Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation

Location: Melbourne, Victoria (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-04-09

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic creative development and execution of impactful visual communications for a leading children's hospital foundation.

• Drive the design and delivery of a diverse portfolio of print and digital assets, ensuring a consistent and high-quality brand identity across all organizational touchpoints.

• Act as the sole design specialist, establishing and maintaining best practices in visual communication and brand stewardship.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate organizational goals into compelling, audience-focused design solutions that support fundraising and donor engagement initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Graphic Designer with significant autonomy, acting as the sole design expert. The emphasis on "leading creative development," "shaping and maintaining best practice," and "providing guidance, advice and support to internal stakeholders" indicates a strategic and influential position beyond a purely execution-focused role. The "hybrid" work arrangement is explicitly mentioned, suggesting flexibility while requiring some on-site presence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and deliver a wide range of print and digital assets, including publications, campaign materials, event collateral, and brand merchandise, ensuring alignment with the RCH Foundation style guide.

• Collaborate with the Manager of Communications and other management teams to ensure seamless project delivery and contribute strategic creative expertise to organizational initiatives.

• Develop compelling, audience-focused design outcomes for donor engagement, fundraising campaigns, and major events, directly supporting the foundation's mission.

• Uplift design capability across the organization by providing expert guidance, advice, and support to internal stakeholders on design best practices and brand consistency.

• Manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating strong organizational and time management skills to meet deadlines while maintaining high-quality output.

• Oversee and manage print production processes, including liaising with external suppliers to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.

• Contribute to digital design efforts, including optimizing assets for online engagement, and potentially supporting website content (WordPress) and email marketing (Campaign Monitor or similar).

• Provide creative direction and guidance for marketing and communications purposes, translating briefs into effective visual solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic oversight. The emphasis on "donor engagement initiatives," "fundraising campaigns," and "saving and improving the lives of our sickest children" points to a need for design that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also emotionally resonant and effective in driving philanthropic support. The expectation to "uplift design capability" suggests a mentorship or advisory component to the role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Significant experience in a senior graphic design role, with a proven track record of leading and delivering end-to-end creative projects from concept to execution with autonomy.

• Demonstrated experience in the not-for-profit, healthcare, or fundraising sectors is highly preferred.

• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Required Skills:

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

• Strong conceptual thinking and creative problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail.

• Ability to translate briefs into compelling, on-brand, audience-focused design solutions.

• Proven ability to work efficiently across multiple formats and outputs (print and digital).

• Strong organizational and time management skills.

• Confidence in working with and influencing a broad range of stakeholders, providing clear creative direction and guidance.

• Experience working within, applying, and evolving brand guidelines across a range of touchpoints.

• Strong understanding of print production processes and experience working with external suppliers.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in motion design, animation, photography, and/or videography.

• Experience in digital design, UX, and optimizing for online engagement.

• Experience designing within digital platforms such as WordPress, Campaign Monitor (or similar EDM platforms), and social media.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "significant experience" and the emphasis on "leading and delivering end-to-end creative projects with a degree of autonomy and accountability" suggest that candidates should be prepared to showcase leadership in project management and creative direction within their portfolio. The preference for experience in the "not-for-profit, healthcare or fundraising sector" indicates that an understanding of the unique communication needs and sensitivities of these industries will be a strong advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality, contemporary design across both print and digital channels.

• Examples showcasing strategic alignment with marketing and communications purposes.

• Evidence of designing for digital environments, including social media, web, and integrated campaigns.

• Polished, accurate, and high-quality work that exemplifies exceptional attention to detail and design craft.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a process for translating stakeholder needs and briefs into effective visual outcomes.

• Showcase workflow for managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and feedback loops in a fast-paced environment.

• Illustrate experience in evolving brand guidelines and maintaining consistency across diverse touchpoints.

• Include examples of managing print production processes and collaborating with external suppliers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application explicitly requires a portfolio that addresses "selection criteria." This means the portfolio should not just be a collection of work but should actively demonstrate the candidate's ability to meet specific requirements, such as strategic alignment, digital proficiency, and project ownership. Guidance on how to present case studies that highlight initiative and problem-solving will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Hybrid Working Model: Flexibility to balance work from home and office, promoting work-life integration.

• Salary Packaging: Opportunity to salary package up to $15,900 per annum, potentially increasing take-home pay.

• Bonus Leave Days: Three bonus days of leave awarded during the office close-down period between Christmas and New Year.

• Wellbeing & Mental Health Leave: Two additional days of leave per year specifically allocated to support staff wellbeing and mental health.

• Personal Leave: Two additional days of personal leave per year, offering further flexibility.

• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, ongoing position. Standard full-time hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with the expectation of flexibility as required to meet project deadlines and organizational needs. The hybrid model allows for some autonomy in structuring the work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on the role's seniority, location (Melbourne), and typical market rates for Senior Graphic Designers in Australia. The benefits package is detailed and includes significant leave provisions and salary packaging, which are highly attractive perks. The "hybrid working model" is a key benefit, suggesting a commitment to employee flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Not-for-profit / Healthcare / Fundraising. The RCH Foundation operates within a unique sector focused on improving children's health outcomes through philanthropic support. This context implies a mission-driven environment where design work directly contributes to tangible positive impacts.

Company Size: The description implies a focused team, with the designer being the "sole design specialist." While the exact number isn't stated, it suggests a medium-sized organization where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful. The organization works closely with The Royal Children's Hospital, a major healthcare institution.

Founded: Founded in 1989, the RCH Foundation has a long-standing history of supporting one of the world's leading children's hospitals, indicating stability and established operations.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Manager, Communications, indicating a reporting line within the communications and creative function.

• The role will collaborate closely with the Management team and the broader organization, suggesting a high degree of cross-functional interaction.

Methodology:

• The role emphasizes translating organizational goals into "compelling, audience-focused design outcomes," suggesting a strategic approach to design that aligns with business objectives.

• A commitment to "best practice" and "evolving brand guidelines" indicates a focus on maintaining high standards and adaptability.

• The need to "uplift design capability" points to a culture that values continuous improvement and knowledge sharing within the organization.

Company Website: https://www.rchfoundation.org.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is strongly mission-driven, focusing on children's health and fundraising. The "sole design specialist" aspect is critical; candidates should be comfortable working independently, managing their own workload, and acting as the primary design authority. Collaboration with various departments, especially communications and management, is key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Graphic Designer role, signifying a mid-to-late career stage. It demands a high level of technical skill, creative autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor or guide others in design principles. The role is pivotal in shaping the visual identity of a significant foundation.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Manager, Communications. This structure places the role within the broader marketing and communications function, allowing for strategic alignment with campaign goals and organizational messaging.

Operations Impact: The design work directly supports the RCH Foundation's fundraising efforts, donor engagement, and overall mission to provide the best patient and family care. High-quality visual communications are essential for building trust, conveying impact, and encouraging philanthropic support, thus having a direct impact on the organization's ability to achieve its goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like motion design, UX, or digital optimization, potentially through professional development or project scope.

• Leadership Development: As the sole design specialist, there's potential to lead design initiatives, establish new processes, and mentor junior staff or stakeholders on design best practices, paving a path towards a lead designer or design manager role in the future.

• Industry Exposure: Working within a leading children's hospital foundation provides unique exposure to the non-profit, healthcare, and fundraising sectors, which can open doors to specialized design roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "sole design specialist" nature of the role offers significant opportunities for ownership and influence. Growth here is less about climbing a hierarchical ladder within a large design department and more about expanding influence, expertise, and strategic contribution within the organization. Candidates should consider how they would leverage this autonomy for personal and professional development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The organization offers a "Hybrid working model," indicating a combination of on-site work at their Melbourne office and remote work. This suggests a modern work environment that values flexibility.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with the specific office location implied to be accessible within the Melbourne area. The hybrid arrangement means regular days in the office are expected, facilitating collaboration and team interaction.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model necessitates in-office days for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and direct collaboration with the Manager, Communications, and other internal stakeholders.

• Operations Tools & Technology: The role requires advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and potentially experience with WordPress, EDM platforms, and social media. Access to necessary hardware and software for both remote and on-site work is expected.

• Team Interaction: While the designer is the "sole specialist," there will be ample opportunity to interact with various departments, including fundraising, marketing, and hospital liaison teams, fostering a networked and collaborative work environment.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) with a hybrid arrangement. This allows for a structured work week with flexibility. The specific allocation of office versus remote days will likely be determined collaboratively with the Manager, Communications, to optimize project needs and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience working effectively in hybrid settings, including how they manage communication, collaboration, and productivity across different work locations. The office environment is likely to be professional and supportive, given the foundation's mission.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Screening based on resume, cover letter addressing selection criteria, and importantly, the submitted portfolio. Applications without a portfolio or without addressing selection criteria will not be considered.

• Portfolio Presentation/Interview: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, their role in them, design rationale, and how their work aligns with the RCH Foundation's mission and brand. This is an opportunity to showcase conceptual thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder management.

• Skills-Based Assessment/Case Study: A practical exercise or case study may be given to assess design skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of brand application under timed conditions. This could involve designing a concept for a campaign or adapting existing materials.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with the Manager, Communications, and potentially other key stakeholders (e.g., fundraising leads) to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to influence.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your skills in both print and digital design, your ability to meet strategic objectives, and your experience with brand guidelines. Prioritize work that shows problem-solving and impact.

• Showcase Process: For key projects, briefly explain the brief, your design process, the challenges encountered, and how you arrived at the final solution. Highlight your role and contributions.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If your design contributed to measurable outcomes (e.g., increased engagement, successful fundraising campaign), present those metrics clearly.

• Address Selection Criteria: Ensure your portfolio presentation explicitly links your work and experience to the key selection criteria outlined in the job description.

• Highlight NFP/Healthcare Experience: If you have relevant experience, emphasize it with specific examples of how your design supported mission-driven organizations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Mission: Familiarize yourself deeply with the RCH Foundation's mission, values, and the work of the RCH. Consider how design can support these.

• Brand Application: Be prepared to discuss how you would apply and evolve the RCH Foundation's brand guidelines.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Think about common design challenges in the non-profit sector (e.g., limited budgets, diverse audiences, emotional messaging) and how you would approach them.

• Stakeholder Management: Prepare examples of how you have managed feedback, navigated approvals, and influenced stakeholders to achieve successful design outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process places a very high emphasis on the portfolio and the ability to address selection criteria. Candidates must ensure their application materials are tailored and directly demonstrate their suitability for the specific requirements of this senior, sole-specialist role within a mission-driven organization. The interview process will likely probe deeper into strategic thinking and stakeholder influence.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency is mandatory, specifically including:

  • InDesign: For layout and publication design (brochures, reports, event materials).
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, infographics, and illustrations.
  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.

• Motion Design/Animation Software: Experience in tools like Adobe After Effects is preferred, indicating a need for dynamic visual content.

• Photography/Videography Tools: Familiarity with relevant software for editing and post-production for visual storytelling.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Digital Platform Experience: Familiarity with optimizing design for web and online engagement.

• WordPress: Experience designing within or for WordPress websites is preferred, suggesting a need to create assets that integrate seamlessly with the CMS.

• Campaign Monitor (or similar EDM platforms): Experience designing effective email marketing campaigns.

• Social Media Platforms: Understanding of design best practices and asset creation for various social media channels.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned for direct use, an understanding of how design assets are used within CRM and marketing automation workflows (e.g., for donor communications, campaign tracking) would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is advanced Adobe Creative Suite proficiency. The preferred skills in motion design, video, UX, WordPress, and EDM platforms suggest that the organization is looking for a versatile designer capable of handling a broad spectrum of creative needs, from traditional print to sophisticated digital engagement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven: A strong commitment to the mission and values of the RCH Foundation is paramount. This means understanding and aligning with the goal of improving children's health.

• Best Practice & Quality: Upholding high standards in design craft, technical execution, and brand consistency.

• Collaboration & Support: Working effectively within a supportive team environment, providing guidance, and fostering positive working relationships.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Willingness to learn, evolve design capabilities, and adapt to new digital platforms and communication trends.

• Accountability & Initiative: Taking ownership of projects and proactively seeking solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with the Manager, Communications, and other departments to ensure design supports broader organizational goals.

• Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating with, influencing, and managing feedback from a diverse range of internal stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: As the sole design expert, there's an expectation to share design knowledge and best practices with colleagues.

• Independent Operation: While collaborative, the role also demands the ability to work independently and with a degree of autonomy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a strong alignment with the foundation's mission. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how their personal values and professional approach align with this purpose-driven environment. The ability to balance independent work with collaborative engagement is a key aspect of the desired working style.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Sole Design Specialist: Managing all design needs independently, requiring excellent prioritization, time management, and the ability to wear multiple hats (conceptualizer, designer, production manager, brand guardian).

• Balancing Creative Vision with Stakeholder Needs: Effectively translating diverse feedback and requirements from various stakeholders into cohesive, on-brand design solutions.

• Staying Current: Keeping up-to-date with evolving design trends, digital platforms, and best practices across both print and digital mediums.

• Resource Management: Potentially working with budget constraints common in the non-profit sector, requiring creative solutions and efficient supplier management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening NFP/Healthcare Design Expertise: Gaining specialized knowledge in the nuances of design for fundraising, healthcare communications, and donor engagement.

• Expanding Digital Skillset: Opportunities to enhance skills in motion graphics, UX/UI design, animation, and digital campaign optimization through project work and professional development.

• Strategic Influence: Developing skills in influencing organizational design strategy and establishing best practices as the lead design voice.

• Networking: Building relationships within the healthcare and non-profit sectors through collaboration and potential industry events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is the "sole specialist" aspect, requiring self-sufficiency and strong project management. Growth opportunities are tied to leveraging this autonomy to expand expertise and strategic influence, rather than traditional hierarchical advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a complex design project from concept to completion. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Assesses project ownership, problem-solving, and execution.)

• "How do you approach translating a broad organizational goal or fundraising objective into a compelling visual concept?" (Evaluates strategic thinking and creative problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to working for a children's hospital foundation, and how do you see your design skills contributing to our mission?" (Assesses mission alignment and purpose-driven motivation.)

• "How would you establish and maintain design best practices as the sole design specialist within our organization?" (Probes leadership, initiative, and process development capabilities.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio presentation to flow logically, perhaps by project type or by demonstrating how you meet the selection criteria.

• Tell a Story: For each key project, don't just show the final output. Explain the brief, your creative process, the challenges, your specific contributions, and the results achieved.

• Highlight Brand Application: Showcase examples where you have successfully applied and evolved brand guidelines, demonstrating your understanding of brand integrity.

• Emphasize Digital Proficiency: Clearly demonstrate your capabilities in digital design, UX optimization, and social media asset creation, if applicable to your portfolio.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your design decisions, technical choices, and how your work aligns with the RCH Foundation's mission and values.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design skill but also strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and a genuine connection to the RCH Foundation's mission. The portfolio presentation is a critical component, serving as a live demonstration of how the candidate meets the selection criteria.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Bamboo online portal link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to specifically highlight high-quality contemporary design work across print and digital channels, with a focus on strategic alignment and audience engagement. Include case studies that demonstrate your project ownership and problem-solving capabilities.

• Resume & Cover Letter Tailoring: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your experience relevant to senior graphic design roles, including years of experience and key achievements. Your cover letter must directly address the "Key Selection Criteria" outlined in the position description, providing specific examples from your experience.

• Prepare for Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, articulating your design process, rationale, and impact for key projects. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with the RCH Foundation's mission and the specific requirements of this role.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, its mission, values, recent campaigns, and target audience. Understand their brand identity and consider how you can contribute to its visual communication strategy.

⚠️ 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.