Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: Walker & Dunlop

Location: Denver, CO, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

Experience Level: 7+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the end-to-end design process for marketing collateral, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and brand integrity.

• Drive concept development and execute innovative visual solutions to communicate complex ideas effectively.

• Collaborate closely with creative leadership and stakeholders to refine designs and maintain brand standards across all projects.

• Manage project workflows, prioritize tasks efficiently, and contribute to process improvement initiatives within the creative team.

• Support the QA process and ensure the final delivery of high-quality, impactful design assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is designated as Hybrid, requiring 3 days in the office and offering 2 remote days per week, specifically Monday and Friday. The job description emphasizes a B2B design background as preferred, suggesting a focus on corporate communications and professional client-facing materials.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Actively participate in group brainstorming and concept development sessions with the Creative Director, Art Director, and key stakeholders to generate innovative design ideas.

• Interpret project requirements and translate them into compelling visual designs that effectively convey desired messages and brand identity.

• Take ownership of the entire design lifecycle, from initial concept and prototyping through to the preparation of final production-ready mechanicals.

• Create visually appealing and impactful brochures, presentations, and other marketing collateral that consistently upholds and elevates the Walker & Dunlop brand.

• Work closely with the Creative Director, Art Director, and stakeholders, diligently taking direction and implementing feedback to enhance design quality and ensure adherence to brand standards.

• Manage and meticulously document the approval process for each project type, ensuring clear communication and accountability.

• Lead design initiatives and collaborate effectively across the creative team to facilitate design direction and provide support for other projects as needed.

• Efficiently prioritize multiple projects and manage tasks to meet deadlines without compromising quality.

• Provide constructive input to continuously improve the creative process and operational efficiency within the department.

• Actively participate in the Quality Assurance (QA) process to ensure all design outputs meet high standards.

• Maintain a positive and collaborative attitude, sharing a passion for growing the Walker & Dunlop brand with colleagues.

• Communicate and problem-solve daily with teammates, clients, vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth project execution.

• Continuously learn and expand creative skills to foster career growth and expertise in graphic design.

• Perform other duties as assigned to support the Marketing team's objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on ownership, collaboration, and process management, typical of a senior role. The inclusion of "Manage and document the approval process" and "Assist in the QA process" points to an operations-minded approach within a creative function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or a related discipline.

Experience: Minimum of 7+ years of professional experience as a Graphic Designer. B2B design experience is preferred.

Required Skills:

• High level of proficiency with industry-standard Adobe Creative Cloud applications: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly for presentation development.

• Demonstrated experience in creating engaging multimedia presentations.

• Thorough understanding of marketing strategy and the ability to translate strategy into effective design solutions.

• Proven experience working with clients to identify needs and present comprehensive design solutions.

• Strong data visualization design skills, capable of translating complex data into clear and impactful visuals.

• Exceptional typography skills, with a keen eye for aesthetic and readability.

• Ability to take direction, work efficiently under pressure, and meet tight deadlines.

• Clear and effective communication skills for collaborating with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

• Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all design work.

• Self-motivated with the ability to multitask, work independently, and quickly learn new technical information.

• Flexible problem-solving capabilities to adapt to changing circumstances and project needs.

• Strong project management, organizational, and time management skills.

• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills for productive engagement with other design professionals.

• A proactive approach to staying current with commercial design trends and leading-edge creativity.

• Ability to demonstrate ownership, embrace challenges, acknowledge growth opportunities, and exhibit patience when learning new processes.

• Courtesy, respect, and thoughtfulness in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders. Preferred Skills:

• B2B design experience is a significant plus, indicating familiarity with corporate branding and professional communication needs.

• Experience with digital design tools and platforms beyond Adobe CC.

• Familiarity with project management software used in creative workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "marketing strategy and ability to execute strategy with design solutions," "data visualization design skills," and "project management, organizational skills, and time management skills" indicates that candidates with a strong understanding of how design supports business objectives and operational efficiency will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 7 years of design work, with a strong emphasis on B2B projects if available.

• Include examples of marketing collateral such as brochures and presentations, demonstrating effective brand application and strategic communication.

• Present case studies that highlight your involvement in the full design process, from concept development to final mechanicals.

• Feature examples of data visualization projects, illustrating your ability to translate complex information into clear and impactful graphics.

• Demonstrate exceptional typography skills through various project examples.

• Include examples of multimedia presentations created using tools like PowerPoint or Keynote. Process Documentation:

• Clearly outline your approach to concept development and your role in brainstorming sessions.

• Detail your methodology for managing the design approval process and ensuring adherence to brand standards.

• Explain your system for prioritizing projects and managing multiple tasks efficiently to meet deadlines.

• Provide examples of how you have contributed to improving creative processes within a team environment.

• Showcase your involvement in QA processes for design projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Applicants should curate their portfolios to explicitly demonstrate experience with the full design lifecycle, strategic thinking, data visualization, and process management, aligning with the operational aspects of a senior creative role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: An estimated base salary range of $75,000 - $85,000 per year. This range is subject to adjustment based on the applicant's relevant work experience, applicable knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Bonus: Discretionary bonus potential is available.

Benefits:

• Up to 83% subsidized medical payroll deductions.

• Competitive dental and vision benefits.

• 401(k) with a company match.

• Pre-tax transit and commuting benefits.

• A robust health and wellness program, including cash rewards and access to health, engagement, and balance resources.

• Paid maternity and parental leave, along with other family paid leave programs.

• Company-paid life insurance.

• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.

• Health Savings Account (HSA).

• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

• Career development opportunities.

• Encouragement and opportunities to give back through volunteer hours and donation matching.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, with an expectation of attendance from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm local time, Tuesday through Thursday in the office. Mondays and Fridays offer the flexibility of remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on the information in the job description. For a precise figure, candidates should consult with the hiring manager or HR. The hybrid work schedule indicates a structured approach to work-life balance, common in established organizations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Commercial Real Estate Capital Markets. Walker & Dunlop is a significant provider of capital to this sector, enabling property owners and operators.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the company's description as one of the largest providers and its mention of multiple benefits and structured programs suggest a mid-to-large enterprise size, likely over 1,000 employees.

Founded: The company was founded in 1937, indicating a long-standing history and stability in the market.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Marketing department, specifically the Creative team. This team is described as a "growing in-house agency" within the company.

• The Creative team collaborates with other marketing specialties, including Brand & Content, Marketing Strategy & Planning, Digital, PR/Social Media, and Events.

• The Senior Graphic Designer will report to or work closely with a Creative Director and/or Art Director, and will collaborate with stakeholders across various departments. Methodology:

• The Marketing department focuses on building and promoting the W&D brand, emphasizing excellent internal and external service.

• The Creative team is expected to be highly creative, passionate, and motivated, driving marketing efforts to the next level.

• Collaboration is key, with an emphasis on group brainstorming, concept development, and working across the creative team.

• A data-driven approach is implied through the "Marketing Operations and Analytics" specialty within the department and the requirement for "Strong data visualization design skills."

• Process improvement is encouraged, with the Senior Graphic Designer expected to "Provide input to continually improve the creative process."

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "meaningful social, environmental, and economic change" suggests a commitment to corporate social responsibility, which may influence team culture and project focus. The "growing in-house agency" aspect implies an environment of development and opportunity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is classified as a "Senior Graphic Designer," indicating a mid-to-senior level role. It requires substantial experience (7+ years) and the ability to lead design initiatives, take ownership, and contribute to process improvement. The role is expected to actively participate in concept development and manage projects from start to finish, suggesting a level of autonomy and responsibility beyond entry-level or junior positions.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will work closely with the Creative Director, Art Director, and stakeholders. They will also collaborate across the creative team and potentially other marketing functions. This structure implies a collaborative environment where guidance is provided by leadership, but senior team members are expected to contribute strategically and lead specific design efforts.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role, the Senior Graphic Designer's work has a significant impact on the company's brand perception, client engagement, and marketing effectiveness. High-quality, strategically aligned design is crucial for communicating the company's value proposition in the commercial real estate capital markets, supporting sales efforts, and building brand recognition. The emphasis on "marketing strategy and ability to execute strategy with design solutions" directly links design output to business objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to expand creative skills, learn new technical information quickly, and stay on the leading edge of creativity by keeping up with commercial design trends.

• Leadership Development: Potential to lead design initiatives and mentor junior designers (though not explicitly stated, this is common for senior roles). The role requires taking ownership and contributing to process improvement.

• Career Progression: The position is within a "growing in-house agency" and a successful company, suggesting potential pathways for advancement within the Creative team or broader Marketing department, possibly into Art Director or Creative Director roles over time, or specialization in areas like data visualization or brand management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a blend of creative execution and process-oriented responsibilities, providing a solid platform for career growth within a stable, established company in the financial services sector. The hybrid model also aligns with modern workplace expectations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Denver, CO, and operates on a hybrid model. This means the employee will spend a significant portion of their work week in a physical office environment, with designated remote workdays.

Office Location(s): Denver, CO, United States. Specific office details regarding accessibility or amenities are not provided but can be assumed to be standard corporate office facilities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes active participation in group brainstorming sessions and close collaboration with teammates, the Creative Director, Art Director, and stakeholders. This suggests an open and interactive workspace designed to foster communication and idea exchange.

• Operations Tools & Technology: The primary tools will be Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Microsoft Office Suite. The company likely provides standard office equipment and IT support necessary for these tools.

• Team Interaction: Daily communication and problem-solving with teammates, clients, vendors, and other stakeholders are expected, indicating a dynamic work environment where interaction is frequent and varied.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week, with required office attendance from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm local time, Tuesday through Thursday. Monday and Friday are designated as remote workdays, offering flexibility. This structured schedule balances in-person collaboration with remote productivity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid structure indicates a modern approach to workplace flexibility, aiming to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration and team cohesion with the autonomy and focus offered by remote work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of the resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience against the job requirements.

• Portfolio Review: A crucial step where candidates will present their portfolio, discussing their process, design decisions, and impact. Expect questions about specific projects, particularly those involving B2B, data visualization, and strategic marketing collateral.

• Skills Assessment: May include a design challenge or exercise to evaluate proficiency in Adobe CC applications, typography, and the ability to respond to a brief under time constraints.

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Questions will focus on teamwork, problem-solving, communication, leadership potential, and how candidates handle feedback and manage multiple projects.

• Stakeholder/Team Interviews: Interviews with the Creative Director, Art Director, and potentially other team members or cross-functional stakeholders to assess cultural fit and collaborative capabilities.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-8 strong projects that best represent your skills in B2B design, marketing collateral (brochures, presentations), data visualization, and typography.

• Highlight Process: For each project, clearly articulate your role, the problem you were solving, your creative process (concept development, iterations, approvals), the tools used, and the final outcome.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved brand perception, successful project completion).

• Showcase Brand Adherence: Include examples where you successfully worked within or developed brand guidelines.

• Prepare for Discussion: Be ready to discuss your design choices, explain your rationale, and articulate how your work supports marketing strategy.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If a design challenge is given, meticulously read and understand the brief. Identify key objectives, target audience, and constraints.

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely across concept, execution, and refinement. Prioritize tasks to ensure you deliver a complete, albeit potentially unfinished, solution.

• Presentation Skills: Prepare a concise and clear presentation of your challenge work, highlighting your thought process and design decisions, similar to your portfolio review.

• Operations Focus: Be prepared to discuss how you would manage the project operationally – timelines, approvals, collaboration – even within the context of a design challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Senior" title and emphasis on process, expect interviewers to probe deeply into your project management skills, decision-making processes, and ability to mentor or lead aspects of design initiatives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud:

  • Photoshop: Essential for image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation. Expect tasks involving photo retouching, compositing, and creating web graphics.
  • Illustrator: Crucial for vector graphics, logo design, icon creation, and complex illustrations. This will be key for branding elements and infographics.
  • InDesign: The cornerstone for layout and design of print and digital publications, including brochures and presentations. Proficiency in creating multi-page documents with consistent styling is expected.

• Microsoft Office Suite:

  • PowerPoint: Highly relevant for creating multimedia presentations. Expect to design presentations that are not just visually appealing but also strategically effective and data-driven.
  • Word & Excel: Used for document creation, data handling, and collaboration, especially in conjunction with design projects.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a design tool, "Strong data visualization design skills" implies familiarity with interpreting data from analytics platforms. The designer will likely work with data provided by the Marketing Operations and Analytics team. CRM & Automation:

• The role does not directly involve CRM or automation tools, but understanding how marketing collateral is used in campaigns managed through CRM or marketing automation platforms would be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe CC and Microsoft Office Suite highlights the core technical requirements. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced proficiency, particularly in InDesign for collateral and PowerPoint for presentations, given the explicit responsibilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A strong emphasis on delivering high-quality work, meticulous attention to detail, and accuracy, ensuring that all design outputs meet professional standards.

• Brand Stewardship: A deep commitment to preserving and elevating the Walker & Dunlop brand through consistent application of brand standards across all creative projects.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing productive engagement with other design professionals and a willingness to work collaboratively across the creative team and with various stakeholders.

• Continuous Improvement: An openness to providing input for process improvement and a desire to learn and expand creative skills, reflecting a growth mindset.

• Efficiency & Responsiveness: The ability to work quickly and efficiently, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines, demonstrating operational effectiveness within a creative context.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires daily communication and problem-solving with teammates, clients, vendors, and stakeholders, indicating a highly integrated and communicative approach.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: Working closely with the Creative Director, Art Director, and stakeholders implies a culture where feedback is actively sought, given, and implemented to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: The expectation to "share a passion for growing the Walker & Dunlop brand with other career-minded individuals" suggests a culture that encourages shared learning and professional development within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values seem to blend creative passion with operational discipline, emphasizing that strong design is built on a foundation of process, collaboration, and a commitment to business objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand & Strategy: Effectively translating diverse stakeholder needs and strategic marketing objectives into innovative yet brand-compliant designs.

• Managing High Volume & Tight Deadlines: Efficiently prioritizing and executing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, ensuring quality is maintained.

• Adapting to Evolving Design Trends: Staying current with commercial design trends and integrating new techniques or styles into existing brand frameworks without compromising consistency.

• Cross-functional Communication: Navigating communication and feedback from various departments and stakeholders, each with potentially different perspectives and priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Developing stronger project management, process documentation, and QA skills within a creative workflow.

• Industry Expertise: Gaining deeper insights into the commercial real estate capital markets industry through exposure to marketing materials and company objectives.

• Creative Skill Specialization: Opportunity to hone skills in specific areas like data visualization, multimedia presentations, or advanced typography.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced Creative Directors and Art Directors, and possibly mentor junior designers as the team grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity to blend creative artistry with operational rigor, preparing individuals for leadership roles within creative departments or broader marketing functions that require both strategic thinking and process management.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing stakeholder feedback on a design project. How did you manage it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses communication, negotiation, and process management skills.)

• "How do you approach translating complex marketing strategies into clear, impactful visual designs? Walk us through a specific example." (Evaluates strategic thinking and design execution.)

• "Given our focus on B2B and commercial real estate, how would you ensure your designs resonate with our target audience while adhering to brand standards?" (Tests industry awareness and brand application.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Walker & Dunlop's role in the commercial real estate industry, and how do you see design supporting our business goals?" (Assesses research and strategic alignment.)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment within a creative team. How do you contribute to a positive and productive atmosphere?" (Gauges cultural fit and teamwork approach.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends, and how do you decide which trends are appropriate to incorporate into a corporate brand?" (Explores continuous learning and judgment.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation with a clear beginning (the challenge/objective), middle (your process, solutions, and iterations), and end (the outcome and impact).

• Focus on Process & Operations: For each project, detail your workflow, how you managed approvals, any challenges you overcame, and how you ensured efficiency.

• Data Visualization Emphasis: If you have strong data visualization examples, be prepared to explain the data source, your design choices for clarity, and how the visualization aids understanding.

• B2B Relevance: Highlight projects that demonstrate your understanding of corporate communication, professional aesthetics, and target audience considerations for business-to-business clients.

• Tools & Techniques: Briefly mention the software and techniques used, especially Adobe CC applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss not just the visual appeal of your work, but also the strategic thinking, process, and operational considerations that went into it. Demonstrating this dual capability is key for a Senior role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 7+ years of experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office, experience with B2B design, data visualization, and project management skills. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio showcasing 5-8 of your strongest B2B marketing collateral (brochures, presentations), data visualization, and typography projects. Ensure you can articulate your design process, strategic rationale, and project management approach for each piece.

• Research Walker & Dunlop: Familiarize yourself with the company's services, mission, recent marketing campaigns, and brand identity. Understand their position in the commercial real estate capital markets.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on explaining your design process, problem-solving skills, and how your work aligns with business objectives and operational efficiency. Be ready to discuss your experience with hybrid work environments.

⚠️ 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.

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