Marketing Specialist and Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Marketing Specialist and Graphic Designer

Company: DOWN TO EARTH DISTRIBUTORS INC

Location: Eugene, Oregon, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing & Creative Operations

Date Posted: April 13, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the development and execution of marketing strategies and campaigns to drive sales growth.

• Create compelling and brand-aligned visual assets across print, digital, and social media platforms.

• Manage the end-to-end production of marketing collateral, including catalogs, packaging, advertising, and POS materials.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, and various internal teams to ensure cohesive brand messaging and support.

• Oversee vendor relationships for outsourced projects, managing timelines, budgets, and quality control.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a hybrid Marketing Specialist and Graphic Designer, indicating a need for both strategic marketing thinking and hands-on creative execution. The emphasis on collaboration with multiple departments and teams suggests a central operational role within the marketing function, requiring strong project management and communication skills to translate business objectives into effective marketing outputs.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive marketing strategies and campaigns tailored to increase sales for Fertilizer Production, Wholesale, and Retail divisions.

• Design, lay out, and produce a wide range of print and digital assets, including catalogs, packaging, advertisements, brochures, direct mail pieces, email campaigns, point-of-sale displays, and signage.

• Maintain and manage an organized inventory of all sales support materials, ensuring accuracy and relevance, and coordinating the creation of new materials as needed.

• Provide crucial marketing support for Wholesale and Retail Sales teams during their road travel, including collateral and presentation materials.

• Manage relationships with external vendors for outsourced design and production projects, including soliciting competitive bids, negotiating costs, and ensuring timely project completion.

• Assist in the creation, segmentation, and management of customer mailing lists for targeted marketing initiatives.

• Contribute to web content management efforts, ensuring brand consistency and up-to-date information on digital platforms.

• Support product and lifestyle photography initiatives, including planning, execution, and post-production editing.

• Design and manage marketing collateral and booth presence for trade shows, ensuring maximum brand visibility and lead generation opportunities.

• Participate actively in planning meetings, contributing insights and information to guide marketing direction and strategy.

• Manage multiple complex, long-term projects simultaneously alongside smaller, ad-hoc tasks, demonstrating flexibility in adapting to changing priorities and workloads.

• Maintain exceptional attention to detail across all marketing activities, from organizational tasks and deadline adherence to meticulous proofreading of all collateral.

📝 Enhancement Note: The breadth of responsibilities suggests this role requires a highly organized individual adept at juggling diverse tasks. The mention of "Fertilizer Production, Wholesale and Retail" divisions indicates a need for the candidate to understand and cater to distinct market segments and their unique marketing requirements.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field is strongly preferred. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressive work experience in a complex role that integrates marketing and design activities across various teams (e.g., Production, Sales, Procurement) within a time and deadline-sensitive environment. Content creation experience across social media platforms is highly desired. Web design experience is preferred.

Required Skills:

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in graphic design for print, digital, and social media.

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, specifically:

  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop

• Proficiency in WordPress for web content management.

• Strong understanding and practical application of Adobe Acrobat.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a high degree of effectiveness in interacting with Marketing, Sales, and Management teams.

• Proven ability to manage complex projects, adhere to strict deadlines, and maintain consistent attention to detail.

• Technical proficiency with Mac and Windows-based computers, including advanced file management and organization techniques.

• Strong command of grammar, syntax, and spelling in Standard English.

• Experience in creating and managing mailing lists.

Preferred Skills:

• Content creation experience across social media platforms.

• Web design experience.

• Experience in home and garden related endeavors (e.g., cooking, preserving, gardening) to inform creative direction.

• Photography skills (product and lifestyle).

• Experience with Trade Show design and marketing.

• Familiarity with Sage 100 ERP software.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5+ years of experience in a role that "sensibly integrates Marketing and design activities" highlights the need for a candidate who can bridge strategic marketing planning with creative execution, rather than being purely an order-taker for design requests. The preference for experience with home and garden endeavors suggests a desire for a candidate who can bring intrinsic understanding and passion to the company's product lines.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of five (5) years of professional design work demonstrating proficiency across print, digital, and social media channels.

• Include at least two (2) comprehensive marketing campaign examples that illustrate strategic thinking and successful execution from concept to completion.

• Present a minimum of three (3) diverse examples of collateral design (e.g., catalogs, brochures, packaging, POS) that highlight layout, typography, and brand consistency.

• Feature examples of social media content creation and campaign execution, if applicable.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of brand guidelines and the ability to consistently apply them across all design assets.

• Illustrate a structured approach to project management, from initial brief and concept development to final production and delivery, including timeline management.

• Showcase experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams (Marketing, Sales, Purchasing) to gather requirements and ensure alignment on marketing objectives.

• Provide examples of vendor management, including how competitive bids were solicited and projects were managed through completion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the dual nature of the role, the portfolio should not only showcase design skills but also evidence strategic marketing thinking and project management capabilities. Candidates should be prepared to speak to the process behind their work, not just the final output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (5-10 years), location in Eugene, OR, and the hybrid nature of the role (Marketing Specialist & Graphic Designer), a competitive salary range for this position is estimated to be between $60,000 and $85,000 annually. This estimate considers industry benchmarks for similar roles in the Pacific Northwest region and the specific technical and creative skills required.

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for employees and potentially dependents.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Including vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Such as a 401(k) with potential company match.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and conferences to enhance skills in design and marketing.

• Employee Discounts: On Down to Earth Distributors' products.

• Potential for Bonus Structures: Based on company and individual performance.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The role is on-site, requiring regular presence at the Eugene, OR office. While flexibility may be offered for specific project deadlines, consistent availability during core business hours is anticipated.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated using data from industry salary aggregators for Marketing Specialists and Graphic Designers with 5-10 years of experience in Oregon, factoring in the cost of living and typical benefit packages offered by companies of similar size and industry. This is a projection and actual compensation will be determined by the employer.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wholesale Distribution, with a focus on home and garden products, including fertilizers. This industry requires a strong understanding of product lifecycles, seasonal demands, and diverse customer bases (retailers, producers).

Company Size: Down to Earth Distributors Inc. is likely a medium-sized enterprise, given the need for specialized roles like this Marketing Specialist and Graphic Designer, suggesting a structured but potentially agile operational environment.

Founded: The company was founded prior to 2026, indicating a well-established presence in its market with a history of operations and customer relationships.

Team Structure:

• The Marketing Specialist and Graphic Designer will report to a Marketing Manager or Director, collaborating closely with the broader Marketing team.

• Significant day-to-day interaction is expected with the Wholesale and Retail Sales Departments, as well as the Purchasing Department, to align marketing efforts with sales targets and product availability.

Methodology:

• Marketing strategies will likely be data-informed, leveraging sales data, market trends, and customer feedback to guide campaign development and asset creation.

• Design processes will adhere to established brand guidelines while encouraging creative solutions to meet marketing objectives.

• Project management methodologies will be employed to ensure efficient workflow, timely delivery, and effective resource allocation across diverse projects.

• Collaboration will be a key methodology, fostering an environment where cross-departmental input is valued to achieve cohesive marketing outcomes.

Company Website: downtoearthdistributors.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry and focus on home and garden products suggest a culture that may value sustainability, natural products, and a connection to the earth, which should be reflected in the marketing materials. The need for collaboration across Production, Wholesale, and Retail implies a need for strong internal communication and process alignment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is an intermediate to senior-level individual contributor position. It requires a blend of specialized creative skills (Graphic Design) and broader marketing competencies (Strategy, Content Creation, Project Management). It's a critical function supporting revenue generation through effective marketing and sales enablement.

Reporting Structure: The position typically reports to a Marketing Manager or Director. This structure allows for strategic guidance while providing the autonomy to execute design and marketing tasks independently. The role also has significant dotted-line reporting or collaborative relationships with General Managers of the three core teams (Fertilizer Production, Wholesale, Retail).

Operations Impact: The Marketing Specialist and Graphic Designer has a direct impact on revenue by developing marketing collateral that drives sales, supporting sales teams with effective materials, and enhancing brand perception through compelling visual assets. Their work influences customer acquisition, retention, and overall market presence.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas such as digital marketing, social media strategy, packaging design, or trade show marketing.

• Leadership: Progress to a Marketing Manager role, overseeing campaigns, managing junior staff, and contributing more significantly to strategic planning.

• Cross-functional Advancement: Transition into broader marketing roles, product management, or sales enablement roles within the company, leveraging their understanding of sales and production processes.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities in new design software, digital marketing trends, and content creation techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a solid foundation for career growth within marketing and operations. The emphasis on collaboration and managing diverse projects provides exposure to various facets of the business, enhancing a candidate's overall value and potential for advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The work environment is on-site at the company's Eugene, Oregon location. This suggests a traditional office setting where in-person collaboration and team interaction are key.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located at 3030 Judkins Road, Eugene, OR 97403. This location in Eugene provides access to local amenities and a strong community base.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be a professional office environment conducive to focused design work and collaborative meetings.

• Access to necessary design software (Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress) and standard office equipment is assumed.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with marketing colleagues, sales representatives, and management will be frequent, fostering a dynamic and communicative atmosphere.

• The company's emphasis on a "clean and well-organized work area for a safe, clean and positive work environment" indicates a commitment to workplace standards.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, likely adhering to standard business hours (e.g., 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday). While the description mentions flexibility for complex projects, consistent attendance and availability during core working hours are expected for on-site staff.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is crucial for this role, as it facilitates the hands-on collaboration and direct communication needed for design and marketing initiatives, especially with sales and production teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of resumes and portfolios to assess qualifications and creative output. Candidates with strong portfolios showcasing relevant experience will be invited for an initial interview.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on experience, skills, and cultural fit. Expect questions about past projects, design process, marketing strategy contributions, and experience managing deadlines and vendors.

• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: A more in-depth review of the candidate's portfolio, potentially including a live presentation or a practical design challenge. This stage evaluates design proficiency, strategic thinking, and communication skills.

• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Marketing, Sales, and potentially Production to assess collaboration capabilities and understanding of business needs.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your design skills, marketing strategy input, and ability to deliver results. Prioritize projects that align with Down to Earth Distributors' industry (home & garden, distribution) if possible.

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (from brief to execution), the tools used, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Versatility: Include examples of print, digital, and social media assets, demonstrating your range. If you have web design or photography experience, include those as well.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your marketing efforts (e.g., increased engagement, lead generation, sales uplift).

• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to walk through your portfolio, explaining your design choices and strategic rationale concisely and engagingly.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge that might involve creating a marketing asset (e.g., a brochure, social media graphic, or email campaign concept) based on a specific brief.

• Practice articulating your design process and marketing strategy under time constraints.

• Review common marketing and design principles relevant to the home and garden sector.

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach developing marketing materials for different teams (Production, Wholesale, Retail).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be thorough, emphasizing both creative talent and the ability to integrate design with broader marketing and business objectives. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates process and results will be critical.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud:

  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and complex illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout and design of print collateral like catalogs, brochures, and packaging.
  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.

• WordPress: For web content management, updating website content, and potentially minor theme adjustments.

• Adobe Acrobat: For creating, editing, and managing PDF files.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Microsoft Office Programs: Essential for general productivity, including Word (document creation), Excel (data analysis, list management), and PowerPoint (presentations).

• Email Marketing Platforms: Familiarity with platforms for creating and managing email campaigns will be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools are centered around the Adobe Creative Suite, which is standard for graphic designers. Proficiency in WordPress for web content management is also a key requirement. Familiarity with ERP systems like Sage 100 is a plus, indicating a need to understand how marketing efforts integrate with business operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Attention to Detail: A strong emphasis on accuracy, organization, and proofreading in all marketing materials and tasks.

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Willingness to share ideas, provide and receive constructive feedback, and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

• Positive Attitude: Maintaining an upbeat and proactive demeanor, contributing to a positive work environment.

• Adaptability & Flexibility: Being open to changing duties, workloads, and directions as required by business needs.

• Integrity & Confidentiality: Respecting and protecting confidential business information and customer relationships.

• Efficiency & Productivity: Following through on tasks effectively, even when unsupervised, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively engaging with Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, and Production teams to ensure marketing efforts are aligned with business objectives and product realities.

• Open Communication: Encouraging the sharing of ideas and providing/accepting constructive feedback to foster continuous improvement in marketing strategies and design execution.

• Proactive Support: Providing timely and effective marketing support to sales teams and other departments as needed.

• Process Improvement: A willingness to contribute to enhancing workflows and processes within the marketing function and in collaboration with other departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values emphasize a blend of meticulous execution (attention to detail, integrity) and collaborative dynamism (teamwork, positive attitude, adaptability). This suggests a culture that values both individual contribution and collective success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Diverse Needs: Juggling the distinct marketing requirements of three different business units (Fertilizer Production, Wholesale, Retail) while maintaining brand consistency.

• Managing Multiple Projects: Effectively prioritizing and executing on a wide array of projects, from long-term strategic campaigns to immediate design requests, under tight deadlines.

• Vendor Management Complexity: Coordinating with external vendors for outsourced projects, ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and timely delivery.

• Adapting to Evolving Trends: Staying current with the latest design trends, digital marketing technologies, and social media best practices to ensure marketing efforts remain effective.

• Content Creation Demands: Fulfilling the desire for strong content creation skills across social media and other platforms, which may require continuous skill development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like digital marketing analytics, advanced graphic design techniques, video editing for marketing, or SEO for web content.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining deeper insights into the home and garden product industry, understanding consumer behavior, and market dynamics.

• Project Management Skills: Developing more robust project management capabilities through hands-on experience with complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Learning about the operational aspects of production, wholesale, and retail through close collaboration with those departments.

• Software Proficiency: Expanding technical skills with advanced features of Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, or exploring new marketing automation tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for growth by tackling diverse challenges that require continuous learning and adaptation. The company’s industry focus also provides a unique learning curve for those interested in the home and garden sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a marketing campaign you developed from concept to completion. What were the objectives, your strategy, the assets you created, and the results?" (Focus on process, strategy, and quantifiable outcomes).

• "How do you approach designing marketing collateral for different target audiences (e.g., B2B vs. B2C)? Provide an example." (Demonstrates understanding of market segmentation and tailored communication).

• "Walk us through your process for managing a complex design project with multiple stakeholders and a tight deadline. How do you ensure all requirements are met?" (Highlights project management, communication, and problem-solving skills).

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and marketing best practices? How have you applied new knowledge in a previous role?" (Assesses proactivity and continuous learning).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Down to Earth Distributors and our industry? What excites you about this role?" (Shows research and genuine interest).

• "How do you contribute to a positive team environment? Describe your approach to receiving and giving constructive feedback." (Assesses cultural fit and collaboration).

• "This role requires working with multiple departments. How do you ensure effective communication and alignment across teams with different priorities?" (Tests collaboration and stakeholder management).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the challenge, your solution (design and marketing strategy), and the outcome.

• Highlight Key Skills: Ensure your presentation demonstrates your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, print/digital design, and marketing strategy.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics whenever possible to showcase the effectiveness of your work.

• Be Enthusiastic and Concise: Present with energy and passion for your work, keeping your explanations clear and to the point.

• Tailor to DTE: Briefly explain how your skills and experience can benefit Down to Earth Distributors, referencing their industry and specific needs mentioned in the job description.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss specific examples that demonstrate your ability to integrate marketing strategy with graphic design execution, manage projects end-to-end, and collaborate effectively across departments. Your portfolio presentation should be a narrative of your problem-solving and creative process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Marketing Specialist and Graphic Designer position:

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

• Customize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 5+ years of integrated marketing and design experience, emphasizing achievements in areas such as campaign development, collateral production, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Adobe Creative Suite," "marketing strategy," "content creation," and "vendor management."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your portfolio to showcase 4-6 of your strongest and most relevant projects. Prioritize examples that demonstrate your design versatility (print, digital, social), strategic thinking, and project management capabilities. Be ready to articulate your process and quantify results.

• Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with Down to Earth Distributors, their products (fertilizers, home & garden), and their market position. Understand their brand aesthetic and identify how your skills can contribute to their specific business units (Production, Wholesale, Retail).

• Practice Your Pitch: Be prepared to discuss your experience confidently, articulate your design and marketing process, and explain how you would approach the challenges outlined in the job description. Practice presenting your portfolio and answering common interview questions related to strategy, collaboration, and problem-solving.

⚠️ 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.