Junior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Graphic Designer

Company: Homesteaders Life Company

Location: West Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Administrative

Date Posted: 2026-09-17

Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Execute a wide range of print and digital design assets, ensuring adherence to established brand standards and creative direction.

• Support the creative function with essential administrative tasks, including print ordering, collateral updates, and digital asset management.

• Develop visually compelling presentation materials that translate complex information and data into clear, engaging graphics and infographics.

• Adapt creative assets for various digital channels, optimizing for different platforms and audience engagement while maintaining brand consistency.

• Collaborate with internal teams to understand project requirements, incorporate feedback, and deliver high-quality creative solutions efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Junior Graphic Designer within a mutual life insurance company, focusing on supporting marketing and internal communications. The responsibilities lean heavily towards production and execution within defined brand guidelines, with an emphasis on leveraging existing templates and tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and PowerPoint. The inclusion of AI tools like Claude suggests a forward-thinking approach to creative workflows.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and produce diverse print and digital design assets, including brochures, social media graphics, internal communications, and educational materials, strictly adhering to brand standards and templates.

• Design, format, and maintain presentation materials, translating data into effective charts, graphs, illustrations, and infographics for executive and sales presentations.

• Manage print production processes, including routine collateral updates, new print requests, reprint coordination, and preparing print-ready files.

• Execute print orders according to established specifications and creative direction, ensuring quality and timely delivery.

• Edit, resize, and retouch photography for both print and digital applications, and provide basic support for in-house photography needs.

• Utilize Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), Canva, Microsoft PowerPoint, and AI-enabled tools (e.g., Claude) to enhance creative workflows and improve production efficiency.

• Collaborate closely with internal leadership and team members to understand creative direction, integrate feedback, and ensure accurate and consistent delivery of design assets.

• Continuously develop professional knowledge and creative capabilities by seeking feedback, researching design best practices, and exploring emerging technologies and tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities highlight a strong focus on production, execution, and adherence to brand guidelines, characteristic of an entry-level design role. The mention of supporting "high-visibility executive and sales presentations" indicates the importance of clear data visualization and professional presentation design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Minimum two-year degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, or a closely related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered.

Experience: 0-1+ years of professional or internship experience in graphic design, marketing, advertising, or a related creative field.

Required Skills:

• High proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud applications, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within brand parameters and templates using Canva.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint for creating, formatting, and maintaining professionally designed presentations.

• Working knowledge of print production processes, including understanding print specifications, file preparation, and proofing.

• Familiarity with social media graphic design principles and digital design best practices.

• Ability to effectively leverage AI-enabled tools, such as Claude, to support creative workflows and increase efficiency.

• Excellent visual communication skills, with a strong understanding of typography, layout, and color theory.

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with photo editing and retouching techniques.

• Basic understanding of animation or motion graphics for digital assets.

• Familiarity with project management tools.

• Experience working with marketing collateral and internal communications materials.

• A keen eye for detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize foundational design software proficiency and practical application in print and digital media. The explicit mention of AI tools like Claude suggests a preference for candidates who are adaptable and willing to integrate new technologies into their workflow, a growing trend in operations and creative roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A professional or personal portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 diverse work samples is required.

• If a formal portfolio link is not available on the resume, work samples demonstrating graphic design skills must be submitted.

• Samples should highlight proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Canva.

• The portfolio should include examples of print collateral, digital graphics (social media, web), and presentation design.

• Demonstrate the ability to work within established brand standards and templates. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how design processes were managed, from initial concept to final delivery.

• Highlight any experience in updating and maintaining design templates or collateral libraries.

• Provide examples of how feedback and revisions were incorporated into design projects.

• Demonstrate an understanding of print production workflows and file preparation for printers.

📝 Enhancement Note: A portfolio is crucial for demonstrating practical design skills and adherence to brand guidelines. The emphasis on print production and template work suggests that candidates should include examples that reflect these specific responsibilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $53,000 - $55,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Excellent Schedule: Office closes at 1:00 PM every Friday, offering extended weekends.

• Financial Security: Annual profit sharing and a 401(k) with company match, including a discretionary contribution.

• Health & Wellness: Company-sponsored group medical and dental insurance, company-paid life insurance, and company-paid long-term disability insurance.

• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid work environment, generous paid holidays, substantial vacation time, and sick leave.

• Family Support: Paid parental leave.

• Comfortable Environment: Casual dress code year-round.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with a unique early closing on Fridays.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is typical for an entry-level Graphic Designer role in a mid-sized city. The benefits package is quite comprehensive, with a standout feature being the early Friday closing, which offers a significant lifestyle advantage. The hybrid work environment is also a key perk for work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Mutual Life Insurance). Homesteaders Life Company operates within the preneed funeral funding and life insurance sector, focusing on helping individuals plan for end-of-life expenses. This industry requires a high degree of trust, professionalism, and sensitivity.

Company Size: Homesteaders Life Company is a well-established organization, indicated by its founding in 1906 and its role as a national leader. While the exact employee count isn't provided, its operational scope suggests a medium to large-sized enterprise.

Founded: 1906. With over a century of experience, Homesteaders Life Company has a deep-rooted history and a stable foundation in the financial services market.

Team Structure:

• The Junior Graphic Designer will likely be part of a marketing or communications department, potentially within a larger Creative Services team.

• This role will support internal leadership and team members, suggesting a collaborative environment where feedback and direction are provided by more senior designers or marketing managers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected, particularly with sales teams for presentation materials and other departments for internal communications. Methodology:

• The company emphasizes leveraging design tools, including AI-enabled platforms, to improve creative workflows and efficiency.

• Adherence to established brand standards and templates is a core part of the design methodology.

• A focus on translating information and data into effective visual elements is key for presentation and collateral development.

• The company culture values professional development and seeking feedback to enhance creative capabilities.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's long history and mutual structure suggest a stable, policyholder-focused culture. The emphasis on "designing a better farewell" indicates a mission-driven organization. The role's integration into a structured team within this industry implies a need for professionalism and adherence to established processes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Entry-Level / Junior. This role is designed for individuals beginning their professional careers in graphic design. It provides a foundational experience in executing creative tasks within a corporate environment.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Graphic Designer will report to a manager or senior designer within the marketing or creative department. They will collaborate with various internal stakeholders, including leadership and sales teams.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role in the sense of process optimization or revenue operations, the Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the company's brand perception, marketing effectiveness, and internal communication clarity. High-quality design assets contribute to sales enablement, brand consistency, and employee engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Opportunities to hone skills in Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and PowerPoint, and learn new design techniques and software. Exposure to AI tools for creative workflows.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in areas such as digital design, presentation design, or print production management as experience grows.

• Advancement: Progression to a Graphic Designer, Senior Graphic Designer, or potentially Art Director roles within the company or related creative fields.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience in the financial services industry, understanding its unique design needs and compliance considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a solid entry point into a corporate design career. Growth is likely tied to mastering core design skills, understanding the financial services industry's specific requirements, and demonstrating initiative in adopting new tools and techniques.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. This means a blend of in-office work and remote work, offering flexibility.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located at 5700 Westown Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA 50266. The company also has hiring presence in multiple other states, suggesting a distributed team structure or potential for future office expansion.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model allows for focused work at home and collaborative opportunities in the office.

• The office environment likely supports collaboration, with opportunities to interact with marketing and other internal teams.

• Access to necessary design software and technology is expected, supporting both in-office and remote work.

• The casual dress code suggests a comfortable and less formal work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: Approximately 40 hours per week, with a notable benefit of the office closing at 1:00 PM every Friday. This schedule provides a good balance for productivity and personal time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and early Friday closing are significant perks that contribute to a positive work environment, appealing to candidates seeking work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and design aesthetic.

• First Interview: Typically with the hiring manager or a senior member of the creative team. Focus on understanding your background, design philosophy, and how you approach creative challenges.

• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or a detailed walkthrough of your portfolio. Expect questions about your design process, decision-making, and how you handled specific projects.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with additional team members or leadership to assess cultural fit and overall suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest pieces that best align with the job description – focusing on print collateral, digital graphics, and presentations.

• Showcase Brand Adherence: Include examples where you successfully worked within brand guidelines or adapted designs for different platforms.

• Explain Your Process: Be ready to articulate your thought process, the problem you were solving, your design choices, and the outcome. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Highlight Tool Proficiency: Mention and, if possible, show examples of your work using Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and PowerPoint.

• Digital First: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible online (e.g., a personal website, Behance, or a shared drive link).

Challenge Preparation:

• Presentation Design: Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing effective presentations, especially those involving data visualization.

• Brand Consistency: Understand how to maintain brand integrity across various media.

• AI Tool Integration: Think about how you might use AI tools like Claude to enhance your design workflow, such as generating initial concepts or optimizing text for graphics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component for this role. Candidates should prepare to discuss their design choices in detail and demonstrate their ability to work within established frameworks.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop are essential for creating and manipulating design assets.

• Canva: Proficiency required for creating graphics within established brand parameters and templates, indicating a need for efficiency and accessibility in design creation.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: Critical for designing, formatting, and maintaining professional presentation materials.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated for design, understanding how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., click-through rates on digital ads, readability of reports) is beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tools are listed as primary requirements for this design role, but familiarity with how designs are deployed within marketing automation platforms or CRMs could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on core graphic design software. The inclusion of Canva alongside Adobe Creative Cloud suggests a need for versatility and efficiency in producing a high volume of assets.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven: Creating meaningful work for a company with a clear mission ("design a better farewell").

• Innovation & Freshness: Seeking new energy, bold ideas, and new perspectives from team members.

• Problem-Solving: Embracing challenging topics and enjoying solving visual problems.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with internal leadership and team members.

• Continuous Improvement: Seeking feedback, researching best practices, and taking on increasing responsibility.

Collaboration Style:

• The team operates with an emphasis on collaboration, requiring designers to work closely with leadership and colleagues.

• Feedback incorporation is a key part of the process, suggesting an open and iterative design culture.

• The hybrid work environment necessitates effective communication and collaboration tools to maintain team cohesion and project momentum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value a blend of creativity and professionalism, encouraging new ideas within a structured framework. The emphasis on "solving visual problems" and embracing challenges points to a dynamic and engaging team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Adhering to Strict Brand Guidelines: Balancing creative expression with the need to maintain consistent brand identity across all assets.

• Managing High Volume of Production: Executing a variety of design tasks efficiently to meet internal client demands.

• Translating Complex Data: Effectively visualizing data and information for diverse audiences in presentations and collateral.

• Adapting to New Tools: Staying current with evolving design software, including AI-enabled tools, and integrating them into the workflow.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Software Proficiency: Deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and PowerPoint.

• Design Principles: Enhance understanding of typography, layout, color theory, and visual communication best practices.

• Industry Knowledge: Gain insights into the financial services and preneed funeral planning industry, understanding its specific design needs and sensitivities.

• AI Integration: Learn to leverage AI tools for creative ideation and workflow optimization.

• Portfolio Building: Develop a strong portfolio showcasing successful projects and growth over time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be mastering the balance between creative output and strict brand adherence, common in corporate design roles. Growth opportunities are tied to expanding technical skills and understanding the nuances of the financial services sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to work within strict brand guidelines. How did you ensure creativity while maintaining consistency?" (Focus on your process for balancing creative freedom with brand adherence.)

• "How do you approach translating complex data or information into clear and engaging visual elements for a presentation?" (Be ready to discuss your data visualization techniques and example projects.)

• "Tell me about a challenging design project you worked on. What was the challenge, and how did you overcome it?" (Use the STAR method to detail a problem-solving scenario.)

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new technologies, such as AI-enabled design tools?" (Highlight your commitment to continuous learning and adaptability.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Homesteaders Life Company and our mission?" (Research the company's history, values, and focus on preneed planning.)

• "How do you handle creative feedback and revisions from stakeholders?" (Discuss your collaborative approach and ability to incorporate constructive criticism.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote environment." (Emphasize your communication skills and ability to manage your time effectively.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each piece in your portfolio, be prepared to tell a brief story: the client/project goal, your role, the challenge, your design solution, and the outcome.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out examples that demonstrate your proficiency in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva, and PowerPoint, as well as your understanding of print and digital design.

• Brand Adherence Examples: Showcase specific projects where you successfully applied brand guidelines or templates.

• AI Tool Usage (if applicable): If you have examples of using AI tools to assist your design process, be ready to discuss them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be ready to discuss their design process in detail, showcase their technical skills through their portfolio, and demonstrate an understanding of the company's mission and industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on recruiting.paylocity.com.

• Portfolio Preparation: Ensure your resume includes a direct link to your online portfolio or attach 2-3 strong work samples demonstrating your graphic design capabilities, especially in print collateral, digital graphics, and presentations.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, Microsoft PowerPoint, print production, and any relevant internship or project experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your design process, portfolio pieces, and how you handle feedback. Practice articulating your thoughts on brand consistency and visual problem-solving.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Homesteaders Life Company's mission, values, and the financial services industry. Understand their brand aesthetics to better align your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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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