Visual/ Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual/Graphic Designer

Company: Civil Science

Location: Dickinson, North Dakota, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing/Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-02-05

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the visual brand identity and execution for a 100% employee-owned engineering firm, translating complex technical information into compelling visual narratives.

• Lead the design and production of high-impact marketing collateral, including proposals, digital campaigns, and event materials, ensuring brand consistency and aesthetic excellence.

• Collaborate directly with senior leadership, project managers, and cross-functional teams to understand project goals and creatively address business needs through design solutions.

• Develop and maintain a cohesive visual language across all company touchpoints, from print publications to digital platforms, enhancing overall brand perception and market presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a GTM (Go-To-Market) or Marketing Operations context, focusing on the visual elements that support sales enablement, brand visibility, and client engagement. The emphasis on proposals and digital campaigns suggests a direct impact on revenue generation through enhanced client communication and brand perception.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand Ownership: Take full ownership of the company's visual brand across all platforms, ensuring consistency in logos, color palettes, typography, and overall aesthetic from proposals to social media campaigns.

• Content Visualization: Translate intricate engineering concepts, data, and project details into clear, engaging, and easily digestible visuals, infographics, and presentations.

• Proposal Design Excellence: Design modern, polished, and persuasive proposals that effectively communicate Civil Science's value proposition, utilizing strong layout, typography, imagery, and graphical elements to tell a compelling story and differentiate the firm.

• Marketing Material Development: Create and maintain a diverse range of consistent marketing materials for multiple offices and disciplines, including brochures, flyers, advertisements, and conference booth graphics.

• Digital Asset Creation: Support digital marketing initiatives by designing web content graphics, social media visuals, animations/GIFs, email templates, and other online assets to enhance digital presence and engagement.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner closely with marketing, sales, HR, and project management teams to understand campaign objectives, project requirements, and stakeholder needs, translating these into effective design solutions.

• Print & Digital Design: Design for both print and digital media, encompassing a wide array of materials such as infographics, advertisements, flyers, banners, slide decks, and event-specific collateral.

• Creative Strategy Input: Contribute to the marketing process by providing design perspectives that shape campaign strategies, understanding how visual elements can achieve specific marketing goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic role in visual communication for a technical firm. The emphasis on translating complex engineering concepts into accessible visuals and designing proposals indicates a strong link to sales enablement and revenue generation. The need to develop consistent materials across multiple offices points to a role in maintaining brand integrity and operational efficiency within marketing efforts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of professional graphic design experience.

Required Skills:

• High Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level skills in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat are essential for creating and managing design assets.

• Portfolio of Work: A strong, versatile portfolio demonstrating originality, foundational design principles, and proven ability to execute various design projects.

• Visual Branding Expertise: Ability to develop and maintain a consistent visual brand identity across all materials and platforms.

• Proposal Design: Proven experience in designing professional, persuasive proposals that incorporate layout, typography, imagery, and graphics effectively.

• Strong Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and articulate design rationale.

• Technical Environment Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, technical environment, translating complex ideas into clear, engaging visual content.

• Print and Digital Design Capabilities: Experience designing for both print (brochures, flyers, event materials) and digital (web graphics, social media, presentations) mediums.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with animation or motion graphics software (e.g., After Effects) for digital content.

• Familiarity with project management tools or systems for tracking design requests and deadlines.

• Understanding of marketing principles and how design contributes to campaign success.

• Experience with content management systems (CMS) for web graphics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for A/E/C industry experience is critical. This suggests candidates must understand the specific visual communication needs and standards within engineering and construction, particularly concerning proposals and technical documentation. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable, and the portfolio serves as a primary screening tool to assess practical application of skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstration of Brand Consistency: Showcase projects where you maintained and evolved a brand identity across multiple deliverables, illustrating your ability to uphold visual standards.

• Proposal Design Case Studies: Include detailed examples of proposals you designed, highlighting your approach to layout, storytelling, and the integration of complex information with compelling visuals.

• Technical Content Visualization: Present examples of how you translated technical or complex data into clear, accessible infographics, charts, or diagrams.

• Versatility Showcase: Feature a range of design projects (print, digital, social media, event materials) to demonstrate your adaptability and breadth of skills.

• Impact-Oriented Examples: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that illustrates the positive impact of your design work on project goals or brand perception.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Be prepared to discuss how you manage design projects from brief to final delivery, including your process for receiving feedback, making revisions, and ensuring timely completion.

• System Integration Understanding: While not explicitly stated as a requirement, understanding how design assets integrate with marketing automation platforms, CMS, or proposal management software would be a plus.

• Performance Analysis: Discuss how you might measure the effectiveness of your design work, particularly for digital campaigns or proposals, focusing on engagement, clarity, and conversion.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role supporting GTM and operations, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just showcase aesthetics but also the ability to solve business problems through design. Candidates should be ready to articulate their design process, how they manage feedback, and how their work directly supports business objectives like winning proposals or increasing engagement.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): As a 100% employee-owned firm, you'll have a stake in the company's success and potential for long-term financial growth.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Three weeks of PTO annually, providing ample opportunity for rest and rejuvenation.

• Holidays: Eight paid holidays throughout the year.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to support employee well-being.

• Life Insurance: Provided to offer financial security for employees and their families.

• Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage to provide income protection.

• Tuition Reimbursement: Support for continuing education and professional development.

• 401K Plan: Retirement savings plan to help employees plan for their future.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule is expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, the company mentions "Work-Life Harmony" and "flexibility," suggesting potential for some adaptability, though core hours for collaboration will be necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for graphic designers with the specified experience level and location. The mandatory inclusion of the ESOP as a primary benefit is a significant differentiator for Civil Science and should be highlighted. The provided benefits are extensive and align with what is typically offered to full-time employees in professional services firms.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Civil Engineering & Construction (A/E/C)

• The A/E/C industry is characterized by project-based work, technical expertise, and a focus on tangible outcomes. Civil Science operates within this sector, serving public and private clients on infrastructure and development projects. This context means design work often needs to be precise, informative, and aligned with technical specifications and client requirements.

Company Size: 100% Employee-Owned Firm with over 40 years of expertise.

• Being employee-owned (ESOP) fosters a culture of shared responsibility, commitment, and long-term thinking. Employees are stakeholders, which typically leads to higher engagement and a collaborative environment. The company's established history (40+ years) suggests stability and a proven track record, while its "bold vision for the future" indicates a forward-thinking approach. The size implies a medium-sized firm, likely with established processes but still agile enough for individual impact.

Founded: Over 40 years ago.

Team Structure:

• Centralized Marketing/Creative Function: The role implies a central point of contact for all visual design needs, likely reporting into a Marketing Manager or directly to senior leadership, given the emphasis on collaboration with senior leadership.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: You will work closely with project managers, engineers, surveyors, planners, and HR. This requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to translate technical jargon into accessible visuals for diverse audiences.

• Potential for a Small Marketing Team: While not explicitly stated, a firm of this nature might have a small, dedicated marketing team where the graphic designer is a key player, or they might be the sole design resource, which would require strong self-management.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While a design role, the ability to use data (e.g., proposal win rates, campaign engagement) to inform design decisions will be valued. Understanding client needs and project goals is crucial.

• Process Optimization: The company values efficiency and entrepreneurial spirit. This translates to an expectation for designers to manage their workflow effectively, propose improvements, and contribute to streamlined design processes.

• Collaboration and Feedback: The emphasis on collaboration suggests an open feedback culture where design concepts are shared and refined through discussion with various stakeholders.

Company Website: Civil Science (civilscience.com)

📝 Enhancement Note: The employee-owned structure is a significant cultural differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they would contribute to a shared ownership environment. The A/E/C context means a focus on professionalism, technical accuracy, and client-centric communication in design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Designer with Brand Ownership

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

• Revenue Generation: Directly impacts proposal win rates by creating compelling, professional, and persuasive proposal documents. Strong visual design can significantly influence client perception and decision-making.

• Brand Perception & Market Differentiation: Shapes how Civil Science is perceived in the A/E/C market. Effective branding and marketing materials can attract new clients, talent, and partners.

• Internal Engagement: Supports internal communications and employee engagement initiatives, reinforcing company culture and values, especially critical in an ESOP environment.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in A/E/C Design: Deepen expertise in visual communication for the engineering and construction sector, becoming a highly sought-after specialist.

• Creative Leadership: Potentially grow into a Creative Lead or Art Director role as the company expands its marketing efforts or if the team grows.

• Broader Marketing Involvement: Gain exposure to marketing strategy, campaign planning, and digital marketing, potentially leading to a more integrated marketing role.

• ESOP Benefits: Benefit from the long-term growth and financial success of the company through the employee stock ownership plan.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the visual identity of a growing, employee-owned firm in a specialized industry. The impact on revenue through proposal design is a key aspect that operations-minded candidates should appreciate. Growth is tied to the company's expansion and the candidate's ability to take on more strategic responsibility.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in Dickinson, North Dakota.

• This is a traditional office-based role, requiring the designer to be physically present at the company's headquarters. This setting facilitates in-person collaboration, spontaneous idea-sharing, and direct interaction with colleagues.

Office Location(s): Dickinson, North Dakota, United States.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The description emphasizes partnership with senior leadership and cross-functional teams, suggesting an open and interactive workspace designed to foster communication.

• Access to Tools and Technology: As a design role, expect access to standard office equipment, computers, and potentially specialized software and hardware necessary for design work. The company will provide the required Adobe Creative Suite licenses.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with engineers, project managers, and other professionals, facilitating a deeper understanding of the company's core business and enabling more effective visual translations.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is anticipated for this full-time, on-site position. The mention of "Work-Life Harmony" and "flexibility" might suggest some degree of accommodation for personal needs, but the core expectation is consistent on-site presence during business hours to support team collaboration and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key factor for candidates. The collaborative nature of the role means that being physically present to interact with colleagues is likely essential for success. This environment is suited for individuals who thrive in team settings and prefer face-to-face communication.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of resumes and portfolios to assess qualifications, experience (especially A/E/C), and design aesthetic.

• Portfolio Presentation/Interview: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing their process, design rationale, and how they've handled similar projects (e.g., proposals, brand development). This is where they'll translate their work into a narrative.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Potentially a design challenge or case study focusing on translating complex engineering information into a visual format or redesigning a sample marketing piece. This tests practical application and problem-solving skills.

• Team/Leadership Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders, including senior leadership, project managers, and potentially other marketing team members, to assess cultural fit, communication skills, and strategic thinking.

• Final Offer: Based on overall assessment of skills, experience, cultural fit, and portfolio.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Prioritize work samples that best showcase your A/E/C industry experience, proposal design skills, and ability to visualize technical information.

• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the objective, your role, the challenges faced, your design process, and the outcome or impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Highlight Process: Don't just show finished products; include sketches, wireframes, or concept development stages to demonstrate your thought process.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, share metrics (e.g., increased proposal win rate, improved engagement on social media graphics) that demonstrate the effectiveness of your design work.

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with specific software (Adobe Creative Suite) and any other design tools you use.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Clearly show how you've applied and maintained brand guidelines.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the A/E/C Context: Research Civil Science's projects, clients, and overall brand. Familiarize yourself with common visual communication needs in civil engineering.

• Practice Translating Technical Data: Find examples of technical reports or data and practice creating clear infographics or visual summaries.

• Proposal Structure: Review standard proposal structures and consider how design elements can enhance readability and persuasiveness.

• Communication: Be prepared to articulate your design decisions clearly and concisely, justifying your choices based on project goals and audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the candidate's portfolio and their ability to articulate their design process and strategic thinking. Candidates should prepare to discuss specific examples of how their design work has contributed to business objectives, especially in the context of proposals and brand building within the A/E/C industry.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Essential):

  • InDesign: For layout and publication design (proposals, brochures, marketing materials).
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and complex illustrations.
  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Acrobat: For PDF creation, editing, and interactive forms, crucial for proposal delivery.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Particularly PowerPoint for slide decks and presentations, and Word for document integration.

Analytics & Reporting (Indirect Usage):

CRM & Automation (Indirect Usage):

• While not directly managing CRM or marketing automation, understanding how design assets are used within these systems (e.g., email templates, social media posts scheduled via platforms) is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite is the core technical requirement. The role interacts with these tools to produce tangible marketing and sales enablement assets. While not a data analysis role, understanding how design impacts digital metrics is a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Employee Ownership: A strong sense of shared responsibility and commitment to the company's success. Decisions and actions should reflect this collective ownership.

• Excellence: A dedication to high-quality work, precision, and delivering outstanding results in design and execution, aligning with the technical demands of engineering.

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Proactive problem-solving, initiative-taking, and a willingness to explore new ideas and contribute beyond defined tasks.

• Collaboration: A value placed on teamwork, open communication, and mutual support across departments to achieve common goals.

• Innovation: A forward-thinking mindset, seeking creative solutions and embracing new approaches in design and visual communication.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expected to work closely with diverse teams, requiring clear communication, active listening, and the ability to adapt design approaches to meet varied stakeholder needs.

• Feedback-Driven Process: A culture where constructive feedback is welcomed and used to refine designs, fostering continuous improvement.

• Shared Knowledge: Encouragement to share design insights, best practices, and creative approaches with colleagues to elevate the overall visual output of the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of employee ownership and entrepreneurial spirit suggest a culture that rewards initiative and a proactive approach. Candidates should demonstrate how they embody these values in their work and interactions. The emphasis on collaboration implies a need for strong interpersonal skills and a team-oriented mindset.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Technical Complexity: The primary challenge will be to simplify and visualize highly technical engineering concepts in a way that is both accurate and engaging for various audiences.

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Project Needs: Ensuring that all designs adhere to brand guidelines while also meeting the specific objectives and aesthetic preferences of individual projects and stakeholders.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholders: Effectively managing design requests and feedback from various departments and levels within the organization, each with potentially different priorities.

• Working in a Specialized Industry: Adapting to the specific visual language and expectations of the A/E/C sector, which may differ from other industries.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen A/E/C Design Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in visual communication for engineering and construction projects, becoming a go-to expert.

• Expand Digital Design Skills: Opportunities to work on web graphics, social media campaigns, and potentially animation, enhancing digital design capabilities.

• Contribute to Brand Strategy: As the company grows, there may be opportunities to influence broader brand strategy and marketing initiatives.

• ESOP Growth: Directly benefit from the company's growth and success through the employee stock ownership plan.

• Professional Development: Access to tuition reimbursement and potentially industry conferences or workshops to stay current with design trends and software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to the role's unique context—bridging creative design with technical expertise in a specific industry. Growth opportunities are tied to specialization and the company's expansion, offering a clear path for professional development within a supportive, employee-owned environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate complex technical information into a visual format. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your methodology, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a wide range of marketing materials and for different projects?" (Demonstrate your understanding of brand guidelines and implementation.)

• "Walk us through your process for designing a high-stakes proposal. What elements do you prioritize, and how do you ensure it's persuasive?" (Highlight your proposal design expertise and strategic thinking.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for an employee-owned company like Civil Science?" (Show you understand and value the ESOP model.)

• "How do you see your design skills contributing to the success of an engineering firm?" (Connect your expertise to the company's mission and industry.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Organize your portfolio logically (e.g., by project type, industry, or skill). For each piece, clearly state the objective, your role, your process, and the results.

• Focus on A/E/C and Proposals: Highlight projects most relevant to Civil Science. If you don't have direct A/E/C experience, emphasize transferable skills from similar complex or technical industries.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively to illustrate your points. Be prepared to zoom in on specific design elements and explain your choices.

• Quantify Impact: If you have metrics on how your designs improved engagement, won bids, or enhanced brand perception, present them clearly.

• Be Ready for a Challenge: Prepare for a potential design exercise where you might be asked to quickly sketch or conceptualize a solution to a given problem (e.g., designing a graphic for a specific project type).

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking, an understanding of the A/E/C industry, and an appreciation for the employee-owned culture. The portfolio presentation is the candidate's primary opportunity to showcase their value.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Visual/Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your 2+ years of professional design experience, specifically mentioning any A/E/C industry exposure and your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Prepare a digital portfolio that prominently features your strongest work, with a particular emphasis on proposal design, brand development, and visualization of complex information. Ensure it is easily accessible and well-organized.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your contributions to past projects, and how your skills align with the responsibilities outlined in this job description, especially regarding the A/E/C industry and employee-owned company culture.

• Research Civil Science: Familiarize yourself with their website, projects, company values, and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding 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.

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