Lead Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Graphic Designer

Company: The J (JCC Main - SFC)

Location: St. Louis, MO

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Marketing / Creative Operations

Date Posted: November 3, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the visual design and creative execution of all marketing and communications materials across the organization, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand presence.

• Translate complex messaging and strategic initiatives into compelling visual narratives that resonate with target audiences across both print and digital channels.

• Develop and produce high-quality creative assets that support diverse campaigns, programs, events, and ongoing organizational objectives, driving engagement and brand recognition.

• Maintain and elevate the organization's brand identity, visual standards, and design systems, ensuring consistency and a professional aesthetic across all touchpoints.

• Collaborate closely with marketing and communications teams to align visual execution with strategic messaging, acting as a key partner in campaign development and creative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw description focuses on graphic design, this role inherently involves elements of creative operations. The Lead Graphic Designer will be responsible for establishing and enforcing design systems, managing creative workflows, and ensuring the efficient production of visual assets, which are core functions of operations within marketing and communications departments. The emphasis on "operations team members" in file handoff and "efficiency" in template development further supports this classification.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end design execution for all print and digital marketing and communications collateral.

• Conceptualize and translate strategic messaging and content into clear, effective, and on-brand visual designs that capture attention and convey key information.

• Create a wide range of dynamic creative assets for integrated marketing campaigns, special programs, organizational events, and broader institutional initiatives.

• Diligently uphold and enforce brand identity guidelines, visual standards, and established design systems across all creative deliverables to ensure a unified and recognizable brand voice.

• Provide expert creative direction on elements such as layout, typography, color palette, and visual composition to significantly elevate the overall quality and impact of design output.

• Actively partner with marketing and communications professionals throughout the campaign development lifecycle, contributing creative insights and ensuring seamless visual execution.

• Design and develop reusable templates and scalable visual systems to enhance design consistency, streamline production workflows, and improve overall operational efficiency.

• Rigorously review all creative deliverables to ensure adherence to brand guidelines, quality benchmarks, and digital accessibility standards.

• Support the design needs for event signage, promotional materials, and environmental graphics, contributing to immersive brand experiences.

• Effectively manage a diverse portfolio of multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and meeting demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Conduct thorough reviews and final sign-offs on all design work before distribution or handoff to production teams.

• Collaborate closely with production and operations teams to ensure accurate file preparation, correct asset specifications, and readiness for final execution across various media.

• Offer proactive creative problem-solving support to assist campaign and content development teams in overcoming visual communication challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed clearly indicate a leadership role in design execution and brand stewardship. The emphasis on collaboration with "production and operations team members" for file handoff and the mention of developing "templates and visual systems to improve design consistency and efficiency" highlight the operational aspects of managing creative output.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Visual Communications, or a closely related field is preferred. Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive professional experience in graphic design, with a proven track record of delivering high-quality visual assets for marketing and communications. Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating and manipulating a wide array of visual assets.

• Typography & Layout Expertise: Deep understanding of typographic principles, layout design, visual composition, and visual hierarchy to create aesthetically pleasing and functional designs.

• Brand Identity Management: Strong ability to understand, interpret, and consistently apply brand standards and visual identity guidelines across all platforms.

• Digital & Print Design: Demonstrated experience in designing effective assets for both digital channels (web, social media, email) and print media (brochures, flyers, signage).

• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple design projects concurrently, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet strict deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design concepts and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Visual Problem-Solving: Capacity to translate abstract messaging and strategic objectives into clear, compelling, and effective visual designs.

Preferred Skills:

• Campaign Design Experience: Prior experience working within campaign-based marketing environments or supporting multi-departmental initiatives.

• System Design: Experience in developing and implementing design systems or comprehensive visual style guides.

• Photography & Videography: Familiarity or hands-on experience with photography and/or videography, including shooting, editing, or directing.

• Accessibility Standards: Understanding of WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and other accessibility standards for digital design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "brand standards," "visual consistency," and "design systems" points to the operational requirement of maintaining a unified brand voice. The need to manage "multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously" also underscores the project management and operational efficiency aspects of the role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive digital portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional graphic design work, with a strong emphasis on marketing and communications projects.

• Diverse examples demonstrating expertise in both print and digital design applications, highlighting versatility across different media.

• Case studies or detailed project descriptions that illustrate the design process, from initial concept development to final execution, including problem-solving and strategic thinking.

• Evidence of successful application and adherence to brand guidelines, demonstrating an understanding of maintaining visual consistency and brand integrity.

• Examples of template creation or system design that showcase an ability to improve design efficiency and scalability for an organization. Process Documentation:

• The portfolio should implicitly or explicitly demonstrate an understanding of design workflow management, including project initiation, concept development, stakeholder feedback integration, revision cycles, and final asset delivery.

• Evidence of creating reusable design assets or systems that contribute to process optimization and efficiency within a marketing or communications department.

• Examples of how designs have been adapted for various platforms or campaigns, showing an ability to manage variations and ensure brand consistency across different applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Graphic Designer role, a robust portfolio is paramount. It serves as a direct indicator of their ability to execute on visual strategy and manage design projects efficiently. The expectation for demonstrating process and system thinking within the portfolio is crucial for assessing their operational capabilities in managing creative output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $65,000 - $65,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to support employee well-being.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Opportunities for long-term financial planning, potentially with employer matching.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay to ensure work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and conferences to enhance design skills and stay current with industry trends.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Financial protection for employees and their families.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time commitment, typically 40 hours per week. While adherence to a regular schedule is expected, occasional flexibility may be required to meet critical project deadlines or event support needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary is specific. The benefits listed are standard for a full-time role of this nature and experience level in the US market. The "40 hours per week" aligns with a typical on-site role, with the caveat for potential deadline-driven flexibility, which is common in creative fields.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Non-profit / Community Services (Jewish Community Center)

Company Size: The provided data doesn't specify exact employee count but implies a structured organization with distinct departments (Marketing, Communications, Production, Operations). The presence of multiple locations ("JCC Main (SFC)") suggests a moderately sized to large non-profit entity.

Founded: Information not provided, but the "J" likely refers to a long-standing institution within its community.

Team Structure:

• The Lead Graphic Designer will report to marketing or communications leadership, functioning as the primary creative visual asset generator.

• This role requires close collaboration with marketing and communications staff, production teams, and potentially other operational departments for asset deployment.

• The structure emphasizes a collaborative environment where creative output directly supports broader organizational initiatives and campaigns. Methodology:

• The design team operates with a focus on translating organizational messaging into impactful visual communications.

• Emphasis is placed on maintaining brand integrity and consistency across all creative outputs.

• A data-informed approach to design may be employed, where visual choices are considered for their effectiveness in engagement and communication, though the primary focus remains on visual design and brand execution.

Company Website: jccstl.com (derived from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the non-profit context is crucial. This often means a mission-driven culture where creativity serves a community purpose. The "J" designation points to a Jewish Community Center, implying a focus on community engagement, programming, and potentially cultural events, all of which require strong visual support.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is classified as a "Lead" role, indicating a senior individual contributor level. It requires not only strong design skills but also the ability to guide creative output, ensure brand consistency, and manage project workflows efficiently. It sits above entry-level or mid-level designer roles and suggests a potential stepping stone to a Creative Director or Design Manager position if such roles exist within the organization.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Graphic Designer will likely report to a Marketing Director, Communications Manager, or a similar leadership role. This position will collaborate extensively with marketing specialists, content creators, and event planners. There will be a direct partnership with production and operations teams for asset delivery.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant in shaping the organization's public perception and the effectiveness of its outreach. By ensuring clear, compelling, and on-brand visual communications, the Lead Graphic Designer directly influences:

• Brand Recognition & Trust: Consistent, high-quality visuals build credibility and recognition.

• Campaign Effectiveness: Strong design drives engagement with marketing campaigns, programs, and events.

• Operational Efficiency: Well-designed templates and systems streamline the creation and deployment of materials.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Professional visuals enhance communication with members, donors, volunteers, and the wider community.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific design areas (e.g., digital UX/UI, motion graphics, environmental design) through project work and professional development.

• Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to optimize the design workflow, implement new design tools, or enhance brand guideline documentation.

• Mentorship: Potentially mentor junior designers or interns, developing leadership and coaching skills.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Gain broader experience by contributing to the visual strategy of diverse organizational initiatives and collaborating with various departments.

• Advancement: With proven success and demonstrated leadership, potential to move into a Creative Director or Design Manager role if opportunities arise within the organization's growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title implies a focus on operational excellence in design execution, not just creative output. Growth opportunities should highlight how this role can contribute to improving processes and potentially leading small teams or projects, aligning with operational development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site at JCC Main (SFC) in St. Louis, MO. This suggests a professional office setting within a community center facility.

Office Location(s): The primary location is JCC Main (SFC) at 2 Millstone Campus Rd., St. Louis, MO 63146.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, with regular interaction with marketing, communications, and potentially event planning staff.

• Access to standard office technology and design software (Adobe Creative Suite) is a given. The environment will likely support creative brainstorming and team feedback sessions.

• Opportunities to interact with various departments will be frequent, as design supports all organizational initiatives.

• The setting within a community center may offer a dynamic and people-focused atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The role is structured as full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with an on-site presence required. While core hours will be established, the nature of creative project deadlines might necessitate occasional flexibility to ensure timely delivery of critical assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being on-site at a community center implies a unique environment that is both professional and community-oriented. The design work will directly serve the center's mission and members, offering a tangible connection to the impact of the creative output.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications and resumes to assess qualifications and experience alignment. A strong portfolio link is essential at this stage.

• Portfolio Review & Creative Challenge: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, their design process, and how they translate messaging into visual solutions. A practical design challenge or case study related to the organization's needs may be assigned.

• Interviews with Hiring Team: Discussions with the hiring manager (likely Marketing/Communications leadership) and potentially key collaborators from marketing, communications, or production teams. These interviews will assess technical skills, creative approach, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: May involve a higher-level manager or committee to confirm suitability and discuss final terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your ability to meet the responsibilities outlined, especially those involving brand consistency, campaign execution, and diverse media (print and digital).

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your conceptual approach, design challenges, problem-solving steps, and the final outcome. Highlight any contributions to efficiency or brand integrity.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, successful event attendance, positive feedback).

• Highlight Brand Work: Include examples of how you've worked with or established brand guidelines. Given the "Lead" title, show examples of establishing or refining visual systems.

• Tailor to The J: If possible, include a speculative design concept or a discussion of how you would approach designing for a community organization like The J, demonstrating your understanding of their mission.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Mission: Research The J's mission, values, current campaigns, and target audience.

• Anticipate Design Briefs: Be prepared for a challenge that might involve creating a visual concept for an upcoming event, program, or campaign, requiring you to translate messaging into design.

• Focus on Brand Adherence: Demonstrate your ability to work within or propose extensions of existing brand guidelines.

• Consider Accessibility: Be mindful of accessibility standards in any digital design aspects of the challenge.

• Prepare to Articulate: Be ready to clearly explain your design choices, rationale, and process under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the cornerstone for this role. The interview process will heavily rely on assessing the candidate's ability to not just create beautiful designs but to manage the creative process, ensure brand integrity, and contribute to operational efficiency through well-executed visual assets.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for all aspects of graphic design and asset creation.

• Adobe Acrobat Pro: For PDF creation, editing, and ensuring print-ready files with proper specifications.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary responsibility, familiarity with how design impacts digital analytics (e.g., click-through rates on digital ads, engagement on social media graphics) would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp) utilize email templates and visual assets is advantageous. Other Potentially Useful Tools:

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing design projects and deadlines.

• Cloud Storage & Collaboration: Experience with platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive for file sharing and version control.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Exposure to DAM systems for organizing and retrieving creative assets would be a plus.

• Prototyping Tools: Basic familiarity with tools like Figma or Sketch could be helpful for digital design mockups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite. Any exposure to project management or asset management tools enhances the operational efficiency aspect of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to producing high-quality, polished design work that meets or exceeds organizational standards.

• Brand Stewardship: A deep respect for and dedication to maintaining the integrity and consistency of the organization's visual identity.

• Collaboration & Communication: Valuing open dialogue, constructive feedback, and seamless teamwork with marketing, communications, and production departments.

• Efficiency & Organization: An appreciation for structured workflows, timely delivery, and the development of systems that streamline the creative process.

• Mission Alignment: A desire to use design skills to support and advance the organization's community-focused mission.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Working closely with marketing and communications teams as a strategic partner, not just an order-taker.

• Feedback-Driven: Open to receiving and providing constructive feedback to improve creative outcomes and processes.

• Proactive Problem-Solving: Identifying potential design or communication challenges early and proposing creative solutions.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamlessly integrating design efforts with other departments to ensure cohesive campaign execution and organizational messaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture within a non-profit like The J is likely to be mission-driven and community-focused. The operations values will emphasize reliability, quality, and collaborative support for the organization's goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Effectively pushing creative boundaries while strictly adhering to established brand guidelines and accessibility standards.

• Managing Competing Priorities: Juggling multiple design requests from various departments with differing deadlines and levels of urgency.

• Translating Diverse Messaging: Converting a wide range of organizational messages, from programmatic updates to fundraising appeals, into visually compelling and appropriate designs.

• Adapting to Evolving Digital Trends: Staying current with the latest design trends and technologies in digital media while maintaining brand consistency.

• Resource Management: Potentially working with limited resources in a non-profit setting, requiring creative problem-solving and efficient use of time and tools.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to enhance skills in specific Adobe Suite applications or explore new creative software.

• Brand Strategy Workshops: Deeper dives into brand development, visual identity systems, and brand management.

• Digital Design Best Practices: Learning about UX/UI principles, web design trends, and accessible digital content creation.

• Project Management Skills: Development in workflow optimization, prioritization techniques, and time management for creative projects.

• Industry Conferences: Attending design conferences to gain inspiration, network, and learn about emerging trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for strong operational and problem-solving skills in addition to creative talent. Growth opportunities should focus on enhancing both creative expertise and operational efficiency.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate a complex message into a simple, effective visual design. What was your process?" (Focus on translating messaging, problem-solving)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a wide range of marketing materials, especially when working with multiple stakeholders?" (Focus on brand stewardship, collaboration, process)

• "Walk me through a project where you developed a reusable design template or system. What was the impact on efficiency?" (Focus on operational impact, efficiency, system thinking)

• "How do you prioritize design requests when faced with multiple urgent deadlines from different departments?" (Focus on project management, prioritization, operational workflow) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for The J, and how do you see your design skills supporting our community mission?" (Focus on mission alignment, cultural fit)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative relationship with marketing and communications teams." (Focus on collaboration style, team dynamics)

• "How do you stay updated on current design trends and incorporate them while maintaining brand integrity?" (Focus on continuous learning, adaptability) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative: the challenge, your approach, the execution, and the result.

• Highlight Operational Contributions: For each relevant project, explicitly mention how your work contributed to brand consistency, efficiency (e.g., templates), or improved communication.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly articulate your step-by-step design process, including how you incorporate feedback and manage revisions.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, provide data or qualitative feedback that shows the success of your designs.

• Be Prepared for Specifics: Anticipate questions about specific tools used, challenges encountered, and how you overcame them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should emphasize the "Lead" aspect of the role – demonstrating not just design prowess but also an understanding of process, efficiency, and brand management in an operational context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application via the provided Paycom link, ensuring your resume and a direct link to your online portfolio are included.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature work that demonstrates your experience in brand consistency, print and digital campaign execution, and any examples of creating templates or visual systems that improved efficiency.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Adobe Creative Suite," "brand standards," "project management," "visual hierarchy," "print and digital design," and "creative execution." Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and how you ensure brand integrity. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions related to managing deadlines and collaborating with teams.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research The J (JCC St. Louis), understanding its mission, programs, and target audience. Consider how your design approach would align with their community-focused goals.

⚠️ 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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