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: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-05-13T07:04:41

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, aiming to elevate the overall visual sophistication and market perception of HDR’s regional marketing efforts.

• Partner closely with the Area Marketing Manager to enhance visibility and market perception of HDR’s MN/WI marketing and business development initiatives.

• Conceptualize and design a wide array of materials including proposals, interview presentations, social media campaigns, digital advertisements, email campaigns, conference materials, event branding, infographics, signage, and other client-facing collateral.

• Develop and maintain branded templates, PowerPoint presentation systems, proposal graphics, visual asset libraries, and design standards to improve consistency, efficiency, and overall quality across the marketing team, while adhering strictly to HDR brand guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Graphic Designer, implying a need for strategic input beyond execution. The emphasis on "elevating visual sophistication" and "partnering closely with the Area Marketing Manager" suggests a consultative aspect where the designer influences marketing strategy through visual communication. The role is deeply embedded within marketing operations, focusing on the creation and standardization of collateral that supports business development efforts, particularly in proposal and presentation contexts common in the AEC/professional services industry.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization and design of diverse marketing collateral, including proposals, interview presentations, social media campaigns, digital advertisements, email campaigns, event branding, infographics, signage, and other client-facing materials.

• Develop and maintain branded templates, PowerPoint presentation systems, proposal graphics, visual asset libraries, and design standards to ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality across all marketing outputs, aligning with HDR's established brand guidelines.

• Create compelling visual storytelling and graphics that effectively simplify complex technical information into engaging, easily understandable content for diverse audiences.

• Support integrated social media and digital marketing campaigns by producing graphics and branded content aligned with HDR’s strategic positioning and online engagement efforts.

• Research and implement best practices in proposal design, visual communication, digital engagement, and presentation strategy to modernize and enhance HDR’s external-facing marketing presence.

• Mentor and support marketing staff on branding, layout, typography, visual hierarchy, and effective graphic communication, contributing to the establishment of best practices and scalable design systems across the region.

• Plan, manage, and deliver design projects from concept to completion, effectively balancing multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining high quality control and meticulous attention to detail.

• Research emerging technologies, design trends, and production techniques to continuously improve HDR’s marketing materials and visual communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and strategic operational support. The emphasis on "scalable design systems," "branded templates," and "mentoring marketing staff" indicates a responsibility for process improvement and knowledge transfer within the marketing function, aligning with operations principles. The expectation to "simplify complex technical information" points to a critical function in translating technical offerings into accessible marketing assets.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

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

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Strong PowerPoint presentation design skills, including template development and advanced formatting.

• Demonstrated ability to design a wide variety of materials across print and digital mediums.

• Keen eye for design details, including typography, alignment, visual hierarchy, and color theory.

• A robust portfolio showcasing sophisticated design capabilities across print, digital, proposal, and presentation formats.

• Solid understanding of branding principles, brand development, visual storytelling, and communications strategy.

• Proficiency in customer service, with strong communication, negotiation, flexibility, and time management skills.

• Detail-oriented approach with a strong aptitude for project management and teamwork.

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

Preferred Skills:

• Experience 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 Premiere Pro, After Effects, motion graphics, and video editing.

• Experience with audio editing software like Audition.

• 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 from concept through final delivery while managing projects with minimal oversight.

• A proactive and quality-driven mindset, motivated by continuously elevating the quality, consistency, and impact of HDR’s marketing and branding efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize core design competencies and software proficiency, while the preferred skills introduce elements of strategic thinking, advanced multimedia capabilities, and experience in proposal-centric environments, which are critical for bridging creative output with business development objectives. The mention of "strategic campaigns" and "think strategically beyond design execution" points to an expectation of contributing to the broader marketing strategy, a key aspect of senior-level operations roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a minimum of 5 years of professional graphic design experience, with specific emphasis on work relevant to proposal development, marketing collateral, and digital campaigns.

• Showcase a range of design styles and mediums, including print, digital, presentations, infographics, and social media assets, highlighting adaptability and breadth of skill.

• Include case studies or examples that illustrate the design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of design on marketing objectives or business outcomes, particularly within the AEC or professional services sectors.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating and managing design templates, PowerPoint systems, and visual asset libraries that standardize and streamline the creation of marketing materials.

• Examples of how design processes were optimized for efficiency, quality, and brand adherence in previous roles, particularly in fast-paced, proposal-driven environments.

• Documentation or examples of how complex technical information was translated into visually digestible and engaging content, showcasing an understanding of information hierarchy and audience engagement.

• Showcase an ability to manage multiple design projects concurrently, demonstrating project planning, timeline management, and quality control processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Graphic Designer role, particularly one heavily involved in marketing operations and business development support, a portfolio is crucial. The emphasis should be on demonstrating not just aesthetic skill but also process efficiency, strategic thinking in design application, and the ability to create scalable design systems and templates that support ongoing marketing efforts. This aligns with operations' focus on standardization, efficiency, and measurable impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Graphic Designers in the Saint Louis Park, MN area, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is $75,000 - $105,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and the specialized nature of supporting a large, employee-owned firm like HDR.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Covering medical, vision, and dental needs for employees and eligible dependents.

• Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP): As an employee-owned company, HDR offers opportunities for employees to own a stake in the company, fostering a sense of shared success and long-term investment.

• 401(k) Retirement Plan: With company match to support long-term financial planning.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Including vacation days, sick leave, and holidays, designed to support work-life balance.

• Professional Development & Training: Opportunities for ongoing learning, skill enhancement, and career growth, including access to design software training, industry conferences, and workshops.

• Paid Parental Leave: Supporting new parents during this significant life event.

• Wellness Programs: Initiatives focused on employee health and well-being.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Providing financial security for employees and their families.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, HDR may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling, subject to team and project needs, to accommodate efficient workflow and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on current market data for similar roles in the specified location and experience level. HDR's employee-ownership model is a significant benefit that should be highlighted as it fosters a unique culture and potential for long-term financial growth beyond base salary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) and Consulting Services. HDR operates across diverse sectors including Water, Architecture, Building Engineering Services, Field Services, Power, Waste, Industrial, and Transportation. This broad scope means the graphic design function supports a variety of complex, technical projects and client needs.

Company Size: HDR is a large, global firm, employing over 13,000 individuals across numerous locations. This size indicates a robust organizational structure, established processes, and a significant market presence, offering ample opportunities for collaboration and exposure to large-scale projects.

Founded: HDR was founded in 1917. With over a century of history, the company has a deep-rooted legacy of technical expertise and innovation, which influences its culture of long-term thinking, reliability, and commitment to client success.

Team Structure:

• The graphic design function likely operates within the Marketing or Business Development department, potentially as part of a regional marketing team or a centralized creative services unit.

• This Senior Graphic Designer would likely report to an Area Marketing Manager or a Creative Director, collaborating closely with marketing specialists, business development managers, and project teams.

Methodology:

• Data-driven insights are likely used to inform design strategies, particularly in digital marketing and proposal effectiveness.

• Workflow planning and optimization are critical, especially in managing a high volume of requests from various internal stakeholders and adhering to proposal deadlines.

• Automation and efficiency practices are encouraged through the development and use of templates, style guides, and asset management systems to ensure brand consistency and speed up production.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: HDR's employee-ownership model is a defining characteristic that permeates its culture, emphasizing collaboration, shared responsibility, and a long-term perspective. The company's large size and diverse service lines mean that the graphic design role is integral to communicating complex technical solutions across a broad spectrum of industries, requiring a designer who can adapt to different project types and client needs.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a Senior Graphic Designer, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond entry-level or mid-level positions. It suggests a capacity for leading design initiatives, mentoring junior staff, and contributing strategically to marketing efforts, particularly in proposal and presentation design which are critical operational components of business development.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will likely report to the Area Marketing Manager or a similar leadership role within the marketing department. This position will involve close collaboration with marketing specialists, business development teams, and project managers across various technical disciplines. The design function serves as a critical support mechanism for sales and client engagement processes.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on HDR's ability to win new business and enhance its brand reputation. By creating compelling proposals, presentations, and marketing collateral, the Senior Graphic Designer helps to:

• Differentiate HDR from competitors.

• Clearly communicate the value and complexity of the company's services.

• Improve the efficiency of the business development process through standardized, high-quality visual assets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in specific areas such as proposal design, digital marketing graphics, data visualization, or motion graphics.

• Leadership: Potential to move into a Creative Lead or Art Director role, managing design teams or overseeing larger creative projects.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain exposure to marketing strategy, business development processes, and project management through closer collaboration with other departments.

• Advanced Training: Opportunities for further training in specialized design software, emerging technologies, and brand strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a "Senior" role within a large, established firm like HDR, there's an expectation of leadership potential and strategic contribution. The role is not merely about executing tasks but also about shaping how HDR presents itself visually to clients and the market, directly impacting revenue-generating activities. Growth opportunities are likely tied to increased responsibility in project leadership, team mentorship, and strategic marketing input.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, indicating a traditional office environment within an HDR location in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota. The office setting will likely foster collaboration and provide access to necessary resources.

Office Location(s): Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, offering a professional setting with accessibility to transportation and amenities. Specific office details regarding amenities and collaborative spaces would be available upon inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, with opportunities for interaction with marketing, business development, and potentially technical teams. This environment supports the sharing of ideas and feedback crucial for effective design.

• Access to up-to-date design software and hardware will be provided to ensure high-quality output and efficient workflow.

• The office environment will likely encourage a culture of teamwork, where designers work alongside other professionals to achieve common business development and marketing goals.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, HDR may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling, provided it aligns with project demands and team collaboration needs. This flexibility can be beneficial for managing design workflows and meeting critical deadlines, especially during proposal development phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, which can be highly beneficial for creative roles involving brainstorming, feedback sessions, and team synergy. The Saint Louis Park location places the role within a significant metropolitan area, offering a balance of professional opportunities and quality of life.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief phone or video call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A more in-depth session with the hiring manager (e.g., Area Marketing Manager) and potentially other design or marketing team members. This stage will heavily focus on reviewing the candidate's portfolio, discussing design choices, problem-solving approaches, and technical skills. Be prepared to articulate the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Case Study/Design Challenge: Candidates may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a mini-case study related to a past project that demonstrates their ability to handle typical tasks for this role, such as designing a proposal cover, creating an infographic, or developing a presentation slide.

• Final Interview: Possibly with a senior marketing leader or department head to discuss strategic contributions, career aspirations, and overall fit within HDR's culture and team structure.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-8 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your skills in proposal design, presentation graphics, digital marketing collateral, and visual storytelling. Prioritize projects that align with the AEC or professional services industry if possible.

• Showcase Process: Include 1-2 projects with detailed case studies that explain the challenge, your approach, key design decisions, and the outcome or impact. This demonstrates your strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

• Highlight Versatility: Ensure your portfolio displays a range of design styles and applications, proving your adaptability to different project needs and audiences.

• Emphasize Brand Adherence & Scalability: Include examples demonstrating your ability to work within brand guidelines and create reusable assets like templates or style guides.

• Prepare to Discuss: Be ready to walk through your portfolio, articulate your design rationale, discuss software proficiency, and explain how your work supports business objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand HDR's Brand: Familiarize yourself with HDR's existing branding, marketing materials, and recent projects.

• Practice Proposal/Presentation Elements: Rehearse creating compelling infographics, structuring presentation slides, and designing impactful proposal covers or internal marketing collateral.

• Simplify Technical Concepts: Practice translating complex technical information into clear, visually appealing graphics.

• Time Management: If a timed challenge is given, practice working efficiently under pressure, prioritizing key elements.

• Articulate Strategy: Be prepared to explain the strategic thinking behind your design choices, not just the aesthetic outcome.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior creative role, especially one involved in business development operations, will heavily emphasize portfolio review and practical application. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not only their technical design skills but also their strategic thinking, project management capabilities, and understanding of how design contributes to business objectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency is essential, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating a wide range of print and digital marketing collateral.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Strong skills in PowerPoint are critical for developing high-impact proposals and presentations. Proficiency in Word and Excel may also be required for document formatting and data integration.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Specialized Tools (Preferred):

• Adobe Premiere Pro & After Effects: For motion graphics, video editing, and creating dynamic digital content.

• Adobe Audition: For audio editing, potentially for video projects or podcasts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core of this role's technical requirements lies within the Adobe Creative Suite and advanced PowerPoint skills. The preferred tools indicate an opportunity to expand into multimedia design, which is increasingly valuable in modern marketing operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering polished, thoughtful, and high-quality work, continuously striving to elevate the quality, consistency, and impact of HDR’s marketing and branding efforts.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively both independently and collaboratively within a fast-paced environment, demonstrating strong initiative, accountability, and reliability.

• Client Focus: Understanding that marketing materials directly support client engagement and business development, with a focus on creating compelling visuals that resonate with target audiences.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Researching and implementing best practices, emerging technologies, and design trends to modernize and enhance the firm's visual communications.

• Efficiency & Standardization: Developing and maintaining scalable design systems, templates, and asset libraries to improve consistency and efficiency across marketing efforts.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with marketing managers, business development professionals, engineers, architects, and project teams to understand project requirements and translate complex information into effective visual communications.

• Mentorship & Knowledge Sharing: Supporting and mentoring marketing staff on design principles, helping to establish best practices and scalable design systems across the region.

• Feedback Exchange: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to ensure the highest quality of design output and alignment with strategic goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: HDR's emphasis on employee ownership likely fosters a culture of shared responsibility and mutual respect. The values highlight a balance between creative excellence and operational efficiency, with a strong focus on supporting business development goals through high-quality design, mentorship, and continuous improvement.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing High Volume & Quality: Managing a diverse workload of design requests from various stakeholders under tight deadlines, while consistently maintaining high standards of quality and brand adherence.

• Simplifying Technical Complexity: Effectively translating intricate engineering and architectural concepts into clear, engaging, and accurate visual content that resonates with non-technical clients.

• Adapting to Evolving Trends: Keeping pace with rapidly changing design trends, digital marketing best practices, and new technologies to ensure HDR’s marketing materials remain modern and impactful.

• Regional vs. Global Brand Consistency: Ensuring regional marketing efforts align with global brand standards while adapting to specific local market needs and preferences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, or gain proficiency in newer tools like motion graphics or video editing software.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Attending AEC industry events, marketing conferences, or specialized design workshops to stay abreast of trends and network with peers.

• Mentorship Programs: Potential for mentorship from senior marketing leaders or design strategists within HDR to guide career development.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to take on leadership roles in specific projects, mentor junior designers, or contribute to the strategic direction of the marketing department's visual communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior creative roles in large, technical organizations, requiring a blend of artistic skill, strategic thinking, and operational efficiency. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening technical expertise, expanding into leadership, and enhancing strategic contributions to the marketing function.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate complex technical information into a visually compelling design. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving and simplification skills).

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a wide range of marketing materials and for different internal stakeholders?" (Highlight your understanding of brand management and template development).

• "Walk us through a proposal design or presentation you are particularly proud of. What were the key objectives, your design strategy, and the impact?" (Prepare a specific case study from your portfolio).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about HDR, particularly our employee-ownership model and our work in the AEC industry?" (Research HDR's mission, values, and recent projects).

• "How would you approach mentoring junior marketing staff on branding and design best practices?" (Showcase your leadership and knowledge-sharing capabilities).

• "Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, such as supporting proposal deadlines." (Emphasize your project management and time management skills).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio pieces as mini-stories. Explain the client's need, your design challenge, your thought process, the solutions you implemented, and the results achieved.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or tangible outcomes related to your designs (e.g., increased engagement on social media, successful proposal win rates, positive client feedback).

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: For 1-2 key projects, show early concepts, iterations, or wireframes to demonstrate your problem-solving journey. This is especially valuable for operations-type roles.

• Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss the software and techniques used, and how they contributed to the final outcome.

• Tailor to HDR: Select projects that best reflect the requirements of this specific role—proposal graphics, presentations, digital marketing, and simplification of technical content.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative expertise and operational efficiency. Candidates need to articulate their design process, strategic thinking, and ability to contribute to business development objectives through effective visual communication. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring a narrative that highlights problem-solving and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the HDR careers portal via the provided link.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight specific achievements in graphic design, marketing collateral creation, proposal development, and any experience relevant to the AEC or professional services industries. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Adobe Creative Suite," "PowerPoint Design," "Visual Storytelling," and "Brand Development."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, well-organized, and showcases your strongest, most relevant work. Be ready to present case studies that demonstrate your process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Prioritize projects that align with HDR's needs in proposal and presentation design.

• Research HDR: Familiarize yourself with HDR's company culture, services, recent projects, and brand identity. Understand their employee-ownership model and their commitment to making great things possible.

• Practice Your Pitch: Be prepared to articulate your design rationale, discuss your project management approach, and explain how your skills can contribute to HDR's business development and marketing objectives during interviews. Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on storytelling and impact.

⚠️ 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.