Discounted Tickets: Access to complimentary or reduced-price tickets for PNE shows, events, and sports games.

• Staff Discounts: Special pricing for Playland, The Fair, Fright Nights, and all PNE Food Stands.

• Competitive Compensation Package: Includes the stated salary range and potential eligibility for other benefits based on program requirements.

• Eligibility for Additional Benefits: The role may be eligible for other benefits subject to specific program eligibility requirements, contributing to a comprehensive total compensation package.

Working Hours:

• Typically 40 hours per week, reflecting a standard full-time operational schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and indicates a mid-to-senior level position in the Vancouver market for a specialized creative role. The supplementary benefits, particularly those related to event access and staff discounts, are unique perks aligned with the PNE's entertainment and event-focused business model, offering significant value beyond base compensation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Entertainment, Events, Tourism, Non-Profit Organization

Company Size: The PNE operates with an annual budget of over $70 million and hosts over 2 million guests annually across its various activities, suggesting a large operational footprint and a significant number of employees and stakeholders involved in its events and facilities.

Founded: The Pacific National Exhibition is a 115-year-old institution, indicating a long-standing history and established presence in British Columbia.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer reports directly to the Director of Marketing, indicating a clear line of reporting and strategic oversight within the marketing department.

• The role requires close partnership with the Marketing Team and other cross-collaborative teams, suggesting a matrixed or highly integrated project environment.

Methodology:

• The PNE emphasizes its core values: Enthusiasm, Excellence, and Evolution, aiming to "Deliver Memorable Experiences." This suggests a culture that values passion, high standards, and continuous improvement in its operations and guest interactions.

• The company is committed to achieving its mission through its diverse revenue streams: the annual Fair, Playland amusement park, year-round events, and park facility maintenance.

• There's a focus on creating an inclusive environment reflective of the diverse community served, underscoring a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its workforce and operations.

Company Website: www.pne.ca

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the PNE's long history, its diverse revenue streams, and its core values provides context for the operational demands on the marketing and creative teams. The emphasis on "delivering memorable experiences" translates into a high standard for visual communication and brand presentation. The reporting structure to the Director of Marketing places this role within a key operational function of the organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor / Lead Designer. This role is positioned as a senior-level position, requiring significant experience and the ability to lead creative direction and project execution. It sits within the marketing department, supporting the operational delivery of marketing initiatives.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Director of Marketing. This provides a direct reporting line into senior marketing leadership, offering visibility and opportunities to influence strategic marketing decisions through creative execution.

Operations Impact: The visual assets created by this role directly impact the success of major revenue-generating events like the PNE Fair, Playland, and Fright Nights. High-quality, consistent, and compelling design is critical for driving attendance, engagement, and overall brand perception, thereby directly influencing the PNE's financial performance and operational success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to further develop leadership skills by managing creative projects, mentoring junior designers (if applicable), and influencing design strategy within the marketing department.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience in a unique and high-volume event environment, working on diverse projects across different event types (amusement park, large-scale fair, special events), which can broaden design expertise.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to evolving the PNE's visual identity and design standards, offering a chance to make a lasting impact on the organization's brand presence.

• Skill Expansion: Potential to develop skills in areas like motion graphics, video editing, and accessibility/sustainability in design, based on project needs and personal development goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant impact by directly supporting revenue-generating activities. Growth opportunities are focused on leadership, strategic influence, and expanding skill sets within a dynamic operational context, typical for senior roles in marketing and creative functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site at the Pacific National Exhibition's Hastings Park location in Vancouver. This implies working within a large, multi-purpose venue that hosts various events throughout the year.

Office Location(s): 2901 East Hastings St., Vancouver, BC, V5K 5J1. This is a specific, established location.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment will likely be collaborative, requiring close interaction with the Marketing Team and other departments to ensure integrated campaign execution.

• Access to standard office technology and design software (Adobe Creative Suite) is expected, with potential for specialized hardware or software depending on project needs.

• Opportunities for direct involvement in event branding and on-site visual experiences, offering a unique and dynamic workspace that is more than just a typical office setting.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is indicated, but the nature of event-based work may occasionally require flexibility to meet project deadlines or event launch dates.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor, suggesting a need for physical presence to collaborate, manage on-site visuals, and engage with the unique environment of a large event venue. This contrasts with remote or hybrid roles and implies a more hands-on, integrated approach to the work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio links to assess qualifications and creative output. Candidates are encouraged to submit applications and work samples early.

• First Interview: Likely a discussion with the hiring manager (Director of Marketing) and potentially a member of the marketing team to assess experience, creative approach, and cultural fit. Expect questions about past projects and problem-solving.

• Portfolio Review Session: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, discussing key projects, their role, design process, and impact. This is a critical stage for demonstrating hands-on skills and strategic thinking.

• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: Potentially a design exercise or case study related to PNE events to evaluate practical design skills, strategic thinking, and ability to work under pressure.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership or cross-functional team members to assess overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate the range of skills required: large-format, integrated campaigns, digital assets, and any motion graphics/video experience.

• Focus on Process & Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the design process, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the measurable impact (e.g., increased engagement, successful event execution). Use case study format where possible.

• Highlight Brand Consistency: Showcase examples where you successfully maintained or evolved a brand identity across multiple applications.

• Demonstrate Leadership: If possible, include examples of projects where you led creative direction or mentored others.

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and any other relevant tools.

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio as a narrative of your design journey and problem-solving capabilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve conceptualizing creative assets for a hypothetical PNE event or improving existing campaign visuals.

• Focus on understanding the PNE's brand, target audiences, and the specific context of their events.

• Practice articulating your creative rationale clearly and concisely, explaining how your design choices support marketing objectives and operational goals.

• Time management is crucial for any practical exercise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an early portfolio submission, a dedicated portfolio review session, and potential creative challenges highlights the critical importance of visual demonstration for this role. Candidates must be prepared to not only showcase their work but also to articulate their thought process and operational approach to design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency required in InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator. These are the core tools for graphic design, layout, image editing, and vector illustration.

• Motion Graphics & Video Editing: Experience with Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro is a strong asset, indicating a need for skills in creating dynamic visual content for digital platforms and promotions.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how design assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM-integrated campaigns could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite and the "strong asset" status of motion graphics/video tools define the core technical requirements. This indicates the need for a designer who can produce a wide range of visual media, from static print to dynamic digital content, supporting comprehensive marketing campaigns.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Enthusiasm: A passion for the PNE's mission, events, and creating memorable experiences should be evident in the candidate's approach to design and collaboration.

• Excellence: A commitment to high-quality design, meticulous attention to detail, and consistently delivering outstanding creative output that upholds the PNE's brand standards.

• Evolution: A proactive mindset towards embracing new creative approaches, staying current with design trends, and championing improvements in design processes, accessibility, and sustainability.

• Collaboration: A willingness and ability to work effectively with the Marketing Team and other internal/external stakeholders to achieve integrated campaign goals.

Collaboration Style:

• The role requires close partnership with the Marketing Team, suggesting a collaborative environment where ideas are shared and feedback is integral to the creative process.

• Liaising with internal stakeholders and external collaborators indicates a need for strong communication and relationship-building skills to ensure smooth project execution.

• The emphasis on "delivering memorable experiences" implies a shared goal across teams to create impactful and positive interactions for guests and partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The PNE's stated core values of Enthusiasm, Excellence, and Evolution directly inform the expected team culture and operational approach. Candidates should demonstrate how their personal values and work style align with these principles, particularly in how they approach creative problem-solving and collaboration within a marketing operations context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Fast-Paced Environment: Managing multiple high-profile event campaigns simultaneously under tight deadlines requires strong organizational and prioritization skills.

• Brand Consistency Across Diverse Assets: Ensuring a unified visual identity across print, digital, large-format, and motion graphics for various events can be complex.

• Balancing Hands-on Design with Leadership: Effectively dividing time between individual creative contributions and overseeing the broader creative pipeline and stakeholder management.

• Evolving Trends & Technologies: Staying current with design software, industry trends, and best practices (like accessibility and sustainability) while meeting operational demands.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Enhancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in motion graphics, video editing, and potentially explore new design software or techniques relevant to large-scale event marketing.

• Strategic Design Influence: Contribute to shaping the visual direction of a well-established and iconic brand, impacting millions of guests annually.

• Industry Experience: Gain valuable experience in the unique operational demands of the entertainment, events, and tourism sectors.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from senior marketing leadership and collaborate with a diverse team, fostering professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational realities of working in a high-volume event environment. The growth opportunities are framed around skill expansion, strategic impact, and gaining specialized industry experience, which are typical for senior roles within operations-adjacent functions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a comprehensive visual campaign for a large-scale event like the PNE Fair. How do you ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints?" (Focus on process, strategy, and operational execution)

• "How do you balance hands-on design work with leadership responsibilities and managing multiple creative projects simultaneously?" (Addresses role complexity and time management)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about the PNE and its mission to 'Deliver Memorable Experiences'?" (Assesses cultural fit and enthusiasm)

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with our core values of Enthusiasm, Excellence, and Evolution?" (Tests understanding of company culture)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, perhaps by project type or by demonstrating the breadth of your skills (print, digital, large-format, motion).

• Tell the Story: For each presented project, clearly articulate the client/event brief, your specific role and contributions, the design challenges and your solutions, and the measurable impact or success of the design.

• Highlight Process: Be ready to discuss your workflow, the tools you used, and how you managed feedback and revisions.

• Demonstrate Brand Stewardship: Showcase examples where you developed or maintained strong brand guidelines and ensured consistency.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation slides are clean, professional, and visually appealing, mirroring the quality of work you produce.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also operational thinking—how you manage projects, collaborate, solve problems, and align creative output with business objectives. The portfolio presentation is a key operational assessment tool.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the PNE website at www.pne.ca/jobs. Applications will be accepted until the role is filled, but preference is given to early submissions.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your online portfolio to specifically highlight examples relevant to large-scale events, integrated marketing campaigns, large-format print (signage, wayfinding), and digital assets. Ensure links are clearly visible and functional.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 8+ years of professional design experience, at least 2 years in a senior/leadership capacity, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Led design for campaigns that increased attendance by X%").

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership approach, and how you contribute to operational efficiency and brand consistency. Prepare to present your portfolio and discuss specific case studies.

• Company Research: thoroughly research the PNE's current events, marketing strategies, and brand identity. Understand their target audiences and the unique nature of their operations.

⚠️ 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.