Junior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Graphic Designer

Company: Southern New Hampshire University

Location: Remote (United States)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: April 29, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creation of compelling visual communications for a leading higher education institution, driving engagement with prospective learners.

• Collaborate within a dynamic creative team to translate strategic objectives into impactful design solutions across diverse marketing channels.

• Uphold and meticulously apply established brand guidelines to ensure consistent and professional visual representation of the university.

• Contribute to a wide array of branding initiatives, encompassing digital, print, and interactive project deliverables for a national audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Junior Graphic Designer," the requirement of 3+ years of experience and a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) suggests a role that leans towards an early-mid career professional rather than a pure entry-level position. The emphasis on creating designs for "prospective learners" and working across "email, print, digital, web, video and integrated campaigns" indicates a strong marketing and GTM (Go-To-Market) focus within the design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and execute visually engaging designs that align with project requirements and enhance the university's communication objectives.

• Develop final design assets for a variety of platforms, including print collateral, digital advertisements, social media content, email newsletters, and website elements.

• Perform essential design tasks such as color correction, photo editing, and file preparation to ensure high-quality output for all media.

• Manage design project timelines effectively, ensuring timely delivery of assets while maintaining creative integrity and quality standards.

• Contribute to the development and execution of branding projects, including presentations, brochures, event buildouts, and integrated campaign materials.

• Collaborate closely with marketing, communications, and other cross-functional teams to understand project briefs and deliver design solutions that meet strategic goals.

• Maintain a high level of productivity and reliability, ensuring consistent contribution to team objectives and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and project management. The scope covers a broad range of design applications critical for student acquisition and retention, underscoring the role's importance in the GTM strategy. The mention of "prospective learners" and "integrated campaigns" directly links design output to revenue generation and enrollment goals.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience: 3+ years of professional experience in graphic design, with a proven track record of creating effective visual communications.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in industry-standard design software, including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator.

• Demonstrated experience with Sketch, a valuable tool for digital design workflows.

• Strong understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout composition.

• Proven ability to design for both print and digital applications, understanding the technical requirements for each.

• Experience in creating effective PowerPoint presentations and other presentation materials.

• Familiarity with working within established brand guidelines and maintaining brand consistency across all designs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with photo editing and color correction techniques.

• Familiarity with web design principles and user interface (UI) considerations.

• Knowledge of video editing software or animation principles.

• Experience in higher education marketing or communications.

• Understanding of social media visual trends and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "3+ years of experience" requirement, coupled with the bachelor's degree, positions this role as a step beyond entry-level. The emphasis on a "professional graphic design portfolio that represents past youth-facing design work" is a critical criterion, indicating that candidates need to demonstrate experience relevant to the target demographic of prospective students. This suggests that while the title is "Junior," the expectation is for a designer who can hit the ground running with minimal supervision on core tasks.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive professional graphic design portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a minimum of 3 years of relevant design work.

• The portfolio should prominently feature examples of "youth-facing design work," demonstrating an understanding of engaging a younger demographic, particularly prospective students.

• Include case studies or examples that illustrate the design process from concept to final output, highlighting problem-solving and strategic thinking.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how design projects were managed, from initial brief to final delivery, demonstrating an understanding of workflow and timeline adherence.

• Evidence of how brand guidelines were applied and maintained across multiple design projects.

• Demonstration of iterative design processes, including feedback incorporation and revisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "youth-facing design work" portfolio is a critical differentiator. This implies that candidates must not only possess strong design skills but also the ability to tailor their aesthetic and messaging to resonate with a student demographic, crucial for SNHU's enrollment and marketing efforts. This is a key aspect for evaluating a candidate's fit for GTM strategy support.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The annual pay range for this position is $53,156.00 - $85,068.00. The target hiring range is $58,738.00 - $79,470.00. The actual offer will be determined by skills, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and business considerations.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: High-quality medical insurance with low deductibles.

• Dental & Vision: Low to no-cost dental and vision plans.

• Paid Time Off: Generous 5 weeks of paid time off annually.

• Holidays: Approximately a dozen paid holidays per year.

• Retirement: Employer-funded retirement plan.

• Tuition Program: Comprehensive free tuition program for employees.

• Family Support: Parental leave benefits.

• Wellness: Access to mental health and wellbeing resources.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically requiring 40 hours per week. Remote employees must have a reliable internet connection and a dedicated, distraction-free workspace.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Junior Graphic Designer role with 3+ years of experience in the US market, especially for a fully remote position. The target hiring range indicates where the university typically aims to position offers. The benefits package is exceptionally strong, particularly the free tuition program and generous PTO, which are significant draws for employees in any field, including operations-adjacent creative roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education. Southern New Hampshire University is a large, non-profit institution focused on providing accessible and affordable education to learners worldwide.

Company Size: Over 180,000 learners served globally, with a significant and growing team of employees. This indicates a large, established organization with robust infrastructure and processes.

Founded: 1932. The university has a long history, suggesting a stable environment with established operational frameworks and a deep understanding of its student base.

Team Structure:

• The Junior Graphic Designer will likely be part of a larger Marketing or Communications department, working within a creative services team.

• This team is expected to be collaborative, supporting various university initiatives and reporting to a Creative Director or Design Manager.

Methodology:

• SNHU emphasizes a "people-centered strategy" and "progress with purpose," indicating a culture that values innovation, employee well-being, and a mission-driven approach.

• The design process will likely be data-informed, utilizing insights from marketing analytics to guide creative decisions and optimize campaign performance.

• A strong emphasis on brand consistency and adherence to established guidelines suggests a structured approach to creative development and quality control.

Company Website: https://www.snhu.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: SNHU's mission-driven approach in higher education is a key cultural differentiator. For a designer, this means contributing to a purpose beyond just commercial goals, which can be highly motivating. The scale of the university (180,000+ learners) implies a complex operational environment where design plays a critical role in student acquisition, engagement, and retention, directly impacting the university's "revenue" through enrollment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Junior Graphic Designer," typically indicating an early-career professional with 2-5 years of experience. It's a foundational role within the creative function, focusing on design execution and learning.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Graphic Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Creative Director, or potentially a Marketing Manager within the university's marketing or communications division.

Operations Impact: While not directly in a Revenue Operations or Sales Operations role, the graphic designer's work has a significant indirect impact on enrollment and revenue. Effective visual communications are crucial for attracting prospective students, conveying the value proposition of SNHU's programs, and supporting marketing campaigns that drive lead generation and conversion. High-quality design enhances brand perception, which is vital for a competitive educational institution.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specialized design software, explore new design trends, and gain experience in advanced areas like motion graphics or UI/UX design.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize in areas such as digital marketing design, web design, or branding for specific academic programs.

• Leadership Potential: With proven performance and expanded experience, progression to Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, or team lead roles within the creative department is possible.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Exposure to marketing strategy, campaign planning, and other functions within the broader marketing team can provide valuable GTM insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Junior" title combined with the 3+ year experience requirement suggests a role that offers significant learning and growth. The impact on enrollment numbers makes this a GTM-critical role, and success here can lead to opportunities to manage larger projects or lead design initiatives, aligning with career progression in creative operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This role operates entirely outside of a traditional office setting, requiring self-discipline and effective remote collaboration tools.

Office Location(s): Employees must reside and work from approved states within the United States (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming).

Workspace Context:

• Remote work necessitates strong self-management skills and the ability to maintain productivity without direct in-person supervision.

• Reliable internet connection and a dedicated, distraction-free workspace are mandatory requirements, crucial for effective design work and communication.

• Collaboration will primarily occur through digital channels, utilizing project management software, video conferencing, and instant messaging.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, typically 40 hours per week. While remote, adherence to deadlines and availability for team meetings and collaborative sessions during core working hours is expected. Flexibility may be offered within the constraints of project demands and team availability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of approved remote states indicates SNHU's commitment to a distributed workforce and its capacity to manage operations across different time zones and geographical locations. This broad reach is essential for attracting a diverse talent pool for roles that support their extensive student base.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of the resume and, critically, the portfolio to assess design skills, experience, and alignment with the "youth-facing" requirement.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on experience, design philosophy, problem-solving skills, and understanding of brand guidelines. Candidates may be asked about specific projects from their portfolio.

• Design Challenge/Task: A practical assignment to assess design skills, creative thinking, and ability to work within constraints (e.g., designing a social media graphic or email banner based on a brief).

• Team/Stakeholder Interview: Interaction with potential team members or key stakeholders (e.g., marketing managers) to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Possibly with a senior leader for final approval.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Effectively: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your skills in print, digital, and presentation design, with a clear emphasis on youth-facing work.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, the problem you solved, your creative process, and the outcome. Use visuals to support your narrative.

• Highlight Brand Adherence: If possible, include examples where you successfully worked within or adapted existing brand guidelines.

• Quantify Impact (If Possible): If any designs contributed to measurable results (e.g., increased engagement, click-through rates), mention these.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., a dedicated website, PDF) and professionally presented.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practice designing under timed conditions.

• Familiarize yourself with SNHU's current branding and marketing materials to understand their visual language.

• Be prepared to articulate your design choices and justify them based on project goals and target audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. The specific mention of "youth-facing design work" means candidates must tailor their portfolio submission and discussions to highlight these specific experiences. This is a critical gate for passing the initial screening and demonstrating relevance to SNHU's student acquisition efforts.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency required in Adobe Photoshop (image editing, manipulation), Adobe InDesign (layout, print design, digital publishing), and Adobe Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, illustrations).

• Sketch: Demonstrated experience with Sketch for UI/UX design and prototyping workflows.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: Proficiency in creating professional and visually engaging presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how design assets integrate into marketing automation platforms (e.g., email marketing software) and CRM systems is advantageous, though direct use may not be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The listed tools (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Sketch, PowerPoint) are standard for graphic designers. For a role supporting marketing efforts, understanding how these designs are deployed via email platforms or contribute to web presence is crucial for effective GTM execution.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• People-Centered: SNHU's core value emphasizes a focus on the needs and success of learners and employees. For a designer, this translates to creating inclusive, accessible, and user-friendly designs.

• Progress with Purpose: A commitment to innovation and continuous improvement, driving positive change in education. Designers are expected to contribute creative solutions that advance the university's mission.

• Inclusion & Diversity: Celebration of diverse perspectives and talents. Designers should be mindful of representation and accessibility in their visual work.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with others to achieve shared goals. Designers are part of a larger team and must communicate and integrate their work seamlessly.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers will work closely with marketing strategists, content writers, campaign managers, and potentially other departments to ensure design aligns with overall communication strategies and business objectives.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that values constructive feedback for design iteration and improvement. Designers should be open to critique and able to incorporate feedback effectively.

• Digital Communication: Reliance on digital tools for project management, communication, and file sharing, requiring clear and efficient online interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: SNHU's values of "People-Centered" and "Progress with Purpose" are strongly aligned with the mission of higher education. For a designer, this means their work directly contributes to student success and educational advancement, fostering a sense of purpose beyond commercial objectives. This is a key motivator for many in the education sector.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Effectively translating creative ideas within the strict framework of university brand guidelines.

• Managing Diverse Project Demands: Juggling multiple projects for different departments and campaigns simultaneously, each with unique requirements and deadlines.

• Adapting to Evolving Digital Trends: Staying current with fast-changing digital design trends and technologies to ensure SNHU's communications remain modern and engaging.

• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Maintaining strong communication and collaboration with team members and stakeholders across different locations and time zones.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to enhance skills in Adobe Suite, Sketch, and potentially explore new tools like After Effects or Figma.

• Industry Best Practices: Learning about the latest trends in higher education marketing and design, as well as general graphic design best practices.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining insights into marketing strategy, campaign planning, and student recruitment processes within the university.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Building a robust portfolio with diverse projects that can lead to Senior Designer roles or specialized design positions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of balancing creative freedom with strict brand guidelines is common in corporate and institutional design roles. For SNHU, this means the designer must be adept at understanding and applying a well-defined brand identity, a critical skill for large organizations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a project from your portfolio where you had to design for a specific, younger demographic. What were the key considerations, and how did you ensure your design resonated with them?" (Focus on youth-facing portfolio examples and audience analysis).

• "How do you approach staying within brand guidelines while still bringing a fresh creative perspective to your designs?" (Prepare examples of brand adherence and creative problem-solving).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Southern New Hampshire University specifically, and how do you see your design skills contributing to our mission of transforming lives through education?" (Research SNHU's mission, values, and target audience).

• "How do you handle receiving constructive criticism on your designs?" (Emphasize openness to feedback and iterative process).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each project, tell a brief story: the challenge, your solution, and the results.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is clean, easy to navigate, and showcases high-quality images of your work.

• Highlight Relevance: Explicitly point out how your "youth-facing" work aligns with SNHU's student demographic.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present key projects within a limited timeframe, focusing on the most impactful aspects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the portfolio. Candidates should be prepared to discuss not just the aesthetics but the strategic thinking behind their "youth-facing" designs and how those designs would contribute to SNHU's enrollment goals.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the SNHU career portal using the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio prominently features examples of youth-facing design work and diverse applications (print, digital, presentations). Tailor your selection to align with SNHU's brand and target audience.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to highlight your 3+ years of experience with Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Sketch. Quantify achievements where possible, especially if design work contributed to marketing campaign success.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, brand adherence strategies, and remote collaboration experience. Prepare to discuss specific projects from your portfolio in detail.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Southern New Hampshire University's mission, values, current marketing campaigns, and brand guidelines to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their context.

⚠️ 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.