Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: HDR

Location: Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, United States

Job Type: Full-time, Regular

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-05-13

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and execution of high-quality branded marketing materials across print, digital, proposal, and presentation platforms, significantly impacting HDR's regional market perception and visual sophistication.

• Partner closely with the Area Marketing Manager to enhance the visibility and overall market presence of HDR’s Minnesota and Wisconsin business development efforts through strategic design initiatives.

• Conceptualize and design a diverse range of marketing collateral, including proposals, interview presentations, social media campaigns, digital advertisements, email campaigns, event branding, infographics, and signage.

• Develop and maintain branded templates, PowerPoint presentation systems, proposal graphics, and visual asset libraries to ensure consistency, efficiency, and high quality across marketing materials, strictly adhering to HDR brand standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided description focuses on graphic design, the integration with "marketing and business development efforts" and "proposal design" suggests a strong connection to GTM (Go-To-Market) strategies. The role requires not just creative execution but also strategic thinking to elevate market perception and support sales objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design and implementation of comprehensive branding strategies for marketing collateral, ensuring alignment with HDR's corporate identity and regional objectives.

• Develop visually compelling narratives that translate complex technical information into easily understandable and engaging content for diverse audiences.

• Drive the creation of integrated social media and digital marketing campaign assets, ensuring visual consistency with HDR's strategic positioning.

• Research and implement industry best practices in proposal design, visual communication, digital engagement, and presentation strategies to continuously modernize HDR’s external marketing presence.

• Mentor and guide marketing staff on design principles, including branding, layout, typography, and visual hierarchy, fostering a culture of design excellence and establishing scalable design systems.

• Manage multiple design projects from conceptualization to completion, effectively balancing priorities, meeting deadlines, and maintaining meticulous quality control.

• Proactively research emerging technologies, design trends, and production techniques to enhance the quality and impact of HDR’s marketing materials and visual communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative leadership, mentorship, and strategic contribution, indicating a senior-level role expected to influence design direction and team development within the marketing function. The emphasis on "proposal design" and "interview presentations" directly links this role to supporting sales enablement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a strong preference for experience supporting the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction), professional services, or proposal-driven marketing environments.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, with an emphasis on PowerPoint for advanced presentation design.

• Demonstrated ability to design a wide variety of styles and formats, showcasing a keen eye for design details like typography, alignment, and hierarchy.

• A strong portfolio that clearly demonstrates extensive graphic design experience across print, digital, proposal, and presentation formats.

• Solid understanding of branding principles, visual storytelling, typography, layout systems, information hierarchy, and brand development.

• Excellent customer service, communication, and negotiation skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in creating proposal templates, interview presentations, infographics, social media campaigns, digital marketing assets, and branded collateral.

• Experience developing scalable graphic libraries, template systems, and branded asset management tools.

• Experience with video editing software such as Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition, including motion graphics and video editing capabilities.

• Familiarity with digital printing, offset printing, and color correction processes.

• Ability to coordinate complex design and production projects.

• Strong understanding of current digital marketing and social media trends and best practices.

• Ability to think strategically beyond design execution and contribute ideas that strengthen marketing effectiveness and brand perception.

• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating strong initiative, accountability, reliability, and ownership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills, strategic marketing understanding, and soft skills crucial for a senior role. The explicit mention of "proposal design" and "interview presentations" signals a significant GTM support component, requiring candidates to understand how design contributes to sales wins. The preference for AEC industry experience suggests a need for understanding complex technical concepts and translating them visually.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional graphic design experience.

• Demonstrations of sophisticated design capabilities across a range of formats including print materials, digital assets, proposals, and presentations.

• Case studies or examples of projects that illustrate the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, compelling visual narratives.

• Evidence of experience in developing and maintaining branded templates, PowerPoint presentation systems, and visual asset libraries.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase of ability to develop and adhere to design standards and brand guidelines for consistency and efficiency.

• Examples of workflow management for multiple design projects, demonstrating project planning, execution, and quality control from concept to completion.

• Documentation or examples of how new design trends, technologies, or production techniques were researched and implemented to improve marketing materials.

• Evidence of mentorship or guidance provided to team members on design principles and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are critical for this role, especially given the "Senior" title. Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate not just creative output but also their process for developing and managing design systems, their strategic thinking in supporting GTM efforts (proposals, presentations), and their ability to mentor others. The emphasis on translating complex technical information is key for an AEC firm.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $75,000 - $110,000 annually.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Senior Graphic Designers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area (including Saint Louis Park, MN) with 5-10 years of experience, particularly within the AEC or professional services sectors. Factors considered include the complexity of responsibilities, the need for specialized software proficiency (Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint), and the strategic nature of the role in supporting business development and marketing efforts. Regional cost of living and average salaries for similar roles in Minnesota were also consulted.

Benefits:

• Employee Ownership: HDR is an employee-owned company, meaning employees have a stake in the company's success, leading to potential profit sharing and a strong sense of shared purpose.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans designed to support employee well-being.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) plan with company match to aid in long-term financial planning.

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

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continued learning, training, and attendance at industry conferences, including support for acquiring new design skills or certifications.

• Wellness Programs: Initiatives and resources aimed at promoting employee health and well-being.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and professional challenges.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, HDR may offer some flexibility in daily start and end times, subject to team and project needs, ensuring operational coverage and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate due to the absence of specific data. The benefits are inferred from typical offerings at large, employee-owned professional services firms like HDR, with a particular emphasis on employee ownership as a key differentiator. The working hours are based on standard full-time employment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC), Infrastructure, Consulting Services. HDR is a global leader in consulting, engineering, architecture, environmental, and construction services. The company plays a vital role in shaping resilient, sustainable, and forward-thinking communities worldwide.

Company Size: HDR is a large organization, likely employing thousands of individuals globally. This size suggests a robust infrastructure for operations, extensive resources, and opportunities for cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: HDR was founded in 1917, indicating a long history of stability, expertise, and evolution within its industries. This longevity implies a strong foundation of established processes and a culture that values experience and long-term vision.

Team Structure:

• Marketing Department: The Senior Graphic Designer will likely be part of a regional or area marketing team, potentially reporting to an Area Marketing Manager. This team would include marketing specialists, business development professionals, and potentially other designers or support staff.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Operations in this context involves close collaboration with technical disciplines (engineers, architects), business development managers, proposal coordinators, and project managers to create materials that effectively communicate HDR's capabilities and project successes.

• Reporting Structure: The role likely reports to a Marketing Manager or Director, who oversees regional marketing strategies and operations.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While a creative role, the emphasis on "elevating market perception," supporting "business development efforts," and creating "compelling visual storytelling" suggests a data-informed approach to design, where visuals are strategically used to achieve specific business objectives.

• Process Optimization: The responsibility to "develop and maintain branded templates, PowerPoint presentation systems, proposal graphics, visual asset libraries and design standards that improve consistency, efficiency and overall quality" points to a focus on process improvement and standardization within marketing operations.

• Automation & Efficiency: The mention of "scalable design systems" and leveraging "emerging technologies" hints at an interest in using tools and processes that enhance efficiency and output quality.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context provides a backdrop for understanding the operational environment. HDR's size and industry suggest a well-defined marketing structure, with a strong emphasis on supporting technically complex projects through visual communication. The employee-owned model fosters a unique culture of engagement and shared responsibility, which impacts team dynamics and collaboration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Graphic Designer. This level signifies a highly skilled individual contributor with significant experience, expected to lead complex design projects, mentor junior staff, and contribute strategically to marketing and business development efforts. The role demands a proactive approach, ownership, and the ability to influence design direction.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will likely report to an Area Marketing Manager or a similar leadership role within the marketing department. They will collaborate closely with business development teams, project managers, and technical professionals across various disciplines within the Minnesota/Wisconsin region.

Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer's impact is directly tied to enhancing HDR's brand reputation, supporting successful proposal submissions and client presentations, and improving the overall effectiveness of marketing communications. This role plays a crucial part in GTM success by ensuring visually compelling and persuasive collateral that helps win new business and strengthen client relationships.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into a Lead Graphic Designer role, Art Director position, or manage a small design team, taking on more strategic and supervisory responsibilities.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as proposal graphics, digital marketing design, motion graphics, or brand strategy within the AEC industry.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Potential to transition into broader marketing roles, project management, or even client-facing roles that leverage strong communication and visual representation skills.

• Continuous Learning: Access to training, workshops, and industry conferences to stay abreast of design trends, software advancements, and marketing best practices, fostering ongoing professional development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a trajectory beyond individual contribution, with potential for leadership and strategic influence within the marketing operations of HDR. The focus on GTM support means that success in this role can directly translate into career advancement opportunities within the sales and marketing functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota. This suggests a traditional office setting where collaboration and in-person interaction are valued. The environment is likely professional and geared towards supporting a large, distributed workforce.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Saint Louis Park, MN. This location is part of the broader Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, offering access to a vibrant business community and amenities. Specific details about the office layout or amenities would be best confirmed directly with HDR.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires close collaboration with marketing managers, business development teams, and technical professionals, suggesting an open or semi-open office layout that facilitates easy communication and teamwork.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite), presentation software (PowerPoint), and potentially project management or asset management tools. The company's commitment to staying current with technology implies a well-equipped workspace.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and informal discussions to ensure alignment on design projects and marketing strategies.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically 40 hours per week. While on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily work hours, but the emphasis is on consistent presence for in-person collaboration and project support, especially for time-sensitive GTM activities like proposal deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is key here. For operations roles, this means candidates should be prepared for a structured work environment that prioritizes face-to-face collaboration, which is often essential for complex project coordination and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and resumes, focusing on minimum qualifications and relevant experience, particularly the years of experience and software proficiency.

• Portfolio Review: A critical stage where candidates will be asked to present their portfolio. This will likely involve a discussion with the hiring manager or a senior marketing team member to assess design quality, strategic thinking, and relevance to HDR's work. Be prepared to walk through specific projects, explaining your role, design choices, and the impact of your work.

• Skills Assessment/Technical Interview: May involve a design challenge or a more in-depth discussion about specific software capabilities, design principles, and problem-solving approaches. For this role, expect questions related to proposal design, translating technical information, and branding.

• Behavioral/Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager and potentially team members to assess collaboration style, leadership potential, problem-solving skills, and alignment with HDR's employee-owner culture and values.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and strategic contributions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience in AEC, proposal design, presentation development, social media graphics, and translating complex information.

• Showcase Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, your specific role, the tools used, and the measurable outcome or impact (e.g., proposal win rate improvement, increased engagement).

• Highlight Process: Explain your design process, from initial concept and research to execution and final delivery. This is crucial for demonstrating senior-level thinking.

• Tailor to HDR: If possible, include examples that resonate with HDR's industry and values. Research their recent projects and marketing campaigns.

• High-Quality Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. This is your primary sales tool.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a timed design task, likely involving creating marketing collateral (e.g., a social media graphic, a presentation slide, or a conceptual layout) based on provided information or a hypothetical scenario. Focus on speed, adherence to brand guidelines, and clarity.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Practice articulating how you would approach a design request with limited information, tight deadlines, or conflicting feedback.

• Brand Application: Be ready to discuss how you would apply HDR's brand guidelines to new materials and ensure consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process for a senior creative role heavily relies on the portfolio. Candidates need to demonstrate not only technical skill but also strategic thinking and the ability to align their work with business objectives, particularly in the context of GTM support for an AEC firm.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency required in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating a wide range of graphic assets.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: Advanced skills are mandatory for designing sophisticated and compelling presentations, including templates and branded content.

• Adobe Premiere Pro & After Effects: Preferred skills for motion graphics, video editing, and dynamic visual content creation.

• Adobe Audition: Preferred for audio editing if video production is involved.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) might be advantageous for understanding how digital marketing assets are deployed and tracked. Experience with digital asset management (DAM) systems could also be relevant for maintaining branded asset libraries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily skewed towards creative production tools. For operations professionals evaluating this role, it's important to note the emphasis on standard design software, with a clear indication of preferred video and motion graphics tools. This role is about creating the visual assets that marketing and sales teams use.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Employee Ownership: A core value at HDR, fostering a sense of shared responsibility, accountability, and collective success among all employees. This translates to a culture where everyone is invested in the company's performance and reputation.

• Inclusion and Respect: HDR actively promotes an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and everyone is empowered to contribute their authentic selves and ideas.

• Excellence and Innovation: A commitment to delivering high-quality work, pushing creative boundaries, and embracing new technologies and design trends to enhance their offerings.

• Collaboration and Teamwork: Encouraging cross-functional cooperation and mutual support to achieve common goals, essential for tackling complex projects in the AEC industry.

• Impact-Driven: A focus on making a positive difference in communities through their work, aligning design efforts with the company's mission to shape sustainable and resilient futures.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The Senior Graphic Designer will work closely with marketing, business development, and technical teams, requiring strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate design concepts effectively to non-designers.

• Feedback and Iteration: A culture that encourages constructive feedback and iterative design processes to refine materials and ensure they meet project objectives.

• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to share design expertise, best practices, and insights with colleagues, contributing to a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the marketing team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on employee ownership and inclusion is a significant cultural differentiator for HDR. Operations professionals should consider how these values translate into daily work, team dynamics, and decision-making processes, especially when interacting with other departments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Technical Complexity: A primary challenge will be simplifying highly technical and complex information from engineering and architecture projects into visually accessible and engaging content for diverse audiences.

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Creative Expression: Maintaining strict adherence to HDR's brand guidelines while also delivering innovative and impactful designs that stand out in a competitive market.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholder Needs: Juggling design requests and feedback from various internal stakeholders (marketing, business development, project managers, technical experts) with potentially competing priorities.

• Adapting to Evolving Design Trends and Technologies: Continuously learning and integrating new design tools, software features, and digital marketing best practices to keep HDR's visual communications current and effective.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in motion graphics, video editing, or explore new design software and plugins.

• Industry Best Practices: Access to workshops, webinars, and potentially conferences focused on AEC marketing, proposal design, and visual communication strategies.

• Mentorship Programs: Potential for mentorship from senior marketing leaders or experienced design professionals within HDR to guide career growth and skill development.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to take on leadership roles in projects, mentor junior designers, and contribute to strategic marketing initiatives, paving the way for career advancement into management or specialized creative leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for a strategic, adaptable, and technically proficient designer. The growth opportunities suggest a company that invests in its employees' development, offering clear paths for advancement within specialized creative or leadership tracks.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a visually compelling proposal for a major infrastructure project, considering the technical complexity and the need to differentiate HDR from competitors?" (Focus on process, visual storytelling, and understanding client needs.)

• "Describe a time you had to translate complex technical information into an easily understandable graphic or infographic. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight problem-solving, clarity, and impact.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about HDR, and how do you see your skills contributing to our mission of shaping communities?" (Show research into HDR's work and values.)

• "HDR is an employee-owned company. How do you think this culture might influence your work and collaboration style?" (Reflect on shared responsibility and teamwork.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the objective, your role, the challenge, your solution (design process), and the results/impact.

• Quantify Success: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement rates, proposal win percentages, positive client feedback).

• Highlight GTM Relevance: Emphasize projects that directly supported sales or business development, such as proposals, presentations, or campaigns designed to generate leads.

• Showcase Technical Translation: Clearly point out examples where you simplified complex information.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your software proficiency, design rationale, and problem-solving approach in detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for a Senior Graphic Designer role at a company like HDR requires a strong focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, GTM support capabilities, and the ability to translate complex technical information visually. The portfolio is paramount, and candidates should be ready to articulate the business impact of their creative work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the HDR careers portal at https://hdr.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=193097&lang=en.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight the required 5+ years of experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and PowerPoint, and any experience within the AEC or professional services industries. Emphasize achievements related to proposal design, presentation development, and visual storytelling.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Develop a robust portfolio that showcases your best work across print, digital, proposal, and presentation formats. Ensure it includes examples of how you’ve translated complex information visually and supported business development efforts. Be prepared to present this portfolio confidently.

• Research HDR: Thoroughly investigate HDR's projects, services, and company culture. Understand their branding and how your design philosophy can align with their mission and values, particularly their employee-owned model and commitment to community impact.

• Prepare for Design Challenges: Practice creating design assets under time constraints and familiarize yourself with HDR's brand guidelines to demonstrate your ability to apply them effectively.

⚠️ 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.