Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: The University of Kansas Health System

Location: Broadmoor Campus, Lenexa, Kansas, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-05-08

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive health system goals by developing on-brand design solutions across digital, traditional, and non-traditional media channels.

• Coordinate comprehensive design projects from concept to execution, including graphics, photography, and final delivery, ensuring alignment with brand standards.

• Lead creative meetings, present design concepts and campaigns effectively to internal and external stakeholders, and provide strategic design counsel.

• Facilitate and oversee the work of external partners and vendors to ensure seamless integration and adherence to brand guidelines and project objectives.

• Maintain and enhance the health system's brand integrity by managing brand standards, visual assets, and branded templates, ensuring consistent application across all touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strategic mindset in graphic design, focusing on how visual elements support broader health system marketing and communication objectives. The emphasis on coordinating external partners and managing brand standards indicates a need for strong project management and stakeholder communication skills within a creative context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic, on-brand design solutions that effectively communicate messages and drive desired outcomes for various health system initiatives.

• Manage the end-to-end design process for projects, encompassing graphic creation, image selection (photography/illustration), and final production across all media types.

• Present design concepts, campaign ideas, and project proposals to internal clients and external stakeholders, articulating the strategic rationale and expected impact.

• Lead and facilitate creative meetings, guiding discussions to foster innovation and ensure alignment with project goals and brand strategy.

• Execute graphic design across a diverse range of media, including digital platforms (web, social media, email), print collateral, signage, and other non-traditional applications.

• Oversee and coordinate projects managed by external agencies, freelancers, and vendors, ensuring timely delivery, quality control, and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Actively pursue professional development to continuously enhance design skills, stay abreast of industry trends, and adopt new creative technologies.

• Support the maintenance and evolution of the health system's brand identity by managing brand standards documentation, curating graphic and photographic assets, and updating branded templates.

• Demonstrate strong multi-tasking capabilities, effectively prioritizing and re-prioritizing workload in response to urgent health system needs and evolving project demands.

• Provide constructive feedback to peers and stakeholders, and skillfully incorporate feedback received on design work to improve outcomes.

• Offer design counsel and creative direction to assigned departments or initiatives, acting as a brand steward and strategic design partner.

• Apply critical thinking, communication, interpersonal relationship skills, and technical proficiency to all aspects of the role, contributing to a collaborative and effective team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on creative execution and strategic oversight, common in senior design roles within established organizations. The emphasis on coordinating external partners and managing brand resources suggests a need for robust project management and vendor relations experience, in addition to strong design acumen.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive marketing experience with a strong focus on graphic design and brand management.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and other relevant design tools.

• Brand Strategy & Management: Deep understanding of brand principles, ability to develop and maintain brand consistency across all visual communications.

• Multi-Channel Design Execution: Proven ability to create impactful designs for digital (web, social, email, digital ads) and traditional media (print, signage, collateral).

• Creative Direction & Concept Development: Demonstrated ability to generate innovative ideas, develop compelling visual concepts, and lead creative problem-solving.

• Project Coordination & Management: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously, coordinate with internal teams and external vendors, and meet deadlines.

• Client Presentation & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present design concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.

• Visual Communication: Innate ability to translate complex information and strategic objectives into clear, engaging visual narratives.

• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Aptitude for analyzing challenges, identifying design opportunities, and developing effective visual solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Healthcare Marketing Experience: Familiarity with the nuances and regulatory considerations of marketing within a healthcare system.

• Photography & Image Curation: Experience in art direction for photoshoots or selecting appropriate imagery to support brand messaging.

• Motion Graphics/Video Editing: Basic understanding or experience with motion graphics tools (e.g., After Effects) or video editing.

• Web Design Principles: Understanding of UI/UX principles and web design best practices for digital assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or a related field, coupled with 5+ years of marketing experience, positions this as a senior-level role. The emphasis on both digital and traditional media, alongside client presentation and project coordination, suggests a need for a well-rounded designer capable of strategic thinking and execution. Healthcare experience is a significant plus, indicating a preference for candidates who understand the industry's specific communication needs.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of design projects that demonstrate expertise across digital, print, and non-traditional media.

• Include case studies that highlight the strategic approach, problem-solving process, and measurable outcomes of design initiatives.

• Present examples of brand system development or consistent application of brand guidelines across multiple projects.

• Feature projects where you led creative direction, managed external partners, or coordinated complex design workflows.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have managed the design process from brief to final delivery, including stages for concept development, revisions, and production.

• Illustrate your approach to collaborating with stakeholders, gathering feedback, and iterating on designs to meet project objectives.

• Showcase how you ensure brand consistency and adherence to standards, perhaps through style guides or internal process documentation.

• Detail your experience in coordinating with external vendors or agencies, including briefing, review, and approval processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Graphic Designer role, the portfolio is crucial for demonstrating not just creative talent but also strategic thinking, project management capabilities, and brand stewardship. Applicants should curate their portfolio to specifically address how their design work contributes to broader organizational goals, particularly within a healthcare context, and how they manage complex projects and external relationships.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Graphic Designers in Lenexa, Kansas, with 5-10 years of experience, and considering the employer is a large health system, the estimated salary range is $75,000 - $105,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the cost of living in the Kansas City metropolitan area and the specialized skills required for healthcare marketing and brand management.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents, often with various plan options.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) or 403(b) plan with potential employer match, supporting long-term financial planning.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous accrual of vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays, providing work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continued education, workshops, conferences, and training to enhance design skills and stay current with industry trends.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Employer-provided life insurance and long-term/short-term disability coverage for financial security.

• Wellness Programs: Access to employee assistance programs, wellness initiatives, and potentially on-site fitness facilities or discounts.

• Tuition Reimbursement: Potential for financial assistance for employees pursuing further education relevant to their career.

Working Hours:

• Typically 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday.

• Standard business hours are expected, with potential for occasional evening or weekend work to meet project deadlines or support urgent campaigns. Flexibility may be offered based on team needs and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on publicly available data for similar roles in the specified geographic location and experience level. Benefits are typical for large healthcare organizations and are designed to attract and retain talent. Working hours are standard full-time, with an acknowledgment of potential project-driven demands.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Services / Hospital & Health Care. The University of Kansas Health System operates within a highly regulated and mission-driven industry, where clear, trustworthy, and empathetic communication is paramount. This context shapes the visual messaging and design approach, emphasizing patient well-being, clinical excellence, and community health.

Company Size: The University of Kansas Health System is a large, complex organization, likely employing thousands of individuals across multiple facilities. This scale implies robust internal processes, established brand guidelines, and a significant volume of communication needs, offering extensive opportunities for a Senior Graphic Designer to make a broad impact.

Founded: Founded in 1906, The University of Kansas Health System has a long history of providing advanced medical care and education in the region. This legacy suggests a culture that values tradition, expertise, and long-term commitment, while also striving for innovation in patient care and operational efficiency.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer likely operates within a Marketing or Communications department, potentially alongside other designers, copywriters, marketing specialists, and project managers.

• Reporting structure will likely be to a Creative Director, Marketing Director, or a similar leadership role overseeing brand and communication efforts.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Utilizing market research, campaign performance data, and audience insights to inform design strategies and measure their effectiveness.

• Brand-Centric Workflow: Adhering strictly to established brand guidelines and leveraging brand assets to ensure consistency and reinforcement of the health system's identity.

• Collaborative Development: Engaging in iterative design processes, seeking input from stakeholders, and facilitating creative reviews to refine concepts and solutions.

• Efficiency & Automation: Employing efficient design processes and leveraging technology/templates to streamline production and maximize output, especially when working with external partners.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the healthcare context is critical. Design decisions must prioritize clarity, credibility, and sensitivity. The company's size and history suggest a structured environment where adherence to established processes and brand standards is highly valued, while also offering opportunities to influence significant communication initiatives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Graphic Designer position, representing a mid-to-late career stage for a creative professional. It signifies a move beyond individual contribution to include leadership in creative direction, project management, and mentorship. The role requires not only exceptional design skills but also strategic thinking and the ability to manage complex projects and external relationships independently.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will likely report to a Marketing Director, Communications Director, or Creative Director. This position may also involve providing guidance or oversight to junior designers or external vendors, acting as a lead on specific projects or for assigned areas.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing how The University of Kansas Health System is perceived by patients, staff, and the wider community. Effective on-brand design solutions are crucial for:

• Enhancing patient engagement and trust.

• Communicating critical health information clearly and accessibly.

• Supporting marketing campaigns that drive patient acquisition and service utilization.

• Reinforcing the health system's reputation for quality, innovation, and compassionate care.

Growth Opportunities:

• Creative Leadership: Potential to advance into roles such as Creative Director, leading larger design teams and shaping the overall creative vision for the organization.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like digital design, UI/UX for healthcare platforms, or brand strategy within the healthcare sector.

• Project Management: Transition into a dedicated Project Manager role within Marketing or Communications, leveraging design process understanding.

• Mentorship: Take on formal or informal mentorship of junior designers, sharing knowledge and guiding their development.

• Industry Engagement: Represent the organization at industry conferences or contribute to professional design communities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression within a large healthcare system, moving from senior contributor to leadership or specialized expertise. The impact is tied directly to brand perception and communication effectiveness, making it a strategically important position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is located at the Broadmoor Campus, suggesting a professional office environment. This likely includes dedicated workspaces, meeting rooms, and access to standard office amenities. Given the "On-site" remote status, the expectation is regular in-office presence for collaboration and access to resources.

Office Location(s): Broadmoor Campus, Lenexa, Kansas. This location offers access to the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, with potential for commute from various surrounding suburbs. Specific details regarding parking, public transportation access, and proximity to amenities would be beneficial for candidates.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role necessitates interaction with marketing teams, project managers, and potentially clinical staff, suggesting a collaborative office layout or strong emphasis on scheduled meetings.

• Tools & Technology: Access to up-to-date design software (Adobe Creative Suite), hardware, and potentially a digital asset management system (DAM) or brand portal will be essential for efficient workflow.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for daily interaction with colleagues in marketing, communications, and other departments to discuss projects, gather requirements, and provide design input.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday during business hours. While the role is on-site, the demands of creative projects may occasionally require flexibility to meet deadlines, potentially involving some overtime or adjusted hours, though this should be balanced with work-life integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration, team integration, and access to office-based resources. Candidates should be prepared for a structured work environment typical of a large healthcare institution.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or HR representative will likely review applications and conduct a brief phone screen to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to submit a portfolio showcasing their best work. This is a critical step where the hiring team evaluates design quality, strategic thinking, and relevance to healthcare.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth interview with the hiring manager (e.g., Creative Director or Marketing Director) to discuss experience, design philosophy, project management skills, and specific examples from the portfolio.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with potential team members or key stakeholders from other departments (e.g., marketing specialists, clinical liaisons) to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate into the broader organization.

• Creative Challenge (Possible): A small design project or case study analysis might be assigned to assess problem-solving skills, creative approach, and execution under a time constraint.

• Final Interview: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader within the marketing or communications division.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest, most relevant projects. For a healthcare system, prioritize projects that demonstrate brand consistency, clear communication of complex information, and successful campaign execution. Include examples of both digital and print work.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the challenge, your role, the strategic approach, the design process, and the measurable results or impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Highlight Healthcare Relevance: If you have healthcare experience, make it prominent. If not, explain how your experience in other industries translates to the unique needs of a health system (e.g., empathy, clarity, trust).

• Showcase Process: Include examples that demonstrate your workflow, from initial concept sketches to final production, and how you manage feedback and revisions.

• Be Professional: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually polished. A personal website or a well-designed PDF are common formats.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Health System: Research The University of Kansas Health System's mission, values, current campaigns, and target audiences. Understand their brand voice and visual identity.

• Anticipate Design Problems: Consider common communication challenges in healthcare (e.g., explaining a new service, promoting wellness, patient education). Think about how design can solve these.

• Practice Articulation: Be ready to clearly articulate your design decisions, the rationale behind them, and how they align with strategic objectives. Practice presenting your portfolio with confidence and clarity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior creative role heavily relies on the portfolio. Candidates should prepare to not only show their work but also to deeply discuss their process, strategic thinking, and impact within a healthcare context. A potential creative challenge underscores the need for practical design skills and quick thinking.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is fundamental for all graphic design tasks.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: Familiarity with systems used for storing, organizing, and retrieving brand assets, logos, photos, and templates.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar platforms for tracking project progress and deadlines.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics (Basic Understanding): Awareness of how digital designs perform using tools like Google Analytics, understanding metrics related to engagement and traffic.

• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to interpret performance reports for marketing campaigns that include visual elements.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Platforms (Basic Understanding): Familiarity with how designs are implemented in email marketing platforms (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Mailchimp) to ensure proper formatting and responsiveness.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Experience working with CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Drupal) for web content updates.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. Experience with DAM systems and project management tools indicates an ability to work efficiently within a structured corporate environment. Basic understanding of web analytics and CMS platforms is beneficial for ensuring digital designs are effective and easily deployable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Patient-Centricity: All design work should ultimately support the well-being and experience of patients, reflecting the health system's core mission.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to producing high-quality, polished, and error-free creative work that upholds the reputation of the health system.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong emphasis on working effectively with colleagues across departments, valuing diverse perspectives and contributing to a supportive team environment.

• Integrity & Trust: Upholding ethical standards in design and communications, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and credibility in all visual messaging.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: A willingness to explore new design approaches, adapt to evolving technologies, and continuously refine skills and processes to better serve the organization.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively partnering with marketing, communications, clinical teams, and administrative staff to understand needs, gather requirements, and ensure design solutions are aligned with strategic goals.

• Feedback Exchange: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback in a professional manner, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share design expertise, best practices, and insights with team members and stakeholders to elevate the overall quality of communications.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication regarding project status, potential challenges, and design rationale to ensure all parties are informed and aligned.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values of a healthcare organization heavily influence its culture. Expect a strong emphasis on patient care, ethical conduct, and a collaborative spirit. The Senior Graphic Designer role requires not only creative talent but also the ability to embody these values in their work and interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Project Needs: Ensuring all design outputs adhere to strict brand guidelines while also meeting the unique requirements and creative briefs of diverse projects and departments.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Expectations: Effectively navigating the varying priorities, feedback styles, and creative visions of multiple internal clients and external partners.

• Adapting to Evolving Healthcare Landscape: Staying current with healthcare trends, patient communication needs, and digital advancements to ensure designs remain relevant and effective.

• High Volume of Work: Managing a potentially high volume of design requests from various departments within a large organization, requiring strong prioritization and time management skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Access to workshops and training on new design software features, emerging design trends (e.g., UX/UI for healthcare apps, AR/VR applications in health education), and advanced visual storytelling.

• Healthcare Marketing Specialization: Opportunities to deepen understanding of healthcare marketing strategies, regulatory compliance in health communications, and patient behavior.

• Leadership Development: Training programs focused on creative leadership, team management, project management, and strategic planning within a corporate environment.

• Industry Conferences: Sponsorship to attend relevant design and healthcare marketing conferences to network, learn about industry best practices, and gain new perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to tackle complex communication challenges within a mission-critical industry. The growth potential is significant, offering pathways to leadership, specialization, and continuous learning in both design and healthcare marketing.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance strict brand guidelines with a creative brief that pushed those boundaries. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses ability to innovate within constraints).

• "Walk us through a complex design project from conception to completion, highlighting your role, the challenges you faced, and the strategies you employed to ensure success." (Evaluates project management and problem-solving).

• "How do you approach gathering requirements and incorporating feedback from diverse stakeholders, especially when there are conflicting opinions?" (Tests communication and collaboration skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about The University of Kansas Health System, and how do you see your design skills contributing to our mission?" (Assesses research and alignment with organizational values).

• "How do you stay updated on design trends, and how do you integrate new techniques or technologies into your work, particularly within a structured environment?" (Gauges proactivity and adaptability).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the challenge, the solution (your design), and the results. Quantify impact whenever possible.

• Focus on Strategy: Explain the "why" behind your design choices, linking them to business or health objectives. Don't just show pretty pictures; explain the strategic thinking.

• Demonstrate Process: Show rough concepts, iterations, and how you incorporated feedback to illustrate your workflow and problem-solving approach.

• Tailor to Healthcare: Highlight any healthcare-specific projects or explain how your transferable skills (e.g., clarity, empathy, precision) are relevant to this industry.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well, stays within time limits, and keeps the audience engaged. Be prepared for follow-up questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only creative talent but also strategic thinking, strong communication, and an understanding of the healthcare industry's unique needs. The portfolio is the cornerstone of the application, so candidates must be prepared to discuss it in detail.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Workday job portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects that align with healthcare marketing, brand consistency, and multi-channel design execution. Select 4-6 strong examples that showcase your strategic approach and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 5+ years of marketing and design experience, specific software proficiencies (Adobe Creative Suite), project management skills, and any healthcare-related experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and project management experience, particularly using examples from your portfolio. Prepare to discuss your understanding of brand strategy and stakeholder collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research The University of Kansas Health System's mission, values, recent campaigns, and target audiences. Understand their brand identity and how your design contributions can support their goals.

⚠️ 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.