Jr. Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Jr. Graphic Designer

Company: Jars Cannabis

Location: Troy, Michigan, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Work-From-Home Fridays)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on supporting the execution of a wide range of design projects within the cannabis industry, encompassing both physical and digital visual assets.

• The Graphic Designer will collaborate closely with e-commerce, marketing, and creative teams to ensure brand consistency and enhance visual communications across all platforms.

• Responsibilities include the creation of engaging online content, such as banner ads, email templates, and social media graphics, as well as supporting print materials and promotional artwork.

• A key aspect of this role involves contributing to the visual strategy for campaigns, retail activations, and brand partnership initiatives, directly impacting the company's national footprint.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Jr. Graphic Designer," the requirement for "Minimum 4 years of professional graphic design experience" suggests this role may lean towards an early-mid career level, potentially offering more responsibility than a typical junior position. The focus on "commercial marketing and design" in the portfolio requirement further solidifies this. The hybrid model with "Work-From-Home Fridays" indicates a flexible work environment, which is increasingly attractive to creative professionals.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce interactive online content, including eye-catching banner ads, effective CRM graphics, and engaging email templates that align with marketing objectives.

• Develop visually compelling social media graphics and promotional artwork to enhance online presence and drive engagement across various digital channels.

• Collaborate with e-commerce and marketing teams to ensure all design deliverables are consistent with the JARS Cannabis brand image and messaging.

• Create thumbnail layout designs that expertly integrate photography and typography, demonstrating a strong understanding of visual hierarchy and aesthetic balance.

• Work alongside other graphic designers and the broader creative team to maintain design consistency and high-quality content across all company platforms, from digital to print.

• Support the marketing team in the development and execution of creative assets for retail activations, brand partnership campaigns, and special events to enhance customer experience and brand visibility.

• Review product positioning and online marketing content alongside cross-functional partners to identify opportunities for visual design improvements and strategic enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of tactical design execution and strategic input, particularly in reviewing marketing content for improvement. This suggests the candidate will not only be tasked with creating assets but also with contributing to the rationale behind design choices and their impact on marketing goals.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Marketing, or a related field is often preferred for roles requiring 4+ years of experience.

Experience: Minimum of 4 years of professional graphic design experience, with a demonstrated track record in commercial marketing and design.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are essential for creating a wide range of visual assets.

• Digital Design Expertise: Proven experience designing for web, email, social media, and digital advertising platforms.

• Print Design & Production: Solid understanding of print production standards, including file preparation, bleed, and color profiles, to ensure accurate output.

• Typography & Visual Hierarchy: A keen eye for detail, with a strong command of typography, color theory, hierarchy, and balance to create visually appealing and effective designs.

• Portfolio Demonstration: A robust portfolio showcasing a range of commercial marketing and design projects is mandatory.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication abilities, with the capacity to clearly articulate design rationale and creative decisions to stakeholders.

• Time Management & Organization: Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics: Experience with Adobe After Effects for creating dynamic animations and video content.

• UI/UX Design Tools: Familiarity with Adobe Premiere and Adobe XD for potential involvement in user interface or user experience design projects.

• Social Content Strategy: Knowledge or understanding of how design contributes to social media content strategy and engagement.

• Cannabis Industry Passion: A genuine interest in learning about and professionally progressing within the cannabis industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Adobe Premiere and Adobe XD knowledge is a plus" suggests that while not strictly required, candidates with these skills will be more competitive, especially if the role expands into UI/UX or video editing aspects of marketing collateral. The emphasis on explaining design rationale points to a need for strategic thinking beyond just aesthetic execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Commercial Marketing Focus: The portfolio must demonstrate successful application of graphic design principles within commercial marketing contexts, showcasing an ability to meet business objectives through visual communication.

• Diverse Deliverables: Include examples of various design outputs such as web graphics, email templates, social media campaigns, print collateral (brochures, flyers, ads), and promotional artwork.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Showcase projects where brand guidelines were adhered to, demonstrating an understanding of maintaining a cohesive brand identity across different platforms.

• Problem/Solution Presentation: For each portfolio piece, be prepared to articulate the design challenge, the creative process, and the impact or solution achieved, highlighting efficiency and effectiveness.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Be prepared to discuss your personal design workflow, from initial concept and sketching to final file preparation and delivery, emphasizing efficiency and iterative improvements.

• Tool Proficiency Demonstration: Be ready to demonstrate or discuss your proficiency with key design tools (Adobe Creative Suite) and how you leverage them to streamline your design process.

• Collaboration & Feedback: Showcase how you incorporate feedback from stakeholders and collaborate with team members to refine designs, illustrating a structured approach to design revisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "commercial marketing and design" in the requirements and the need to "explain the rationale behind design decisions" strongly implies that the portfolio should not just be a collection of pretty pictures, but a demonstration of strategic thinking and problem-solving through design. Candidates should be ready to discuss the "why" behind their design choices and how they contributed to business goals.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $45,000 - $55,000 per year

Benefits:

• Free Employee Assistance Program

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance (for full-time employees)

• 401(k) Plan

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Employee Discount on JARS Cannabis products

• Work-From-Home Fridays (Hybrid arrangement)

• Internal Growth Opportunities

• Life Insurance

• Paid Volunteering Opportunities

• Holiday Pay

• Bereavement Time Pay

• Paid Paternity Leave

Working Hours: Standard 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement that includes Work-From-Home Fridays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Jr. Graphic Designer role in the Troy, Michigan area, considering the experience level (4+ years) and the specialized industry. The comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k), and several types of paid leave, indicates a commitment to employee well-being. The inclusion of "Work-From-Home Fridays" and "Internal Growth Opportunities" are significant perks for career-minded individuals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Cannabis Retail and Brand. JARS Cannabis operates within a rapidly evolving and regulated industry, requiring adaptability and a keen understanding of compliance while fostering creativity.

Company Size: The description implies a growing national footprint, suggesting a mid-sized to large organization with established processes but still retaining agility. This means opportunities for impact within a structured environment.

Founded: Not specified, but the company's ambition for a "strongest national footprint" suggests a relatively established or aggressively expanding entity.

Team Structure:

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes working with e-commerce, marketing, and creative teams, indicating a collaborative environment where design is integrated into broader business functions.

• Creative Department: This position is part of the broader creative team, working alongside other graphic designers, suggesting a departmental structure for creative output.

• Reporting: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Lead, Marketing Manager, or Design Director, with direct collaboration with marketing and e-commerce specialists.

Methodology:

• Brand-Centric Approach: Design work is guided by brand image and messaging, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints.

• Data-Informed Design: The mention of reviewing "product positioning and online marketing content" alongside teams suggests a data-informed approach to design, where visual choices are influenced by performance and strategy.

• Iterative Design: Collaboration with multiple teams and the need to explain design rationale points to an iterative design process, involving feedback and refinement.

Company Website: www.shopjars.com

📝 Enhancement Note: JARS Cannabis positions itself as a "culturally inspired organization" focused on rewriting narratives around cannabis. This suggests a company that values creativity, community engagement, and a progressive approach to the industry. The mention of "setting a new standard of professional excellence" indicates a drive for high performance and professionalism.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an early-to-mid career opportunity for a Graphic Designer, requiring 4+ years of experience. It offers a chance to grow within a specialized and dynamic industry.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Director or Marketing Manager, working closely with cross-functional teams. This structure allows for mentorship and exposure to various business functions.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly influences brand perception, marketing campaign effectiveness, customer engagement, and retail activation success. Their visuals are critical for communicating the brand's message and driving sales in both digital and physical spaces.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific design areas like motion graphics, UI/UX, or specialized digital marketing design within the cannabis sector.

• Industry Expertise: Opportunity to gain deep knowledge of the cannabis industry's unique marketing challenges, regulatory considerations, and consumer behaviors.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and expanded experience, there's potential to move into senior designer roles, team lead positions, or specialized creative roles within JARS Cannabis.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working with e-commerce and marketing teams provides valuable insights into broader business operations, potentially opening doors to marketing or brand management roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company explicitly states "Internal Growth Opportunities" as a benefit. For a Graphic Designer, this could translate to advancing to Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, or even moving into specialized marketing roles if they develop a strong understanding of the business strategy behind their creative work.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, with 4 days in the office and 1 day remote (Work-From-Home Fridays). This suggests a balance between collaborative in-office work and individual focused remote work.

Office Location(s): Troy, Michigan. Specific office details are not provided, but the address indicates a professional business setting.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely supports collaborative work sessions with marketing and creative teams, essential for design projects.

• Technology & Tools: Access to necessary design software and hardware within the office will be provided to facilitate the creation of digital and print assets.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues in marketing, e-commerce, and other creative roles to brainstorm, present ideas, and receive feedback.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, with the flexibility of Work-From-Home Fridays. This schedule allows for focused work and adherence to project timelines while maintaining work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model indicates a modern work approach, balancing the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. This setup is often conducive to creative roles where focused individual work is as important as team brainstorming.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience and design skills against requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, design rationale, and how their work aligns with JARS Cannabis's brand and marketing goals.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: A potential design exercise or case study to evaluate problem-solving abilities, creative thinking, and proficiency with design tools under timed conditions.

• Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion with hiring managers and team members to assess alignment with JARS Cannabis's core values (Inclusive, Daring, Nimble, Playful, Gritty).

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest commercial marketing projects that best represent your skills in digital and print design, social media, and branding.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the objective, your role, the challenge, your creative process, the tools used, and the measurable outcome or impact. Emphasize how your design solved a specific problem or met a business goal.

• Highlight Brand Consistency: Showcase examples where you successfully applied or developed brand guidelines, demonstrating your understanding of brand integrity.

• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your specific usage of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects) and any other relevant design software.

• Prepare for Rationale: Be articulate in explaining the "why" behind your design choices – color palette, typography, layout, imagery – and how they support the overall marketing strategy.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Familiarize yourself with JARS Cannabis's website, social media presence, and overall brand aesthetic. Identify their strengths and potential areas for visual enhancement.

• Industry Awareness: Gain a basic understanding of the cannabis industry's visual language and any specific design considerations or regulations.

• Practice Communication: Prepare to clearly and concisely present your ideas and defend your design decisions, anticipating questions about execution and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on explaining design rationale and the "Daring" and "Nimble" values, candidates should be prepared to present innovative and well-reasoned design solutions. The portfolio should clearly demonstrate an ability to translate business needs into compelling visual narratives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating a wide array of design assets, from web graphics to print collateral.

• Adobe After Effects: Preferred skill for creating dynamic animations, motion graphics, and video elements for digital campaigns and social media.

• Adobe Premiere: A plus, indicating potential use for video editing of marketing content or promotional materials.

• Adobe XD: A plus, suggesting potential involvement in UI/UX design, wireframing, or prototyping for digital platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a requirement for the designer, an understanding of how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., click-through rates on banner ads, engagement on social media posts) is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (like Google Analytics or social media insights) can help inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM graphics and email template design implies an understanding of how design integrates with marketing automation platforms and customer relationship management systems to deliver targeted communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required Adobe Creative Suite proficiency is standard for graphic design roles. The "plus" skills in After Effects, Premiere, and XD suggest that JARS Cannabis may be looking to expand its visual content capabilities beyond static imagery, potentially into more dynamic and interactive formats.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Inclusive: JARS Cannabis emphasizes creating a welcoming and diverse workplace. As a designer, this means being open to diverse perspectives and contributing to an environment where everyone feels valued.

• Daring: The company encourages risk-taking and pushing creative boundaries. Designers are expected to be bold in their ideas and willing to explore innovative visual solutions.

• Nimble: The fast-paced cannabis industry requires adaptability. Designers must be agile, able to pivot quickly to meet changing project demands and market trends.

• Playful: A positive and fun approach to work is encouraged. This can translate into vibrant, engaging, and creative designs that reflect this spirit.

• Gritty: Success in this industry requires determination and resilience. Designers should be dedicated to their craft, willing to put in the effort to achieve high-quality results.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with marketing, e-commerce, and other creative teams, requiring strong interpersonal and communication skills to integrate design effectively into broader business strategies.

• Feedback-Driven: The process involves collaboration and feedback, suggesting a culture where constructive criticism is welcomed and used for continuous improvement of design outputs.

• Shared Vision: A focus on building a strong national brand implies a collective effort towards a unified visual identity and marketing message.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are intentionally defined and integrated into their culture. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how their work style and approach align with these values, particularly "Daring" and "Nimble," which are crucial for creative roles in a dynamic industry.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving Industry: The cannabis industry is subject to frequent regulatory changes and market shifts, requiring designers to stay informed and adapt their work accordingly.

• Brand Consistency Across Markets: As JARS Cannabis expands nationally, maintaining a consistent brand identity across diverse regions and potential market-specific nuances will be a key challenge.

• Balancing Creativity with Compliance: Designing within the cannabis sector often involves navigating strict advertising regulations, requiring creative solutions that are compliant and effective.

• Fast-Paced Project Demands: The need to support multiple teams (e-commerce, marketing, retail activations) means designers will likely face tight deadlines and a high volume of requests.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Specialization: Deepen expertise in the unique visual communication strategies and regulatory considerations within the cannabis industry.

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in motion graphics, potentially UI/UX, and digital campaign design.

• Cross-Departmental Understanding: Gain insights into e-commerce, marketing strategy, and retail operations, which can broaden career horizons.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, or specialized creative roles within a growing company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Gritty" value suggests the company expects its employees to tackle challenges head-on. Aspiring candidates should frame their approach to these challenges as opportunities for problem-solving and skill development, rather than deterrents.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a regulated industry. How did you ensure your creative output was compliant while still being effective?" (Focus on balancing creativity with regulation, e.g., cannabis industry).

• "Walk us through a project from your portfolio where you had to explain your design rationale to stakeholders who were not design-savvy. What was the outcome?" (Demonstrate communication, persuasion, and strategic thinking).

• "How do you approach maintaining brand consistency across various digital and print platforms, especially when working with multiple teams?" (Highlight organizational skills, brand adherence, and collaboration). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about working in the cannabis industry, and specifically with JARS Cannabis?" (Show genuine interest and alignment with the company's mission).

• "How do you embody our company values of 'Daring' and 'Nimble' in your design work and professional approach?" (Connect personal work style to company values).

• "Describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to a change in project scope or deadline. How did you handle it?" (Assess adaptability and resilience, aligning with "Nimble" and "Gritty"). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: Select projects that demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also tangible business impact (e.g., increased engagement, successful campaign execution).

• Explain the "Why": For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your creative solution, your process, and the results. Be prepared to defend your design choices.

• Showcase Tool Versatility: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and how you leverage different tools for specific design needs.

• Tailor to JARS: Highlight designs that show an understanding of modern branding, digital marketing, and potentially the cannabis aesthetic.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to showcase not only their technical design skills but also their strategic thinking, communication abilities, and cultural fit with JARS Cannabis's unique values, especially "Daring," "Nimble," and "Gritty."

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Jr. Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the JARS Cannabis isolvedhire portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features commercial marketing and design examples, particularly those demonstrating digital and print capabilities, and clearly articulates the rationale and impact of your work.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 4+ years of professional experience, specific Adobe Creative Suite proficiencies, and any experience with social content strategy or regulated industries. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, explaining your creative decisions, and aligning your skills with JARS Cannabis's company values (Inclusive, Daring, Nimble, Playful, Gritty). Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Company Research: Thoroughly review the JARS Cannabis website and social media to understand their brand aesthetic, target audience, and current marketing efforts. This will help you tailor your application and prepare for interview questions.

⚠️ 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.