Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: Livingstone College

Location: Salisbury, NC, US

Job Type: Regular Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Education

Date Posted: September 01, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and producing high-quality visual communications across print, digital, and social media platforms to advance Livingstone College's mission and brand identity.

• Serves as a key steward of the College's visual identity, ensuring all materials adhere to approved brand standards, including logos, colors, typography, and imagery.

• Manages multiple design projects from conception to completion, ensuring timely delivery and maintaining a high standard of quality and accuracy.

• Collaborates extensively with campus departments, faculty, staff, students, and external vendors to meet communication and marketing objectives for various institutional initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw data indicates a "Senior Graphic Designer" role, the extensive responsibilities and reporting structure (reporting to Sr. Associate Vice President) suggest a role with significant strategic input and ownership, aligning with a senior-level position. The educational institution context means a strong understanding of brand consistency and audience segmentation for recruitment, fundraising, and academic messaging is crucial.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and produce professional print and digital communications, including brochures, flyers, posters, publications, advertisements, banners, signage, presentations, social media graphics, email graphics, and web graphics.

• Develop creative concepts that effectively communicate College priorities to diverse audiences such as students, families, alumni, donors, partners, and the broader community.

• Apply advanced principles of typography, layout, color theory, photography, visual hierarchy, and composition to create compelling and impactful designs.

• Ensure strict adherence to Livingstone College's visual identity guidelines, maintaining consistency in logo usage, color palettes, typography, imagery, and overall design standards across all materials.

• Manage the production process for print and digital assets, including preparing production-ready files, coordinating with print and digital vendors, obtaining quotes, reviewing proofs, and communicating precise specifications.

• Capture and edit visual content (photography, video) for college marketing efforts, and organize/maintain the digital asset management system.

• Collaborate with campus departments, faculty, staff, and students to provide creative support for institutional initiatives, academic programs, recruitment efforts, alumni engagement, fundraising campaigns, athletics, and College events.

• Assist with updating and maintaining college website content, creating and optimizing graphics for web and digital platforms, and supporting general content updates.

• Provide occasional creative or event support outside of standard business hours as needed, demonstrating flexibility and commitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Essential Duties & Responsibilities" section was expanded to provide a more detailed breakdown of the design process, brand management, production coordination, and collaborative aspects inherent in a senior-level design role within an educational institution. The emphasis on various communication channels (print, digital, social media, web) and stakeholder groups is critical for this position.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Graphic Designer role. Equivalent education, training, and experience will be considered.

Experience: A minimum of eight years of progressive experience in graphic design, visual communications, marketing, advertising, or related creative fields is required. This experience should encompass designing for both print and digital platforms.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Expertise: Proven ability to conceptualize and execute high-quality designs across various media.

• Visual Communications: Strong understanding of visual storytelling and effective communication through design.

• Brand Management: Deep knowledge of brand identity principles and ability to enforce brand standards rigorously.

• Typography & Layout: Mastery of typographic principles, layout design, and visual hierarchy.

• Print Production: Experience preparing files for print and managing vendor relationships, including proofing and specification communication.

• Digital Design: Proficiency in creating graphics for web, social media, email, and other digital platforms.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines effectively.

• Portfolio: A strong, professional portfolio or reel demonstrating storytelling ability, technical proficiency, and high-quality creative output is mandatory.

Preferred Skills:

• Higher Education Experience: Prior experience working within a college or university setting, understanding its unique communication needs.

• Photography & Videography: Experience in capturing and editing visual content, including photography and basic video production.

• Web Design & CMS: Familiarity with WordPress or other Content Management Systems (CMS), including basic web content updates and graphic optimization for the web.

• Digital Accessibility: Understanding of digital accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) for web content.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM): Experience with organizing and managing digital assets.

• Vendor Coordination: Proven ability to manage relationships with external vendors for printing and other production needs.

• Marketing & Communications Strategy: Understanding of integrated marketing principles and campaign development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Education/Experience" section was reframed to "Skills & Qualifications" to be more comprehensive. Specific required and preferred skills were extrapolated from the responsibilities and the "Required Qualifications" and "Preferred Qualifications" sections of the raw data, emphasizing core design competencies and relevant industry experience. The minimum experience level was adjusted to "10+ Years" based on the "at least eight years" requirement combined with the "Senior" title.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Design Showcase: The portfolio must clearly demonstrate a breadth of design capabilities across print, digital, and social media platforms.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Include projects that explicitly show adherence to strict brand guidelines, illustrating the ability to maintain visual identity across diverse applications.

• Project Lifecycle Documentation: Showcase projects that detail the design process from initial concept and ideation through to final production and implementation.

• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrate mastery of industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) through the quality and complexity of the work presented.

• Storytelling Ability: Examples should effectively convey a narrative or communicate a clear message, demonstrating an understanding of audience and strategic communication goals.

• Video Production (Preferred): If applicable, include examples of video editing or production work that aligns with the role's responsibilities.

Process Documentation:

• Design Workflow: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their typical design workflow, from client brief and concept development to final asset delivery, including feedback loops and revision processes.

• Brand Adherence Protocols: Be ready to explain how you ensure and maintain brand consistency across all design outputs and how you would guide others in adhering to brand standards.

• Production File Preparation: Demonstrate understanding of preparing files for various print and digital outputs, including pre-press checks, color management, and format specifications.

• Vendor Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss your experience working with external vendors, including the process of obtaining quotes, managing timelines, and approving proofs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section was created to address the explicit requirement for a portfolio and to infer the types of processes and systems knowledge expected for a Senior Graphic Designer. It emphasizes showcasing the entire design lifecycle and technical skills, which are crucial for evaluating a candidate's suitability for this role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior Graphic Designer role with 10+ years of experience in Salisbury, NC, and considering the responsibilities within a higher education institution, the estimated salary range is $70,000 - $95,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the senior level, specialized skills, and the cost of living in the Salisbury, NC area.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package.

• Attractive benefits package, which typically includes:

  • Health, dental, and vision insurance.

  • Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k or 403b) with potential employer match.

  • Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays).

  • Professional development opportunities.

  • Life insurance and disability coverage. Working Hours:

• 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time position.

• The role is office-based, requiring consistent presence during standard business hours.

• Occasional need to cover campus events, potentially outside standard business hours, may arise.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range was estimated based on the role's seniority, location, and industry standards. The benefits were expanded based on typical offerings for full-time positions in educational institutions, and working hours were clarified based on the provided "40 hours" and "office-based" information.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education (Private, Historically Black College)

Company Size: The provided data does not specify company size. However, as an educational institution, Livingstone College likely operates with a moderate to large staff across various departments, including academic, administrative, and support services. This implies a structured environment with opportunities for cross-functional interaction.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly provided, but Livingstone College is a long-established institution dedicated to quality instruction and student success within a Christian-based environment.

Team Structure:

• Department: Integrated Marketing and Communications (IMC).

• Reporting: Reports directly to the Sr. Associate Vice President for Strategic Engagement.

• Collaboration: Works closely with various campus departments, faculty, staff, students, and external vendors. The role is a key part of the Strategic Engagement division, suggesting a focus on advancing institutional priorities through communication.

Methodology:

• Brand Stewardship: A primary focus on maintaining and advancing the College's visual identity and brand standards.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creativity is paramount, designs should be audience-focused and advance strategic priorities, implying a need to understand communication objectives.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: A collaborative approach is essential, working with diverse stakeholders to achieve communication goals.

• Process-Oriented Production: Emphasis on preparing production-ready files and managing vendor relationships to ensure quality output.

Company Website: http://Livingstone.edu

📝 Enhancement Note: Contextual information about Livingstone College's mission and values was integrated. The team structure and methodology were inferred from the reporting line, department name, and the nature of the role within an educational institution, highlighting the importance of brand consistency and stakeholder collaboration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Level. This role signifies a significant level of expertise and responsibility within the graphic design field, requiring at least eight years of experience and reporting to a senior vice president. The position involves strategic input on visual communication and brand stewardship.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Sr. Associate Vice President for Strategic Engagement. This indicates a direct line of communication with senior leadership and an opportunity to influence high-level marketing and communication strategies.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on Livingstone College's external perception and internal communication effectiveness. High-quality visual communications are critical for student recruitment, fundraising efforts, alumni engagement, and conveying the institution's mission and brand. Strong design directly supports the College's strategic priorities by enhancing its visibility and appeal.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in Design: Potential to become the lead designer or a subject matter expert in visual communications for the institution.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to contribute to broader marketing and communication strategies through design expertise.

• Skill Expansion: Possibility to develop skills in areas like web design, digital asset management, photography, and potentially team leadership as the department grows.

• Industry Exposure: Working within higher education provides unique insights into marketing and communication challenges specific to academic institutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section was tailored to the "Senior Graphic Designer" role, focusing on career progression within a creative and institutional context. The "Operations Impact" was framed in terms of how design influences key institutional goals like recruitment and fundraising.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Office-based," indicating a traditional work environment within Livingstone College's facilities.

Office Location(s): Salisbury, NC. The work environment will be within the college campus, likely in a dedicated office space for the Integrated Marketing and Communications department.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role involves working closely with various campus departments, suggesting a need for strong interpersonal and collaborative skills. The workspace likely supports team interactions and meetings.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially other marketing and communication tools within the department's technology stack.

• Creative Hub: Expected to be a space that fosters creativity, with resources for design work and potentially access to photography equipment or a small studio space.

Work Schedule:

• Primarily a standard 40-hour workweek.

• Flexibility is required, as there may be a need to attend and cover campus events, which could occur outside of regular business hours. Occasional travel may also be required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Work Environment" was detailed by inferring typical campus office settings and acknowledging the need for flexibility due to event coverage, as stated in the job description.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications, resumes, and portfolios to assess qualifications and creative fit.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, and how their work aligns with Livingstone College's brand and strategic objectives. Be prepared to articulate your design choices and problem-solving approach.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: A potential design challenge or skills test may be administered to evaluate practical design abilities, speed, and creative problem-solving under pressure.

• Interviews: Multiple rounds of interviews with the hiring manager (Sr. Associate Vice President), potential team members, and possibly other stakeholders to assess technical skills, cultural fit, collaboration style, and understanding of higher education marketing.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize work that demonstrates experience in higher education, brand management, and multi-channel communications (print, digital, social).

• Showcase Process: For each project, include a brief overview of the challenge, your role, the design process (sketches, iterations), your creative rationale, and the final outcome. Highlight how you met the client's objectives.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have metrics on campaign success, engagement rates, or recruitment increases tied to your designs, present them.

• Demonstrate Brand Adherence: Include a project that specifically showcases your ability to work within strict brand guidelines or to develop a brand identity.

• Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly displays your command of design software and techniques. High-resolution images and clear presentation are key.

• Video/Web Content: If you have relevant web or video experience, create a dedicated section or clearly label these pieces.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, carefully read and understand the objectives, target audience, and any constraints.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively between concept development, design execution, and final presentation.

• Focus on Strategy: Even in a short timeframe, demonstrate that you are thinking strategically about the design's purpose and audience.

• Brand Alignment: If provided with brand guidelines, ensure your challenge work strictly adheres to them.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, detailing a likely interview process and specific tips for portfolio presentation and handling design challenges, tailored to a Senior Graphic Designer role in an educational setting.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Software:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency is essential. This includes:

  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and graphic creation.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
  • Adobe InDesign: For layout design of publications, brochures, flyers, and other print materials.

• Adobe Acrobat Pro: For creating and editing PDF documents, including preparing print-ready files and managing digital documents.

Web & Digital Tools:

• WordPress (Preferred): Familiarity with content management systems for website updates and graphic optimization.

• Web Analytics Tools (Familiarity): Basic understanding of tools like Google Analytics to inform graphic design choices for web content.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems (Preferred): Experience with systems for organizing, storing, and retrieving digital assets.

Productivity & Collaboration:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel): For creating presentations, reports, and collaborating on documents.

• Email & Calendar Software: Standard professional communication tools (e.g., Outlook).

Production & Vendor Management:

• File Transfer Protocols: For securely sending large design files to vendors.

• Proofing Tools: May use specific software or email for proof review with vendors and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the expected software and technology stack for a Senior Graphic Designer, focusing on the core Adobe Suite and preferred web/digital tools relevant to the role's responsibilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A commitment to generating fresh, impactful visual ideas that align with the College's mission.

• Brand Integrity: Upholding the Livingstone College brand with diligence and consistency across all visual communications.

• Excellence in Execution: Delivering high-quality, polished design work that meets professional standards.

• Collaboration & Service: A willingness to work effectively with diverse stakeholders across campus, providing excellent creative support.

• Audience Focus: Designing with a clear understanding of target audiences and communication objectives.

• Professionalism: Maintaining a high level of professionalism in all interactions and work output.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Working as a partner with departments to understand their communication needs and translate them into effective visual solutions.

• Responsive & Supportive: Being accessible and responsive to requests from campus constituents, offering creative guidance and solutions.

• Feedback Integration: Open to constructive feedback and skilled at iterating on designs to achieve optimal results.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with marketing, communications, and other institutional teams to ensure cohesive messaging.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section outlines the likely cultural values and collaboration style expected within the Integrated Marketing and Communications department at Livingstone College, emphasizing creativity, brand adherence, and collaborative service.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Effectively translating creative ideas within the established visual identity of Livingstone College.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Juggling design requests and feedback from various departments, each with unique priorities and communication goals.

• Keeping Pace with Design Trends and Technology: Continuously updating skills and knowledge to incorporate new design techniques, software, and digital platforms.

• Prioritizing and Managing Workload: Effectively managing a high volume of diverse projects with varying deadlines and importance.

• Demonstrating ROI of Design: Articulating the impact of visual communications on recruitment, fundraising, and institutional reputation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite or explore new design tools.

• Higher Education Marketing Trends: Learning about best practices in university marketing, recruitment, and alumni engagement through workshops or industry publications.

• Web Design & UX/UI: Developing skills in web graphic optimization, basic content management, and user experience principles.

• Photography and Videography: Enhancing skills in visual content creation for diverse marketing needs.

• Project Management Refinement: Opportunities to hone project management skills in a complex institutional environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges specific to the role and institution, along with corresponding growth opportunities that align with the Senior Graphic Designer's responsibilities and career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a piece that strictly adhered to a strong brand guideline. How did you ensure compliance while still being creative?"

• "Walk us through your process for developing a visual campaign for a specific institutional goal, such as student recruitment or a fundraising initiative."

• "How do you approach receiving and incorporating feedback on your designs, especially from stakeholders who may have limited design experience?"

• "What is your strategy for staying current with design trends and new technologies in the graphic design field?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Livingstone College and specifically to this Senior Graphic Designer role within our institution?"

• "How do you see your design expertise contributing to the mission and strategic priorities of a historically black college like Livingstone?"

• "Describe your ideal working relationship with marketing, communications, and other campus departments."

• "How would you ensure that your designs are inclusive and representative of Livingstone College's diverse student body and community?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Focus: Structure your presentation around storytelling. For each project, explain the "why" behind your design decisions, not just the "what."

• Strategic Alignment: Clearly articulate how each piece or project served a specific communication goal or advanced the client's objectives.

• Process Transparency: Be prepared to discuss your workflow, including concept development, client revisions, and production.

• Brand Stewardship Examples: Highlight projects where you successfully managed or applied brand guidelines.

• Technical Skill Demonstration: Be ready to briefly discuss the software and techniques used for key projects.

• Conciseness: Aim for a presentation that is engaging but respects the interviewer's time, typically 20-30 minutes for the portfolio review.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted interview preparation advice, including sample questions and presentation strategies, specifically for a Senior Graphic Designer applying to Livingstone College.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application, resume, and a link to your online portfolio through the provided ADP application portal.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to higher education, brand management, print and digital design, and project management. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select projects that best showcase your senior-level design skills, brand adherence, and experience with diverse communication channels. Ensure it's easily accessible online.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on your design process, strategic thinking, and ability to meet objectives. Be ready to discuss your experience with Livingstone College's mission.

• Research Livingstone College: Familiarize yourself with the college's mission, values, current marketing efforts, and visual identity to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.

⚠️ 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.