Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: University of St. Thomas

Location: Houston, Texas, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing & Communications Operations

Date Posted: August 17, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and production of a comprehensive range of marketing collateral, encompassing both print and digital formats, to support university-wide initiatives and brand campaigns.

• Manage and update the university website, focusing on page builds, layout enhancements, asset optimization, and essential technical troubleshooting to ensure a modern and functional online presence.

• Uphold and enforce university brand standards across all design outputs and web content, acting as a key quality control point for the Marketing & Communications team.

• Collaborate closely with the creative team to strategically plan and prioritize graphic design projects, content calendars, and production schedules, ensuring efficient workflow management.

• Provide mentorship and hands-on guidance to in-house designers, freelancers, and student interns, fostering skill development and ensuring high-quality design execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a university's Marketing & Communications department, implying a need for strong brand guardianship and the ability to translate complex institutional messaging into accessible visual communications. The "Senior" title, coupled with 10-15 years of experience, suggests significant autonomy and leadership potential, including mentoring and strategic input on project pipelines.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce a wide spectrum of marketing collateral, including but not limited to: print materials (brochures, flyers, posters), digital advertisements, email templates, event signage, social media graphics, and comprehensive brand campaigns.

• Execute design and ongoing updates for the university website, which includes page construction, layout modifications, optimization of images and digital assets, and basic technical troubleshooting to ensure optimal performance and user experience.

• Translate diverse content and requests originating from various university departments into visually compelling and on-brand designs, fostering collaborative input with the Marketing & Communications team and university clients.

• Act as a primary guardian of UST brand standards, ensuring consistent application across all design work and web content, thereby serving as a critical point of quality control for the entire team.

• Partner with the broader creative team to collaboratively plan, strategize, and prioritize graphic design projects, manage content calendars, and establish realistic production schedules.

• Mentor and guide in-house designers, external freelancers, and student interns, offering constructive feedback and practical, hands-on assistance on design principles and execution techniques.

• Independently manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines, proactively identifying and escalating any concerns related to scope, timelines, or resource availability to senior leadership.

• Ensure all web-based and design-related work adheres strictly to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and university compliance requirements, promoting inclusivity and legal adherence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "minimal oversight" and "managing multiple concurrent projects independently" highlights the need for strong self-management and proactive communication skills. The responsibility for "accessibility standards and university compliance" is critical for an educational institution and requires a nuanced understanding of regulatory requirements in design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a closely related field, OR equivalent professional experience demonstrating a comparable level of expertise and practical application.

Experience: 10 to 15 years of progressive professional graphic design experience, with a substantial portion dedicated to creating effective designs for both print and digital platforms.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, for creating high-quality print and digital assets.

• Demonstrated hands-on experience managing and building web pages within WordPress, including comfort navigating the WordPress admin interface, utilizing custom fields, managing plugins, and performing basic HTML/CSS troubleshooting.

• Strong understanding and practical application of typography principles, layout design, and brand system management, with a portfolio that clearly showcases versatility across various media.

• Proven ability to maintain and enforce brand style guides effectively across multiple contributors and departments, ensuring brand consistency.

• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with a demonstrated capacity to manage a high-volume request queue and prioritize competing demands efficiently.

• Familiarity with web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and an understanding of how to implement them in design and web development. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Figma or similar collaborative design and prototyping tools.

• Animation and illustration skills, adding further value to the creative output.

• Prior experience in mentoring or directing junior designers, interns, or freelance creative professionals.

• Previous experience working within the higher education sector, a nonprofit organization, or another mission-driven institution.

• A demonstrated comfort level working within the context of a Catholic university and the ability to represent its unique mission and values through design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that "demonstrates range across print and digital work" is paramount. The specific mention of "Resumes must direct the search committee to a digital portfolio" indicates that the portfolio is not just supplementary but a critical component of the application review process. The explicit need for WordPress proficiency and basic HTML/CSS troubleshooting points to a role that bridges traditional graphic design with front-end web content management.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive digital portfolio showcasing a minimum of 10-15 years of professional graphic design work, with a clear emphasis on both print and digital projects.

• Case studies or project examples that highlight the applicant's ability to manage and execute design projects from conception through completion, demonstrating a structured approach to problem-solving.

• Visual examples of website design and development, specifically demonstrating WordPress page building capabilities, layout adaptation, and asset optimization.

• Evidence of brand guardianship, including examples of maintaining and enforcing brand style guides across multiple projects or clients.

• Demonstrations of typography and layout skills applied effectively across various mediums, showcasing visual hierarchy and aesthetic appeal. Process Documentation:

• Portfolios should ideally include examples of process documentation or workflow overviews for key projects, illustrating how designs were developed and implemented.

• Applicants should be prepared to discuss their personal workflow for managing multiple design requests, including how they prioritize, track progress, and communicate with stakeholders.

• Examples of how accessibility standards were incorporated into design and web development processes would be highly beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Senior" title and the emphasis on project management, a portfolio that not only displays creative output but also demonstrates a structured approach to design processes, project lifecycle management, and stakeholder collaboration will be highly valued. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and showcase successful outcomes is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on an analysis of similar Senior Graphic Designer roles in Houston, TX, with 10-15 years of experience in higher education or marketing, the estimated annual salary range is $75,000 - $95,000 USD. This estimate accounts for the specific requirements, including web design expertise, brand management, and mentoring responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions.

• Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and university holidays.

• Professional development opportunities, including workshops, conferences, and tuition remission for eligible employees and dependents.

• Access to university facilities and resources, such as libraries and recreational centers.

• Potential for hybrid work arrangements after an initial onboarding and performance evaluation period, subject to departmental needs and manager approval.

Working Hours: Standard full-time work hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. While flexibility may be offered for specific tasks or projects, core hours and on-site presence are expected, especially for collaborative team activities and client interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on industry benchmarks for senior-level design roles in a major metropolitan area like Houston, considering the specific requirements of the position and the employer's sector (higher education). Benefits are typical for a university setting, emphasizing long-term employee well-being and professional growth. The mention of potential hybrid work is inferred from modern workplace trends but contingent on departmental needs.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education. The University of St. Thomas operates within a unique sector that combines academic rigor with a mission-driven approach, requiring design to be both visually appealing and contextually appropriate to its Catholic intellectual tradition.

Company Size: The University of St. Thomas is a medium to large institution, employing a significant number of faculty and staff. This size implies a complex organizational structure with diverse departments and stakeholders, offering ample opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and exposure to a wide range of design needs.

Founded: The University of St. Thomas was founded in 1940. This history suggests a stable institution with established traditions and a commitment to its long-term mission, which can influence its brand identity and communication strategies.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Graphic Designer will be a lead contributor within the in-house Marketing & Communications creative team, likely comprising other designers, writers, and marketing specialists.

• The reporting structure will likely place this role under a Creative Director or Director of Marketing & Communications, with direct oversight of junior designers, freelancers, and interns.

• Collaboration will be extensive, involving close partnerships with various university departments, faculty, staff, and external vendors to translate their communication needs into effective visual designs. Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: While not a data analyst role, design decisions will be informed by an understanding of target audiences, campaign performance, and web analytics to ensure designs are effective and meet strategic objectives.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role involves contributing to and managing project pipelines, ensuring efficient scheduling, resource allocation, and timely delivery of design assets.

• Automation & Efficiency: Utilizing design software efficiently, streamlining repetitive tasks, and potentially exploring automation within design workflows to maximize output and maintain quality.

Company Website: https://www.stthom.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of the university's Catholic identity is significant. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate an understanding of and respect for this mission in their work and interactions. The size of the university suggests a dynamic environment with a continuous stream of design projects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level individual contributor role with leadership and mentoring responsibilities. It sits at a point where significant design expertise is combined with project management acumen and the ability to influence brand consistency across the institution. It's a crucial role for maintaining the visual integrity and communication effectiveness of the university.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will report to a manager within the Marketing & Communications department, likely a Creative Director or Marketing Director. They will also have direct or indirect oversight of junior designers, freelancers, and student interns, providing guidance and feedback.

Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the university's external perception, internal communication clarity, and the effectiveness of its marketing and recruitment efforts. By ensuring on-brand, accessible, and engaging visual content, this role contributes significantly to student recruitment, donor engagement, and the overall reputation of the University of St. Thomas.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in web design, user experience (UX) principles, and potentially explore motion graphics or advanced digital design techniques.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Creative Director role or lead specific design initiatives, taking on more strategic planning and team management responsibilities.

• Specialization: Focus on specific areas like digital marketing design, web design leadership, or brand system management within the university context.

• Professional Development: Access to workshops, training, and conferences relevant to graphic design, web development, and higher education marketing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation implies a career progression path that could lead to management or highly specialized individual contributor roles. The emphasis on mentoring suggests an opportunity to develop leadership skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role at the University of St. Thomas campus in Houston, Texas. The work environment will be a professional office setting within the Marketing & Communications department.

Office Location(s): The primary work location will be on the University of St. Thomas campus in Houston, TX (77006). Specific building or office details would be provided upon hire.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be collaborative, fostering interaction with other members of the Marketing & Communications team, including writers, marketing specialists, and potentially other designers.

• Access to standard office equipment, design software, and potentially a dedicated workstation will be provided.

• Opportunities for face-to-face interaction with university clients and colleagues will be frequent, supporting clear communication and project alignment.

Work Schedule: The role follows a standard 40-hour work week, typically Monday through Friday. While some flexibility might be afforded for specific tasks or project deadlines, consistent on-site presence is expected for team collaboration, client meetings, and overall workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is clear. The collaborative nature of the workspace is emphasized, suggesting that interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively within a team are as important as technical design skills.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of resumes and, critically, the provided digital portfolio to assess design skills, experience, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: Candidates may be asked to walk through their portfolio, discussing their process, design rationale, and problem-solving approaches for selected projects. This stage will likely assess technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and WordPress.

• Skills Challenge/Case Study: A practical design exercise or case study may be assigned to evaluate the candidate's ability to translate a brief into an on-brand design, manage project constraints, and meet specific requirements (e.g., accessibility).

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Marketing & Communications team and potentially key university stakeholders to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and communication effectiveness.

• Final Interview: A concluding interview with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your expertise in print, digital, and web design (especially WordPress). Highlight projects demonstrating brand management and accessibility considerations.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your approach, design decisions, challenges faced, and the final outcome. Use visuals to illustrate your process.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, successful campaign reach).

• Highlight Mentoring: If applicable, include examples or descriptions of how you have mentored or guided junior designers.

• User-Friendly Format: Ensure your digital portfolio is easily navigable, visually appealing, and loads quickly.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and deconstruct any design challenge. Clarify objectives, target audience, and any specific constraints or requirements.

• Brand Alignment: Research the University of St. Thomas's brand guidelines thoroughly. Your solution must align with their visual identity and mission.

• Prioritize & Execute: Focus on delivering a strong concept and execution within the given timeframe. It's better to have a well-executed core concept than a rushed, incomplete attempt at multiple ideas.

• Prepare to Justify: Be ready to articulate your design choices, explaining how they address the brief and align with the university's brand and values.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is explicitly stated as critical. Candidates should prepare to discuss their design philosophy, problem-solving methodologies, and how they integrate brand standards and accessibility into their work. The interview process is likely to be multi-stage, focusing on both creative and collaborative capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency required in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop for all print and digital design tasks.

• WordPress: Demonstrated hands-on experience managing and building pages, including familiarity with the admin interface, custom fields, and plugins.

• Figma (Preferred): Familiarity with Figma or similar collaborative design and prototyping tools is a plus, indicating a modern approach to design workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, understanding how to interpret basic web analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) to inform design decisions for web content and digital ads will be beneficial.

• Familiarity with tools used for tracking digital ad performance and email campaign engagement. CRM & Automation:

• Understanding how design assets integrate with CRM systems or marketing automation platforms for campaign deployment (e.g., email builders) is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements are Adobe Creative Suite and WordPress. Proficiency in these tools is non-negotiable. Familiarity with collaborative design tools like Figma is a strong differentiator, suggesting a move towards more integrated design workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven Excellence: A commitment to advancing the university's mission through high-quality, impactful design that reflects its Catholic intellectual tradition.

• Brand Stewardship: A dedication to maintaining and elevating the university's brand identity with consistency, accuracy, and aesthetic integrity across all communications.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A proactive and supportive approach to working with colleagues across departments, fostering strong relationships and ensuring design solutions meet diverse needs.

• Continuous Improvement: An openness to learning new design techniques, software, and best practices, particularly in web design and accessibility, to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires seamless integration with marketing strategists, content creators, and university stakeholders to ensure design aligns with broader communication goals.

• Feedback-Oriented: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and incorporated to refine designs and improve project outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing best practices, design trends, and technical tips among team members, fostering collective growth and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values are deeply intertwined with its identity as a Catholic university. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how their professional values align with these principles, particularly in terms of ethical representation and mission support through their design work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Diverse Needs: Ensuring a cohesive brand identity across a wide range of university departments, each with unique communication goals and aesthetic preferences.

• Managing High-Volume, Competing Priorities: Effectively juggling numerous design requests with varying deadlines and levels of urgency, requiring robust organizational and prioritization skills.

• Keeping Pace with Digital Trends & Technologies: Continuously adapting design strategies and skills to incorporate new digital platforms, design tools, and evolving web standards (e.g., accessibility).

• Translating Complex Institutional Messaging: Converting nuanced academic or administrative information into clear, engaging, and visually appealing designs that resonate with target audiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Web Design & UX: Opportunities to deepen expertise in user experience design, UI patterns, and responsive web design principles.

• Motion Graphics & Animation: Potential to develop skills in creating animated graphics for digital campaigns and web content.

• Leadership & Mentorship Training: Formal or informal training in guiding junior designers, managing projects, and providing constructive feedback.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Access to professional development events focused on higher education marketing, graphic design, and web design trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior role in a large, mission-driven organization. The growth opportunities are geared towards enhancing both technical design skills and leadership capabilities, aligning with the senior nature of the position.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting feedback from multiple stakeholders on a design project. How did you manage it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on stakeholder management, negotiation, and prioritizing brand objectives.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible to all users, particularly within the context of a university website?" (Prepare to discuss specific accessibility standards and practical implementation strategies.)

• "Walk us through your process for designing a campaign that needs to appeal to both prospective students and potential donors." (Demonstrate strategic thinking, audience segmentation, and brand alignment in your approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your initial impressions of the University of St. Thomas's brand identity? How would you approach maintaining and evolving it?" (Research the university's current branding and be ready to offer thoughtful observations.)

• "How do you see your role contributing to the mission and values of a Catholic university through design?" (Reflect on how design can support an institution's ethos and mission.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers. What is your philosophy on providing creative feedback?" (Prepare examples that showcase your leadership and guidance style.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each project, tell a story that includes the challenge, your creative process, design rationale, and the measurable impact or outcome.

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out how your portfolio pieces demonstrate your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, typography, layout, and brand management.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, prepare to demonstrate live aspects of your web design work or interactive prototypes.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Select 3-5 strong, diverse projects that best represent your capabilities for the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, strong communication skills, and a deep understanding of design principles as applied to higher education marketing. Be ready to articulate your process and justify your design choices with clear reasoning.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the University of St. Thomas's applicant portal.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in higher education marketing, web design (especially WordPress), brand management, and mentoring. Use keywords from the job description to ensure ATS compatibility.

• Prepare Your Digital Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, easily navigable, and showcases a strong range of print, digital, and web design projects, with clear case studies and examples of brand consistency and accessibility.

• Research the University: Familiarize yourself with the University of St. Thomas's mission, values, current branding, and recent marketing campaigns. Understand their Catholic identity and how it shapes their communications.

• Practice Your Portfolio Walkthrough: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work for each selected project.

⚠️ 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.