Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer

Company: Westminster University

Location: Salt Lake City, UT, United States

Job Type: Full-Time Benefited

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

Date Posted: 2026-08-10

Experience Level: 3+ Years Professional Experience

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for maintaining and evolving Westminster University's visual brand identity across all communication channels, acting as the primary visual brand steward.

• The Senior Graphic Designer will be responsible for translating strategic marketing objectives into compelling visual solutions for print, digital, social media, advertising, and editorial materials.

• This position involves significant project management, from conceptualization through execution, ensuring high-quality, timely delivery of design assets.

• The role requires strong collaboration with internal stakeholders and potentially external vendors, necessitating excellent client-facing and communication skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Senior Graphic Designer," the responsibilities and required experience suggest a role that blends creative execution with strategic brand management and operational oversight within a marketing and communications department. The focus on brand stewardship and managing print production indicates a need for operational rigor in design processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand Execution & Development: Execute and evolve Westminster University's visual brand across all print, digital, social media, advertising, and editorial materials, ensuring consistency and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Creative Concepting & Strategy: Contribute creative concepts, campaign ideas, and strategic design solutions that advance university goals, strengthen the brand, and enhance project impact.

• Project Management & Execution: Manage individual design projects from intake to final delivery, ensuring high-quality, timely execution, and coordinating with the Director of Marketing and other team members.

• Print Production & Vendor Management: Oversee print production processes, manage vendor relationships, including estimates, specifications, timelines, and delivery of final materials.

• Template Management & Brand Portal: Manage and maintain university-wide design templates (Canva, PowerPoint) and oversee the university's brand portal (CLC Brand Manager 360) for campus-wide resource access.

• Mentorship & Team Support: Provide mentorship and design guidance to the junior graphic designer and student employees, fostering a culture of craft and creative growth.

• Stakeholder Collaboration & Presentation: Partner with marketing, communications, events, web, and campus partners to translate institutional priorities into compelling visual communications; present creative work to stakeholders, articulating design decisions and providing guidance on best practices.

• Trend Analysis & Continuous Improvement: Stay current on design trends, production best practices, and emerging technologies to continuously improve the university's creative capabilities and output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative leadership, operational management of design projects and assets, and a strategic approach to visual communication within a university setting. The emphasis on managing templates, brand portals, and print production underscores the operational aspects of this design role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field. Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional graphic design experience, with significant time spent in an agency or client-facing environment, demonstrating a strong understanding of multi-channel execution. Required Skills:

• Expert Proficiency in Design Software: Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma.

• Brand Management: Proven ability to act as a visual brand steward, ensuring consistency and excellence across all materials.

• Multi-Channel Design Execution: Demonstrated experience in creating design assets for print, digital, social media, advertising, and editorial platforms.

• Project Management: Strong ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.

• Client-Facing & Communication Skills: Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with experience presenting concepts, asking clarifying questions, and navigating feedback effectively.

• Visual Design Principles: Deep understanding of layout, hierarchy, typography, contrast, composition, and exceptional attention to detail.

• Familiarity with Campus Tools: Experience with tools commonly used by campus clients, such as Canva and PowerPoint, to support and guide them effectively.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Graphics/Animation: Experience with motion graphics or basic animation tools like Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, or similar.

• Illustration: Illustration skills or demonstrated experience writing briefs for and managing illustrators and specialty creatives.

• Higher Education Experience: Prior experience working within higher education or a similarly complex institutional environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize a blend of technical design proficiency, strategic brand thinking, operational project management, and strong interpersonal communication abilities, which are crucial for a senior role in a university marketing department.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Brand Campaign Showcase: Include examples of successful brand campaigns demonstrating cohesive visual strategies across multiple channels.

• Multi-Channel Execution: Showcase a range of work across print (e.g., magazines, brochures), digital (e.g., web graphics, social media ads), and editorial platforms.

• Strategic Design Thinking: Provide case studies or project descriptions that highlight how design solutions addressed specific strategic objectives or challenges.

• Client Collaboration & Feedback Integration: Examples that illustrate the process of working with clients, presenting concepts, and incorporating feedback to refine designs.

• Attention to Detail: Submissions should reflect meticulous attention to detail in layout, typography, and overall execution.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your process for managing design projects from brief to final delivery, including intake, concept development, revision cycles, and final output.

• Brand Guideline Implementation: Demonstrate how you have applied and enforced brand guidelines in past roles.

• System Usage & Efficiency: Highlight experience with design systems, template creation, and managing digital asset libraries (like brand portals) to ensure efficiency and consistency.

• Print Production Management: Be ready to explain your process for managing print vendors, including RFPs, spec sheets, proofing, and quality control.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process, strategic thinking behind their work, and their ability to manage projects and brand assets operationally, not just creatively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• $62,000 - $72,000 per year. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Likely a 401(k) or similar plan with potential employer matching contributions.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and conferences to enhance skills.

• Tuition Benefits: Potential for tuition remission or discounts for employees or dependents, common in educational institutions.

• Life and Disability Insurance: Standard coverage options to provide financial security.

Working Hours:

• 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, with the expectation of on-site presence at the Westminster University Campus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Senior Graphic Designer role in the Salt Lake City area, especially within the education sector. The benefits package is typical for a full-time, benefited position at a university, offering a comprehensive suite of advantages.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education (University)

Company Size: Westminster University is a private institution with a student body and faculty that typically places it in the mid-size category for universities. This means operations are structured but can still offer a degree of personal interaction.

Founded: 1875, Westminster University has a long-standing history, suggesting a stable environment with established traditions and processes, but also a need for modernizing communications and branding.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Director of Marketing.

• Team Composition: The role works within the Office of Marketing, Communication, and Events, likely collaborating closely with a Junior Graphic Designer, marketing specialists, communication managers, and event coordinators.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expected to collaborate extensively with various university departments, faculty, and administrative staff to understand their design needs and ensure brand alignment.

Methodology:

• Brand-Centric Approach: All creative output is guided by the university's overarching brand strategy and guidelines.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creative concepts are key, their effectiveness is likely measured against marketing and communication goals, implying a data-informed approach to design impact.

• Collaborative Workflow: Emphasis on teamwork and communication to ensure projects meet stakeholder needs and university objectives.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The university setting implies a culture that values education, community, and a structured approach to operations. The Senior Graphic Designer will be instrumental in shaping the external perception and internal communication through visual branding.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior individual contributor role, requiring advanced design skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage projects independently. It bridges creative execution with operational brand management.

Reporting Structure: Direct reporting to the Director of Marketing, indicating a clear line of responsibility and opportunity for mentorship from a leadership role.

Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the university's brand perception, recruitment efforts, fundraising campaigns, and overall institutional reputation. Effective visual communication is crucial for achieving these strategic goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in areas like motion graphics, illustration management, or advanced digital design strategies.

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to mentor junior staff and student employees, developing leadership and team management skills.

• Strategic Influence: As a senior member, the role can influence the direction of visual branding and marketing campaigns, contributing to higher-level strategic discussions.

• Broader MarComm Experience: Exposure to various aspects of marketing, communications, and events within a university setting can lead to broader career paths within higher education or related fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for growth by building upon a strong foundation in design and expanding into brand strategy, project operations, and team mentorship within a stable educational institution.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on the Westminster University Campus, suggesting a professional office environment typical of a university setting. This often includes shared office spaces, meeting rooms, and access to campus amenities.

Office Location(s): Westminster University Campus, 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105. This location is accessible within Salt Lake City.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Space: Likely involves working in a shared marketing and communications office, fostering collaboration with colleagues and providing opportunities for idea exchange.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) and university IT infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with the Director of Marketing, Junior Graphic Designer, and other members of the MarComm team, as well as various campus stakeholders.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week, Monday to Friday. While on-site, there may be some flexibility depending on project demands, but the core expectation is consistent presence within the university's operational hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration, direct communication, and integration into the university's physical campus environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative output.

• Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, and strategic thinking.

• Skills Assessment: Potential for a design exercise or case study to evaluate problem-solving abilities and technical skills.

• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Questions focusing on collaboration, client management, problem-solving, and how they would handle specific scenarios within a university context.

• Meet the Team: Opportunity to interact with the Director of Marketing and potentially other team members or stakeholders.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your brand campaign experience, multi-channel execution, and ability to translate strategic objectives into visual solutions.

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your role, the creative process, the strategic rationale behind your design decisions, and the outcome or impact.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Include examples that demonstrate your project management skills, experience with print production, or how you managed brand assets and templates.

• Showcase Software Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio reflects mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.

• Tailor to Higher Education: If possible, include projects relevant to an educational or institutional setting.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Thinking Exercises: Be prepared for tasks that require you to develop creative concepts or design solutions based on a given brief, potentially related to a university initiative.

• Brand Application: Practice applying brand guidelines to mock scenarios.

• Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you would handle challenging client feedback, tight deadlines, or conflicting project requirements.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your workflow and best practices within Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, focusing not only on creative talent but also on operational efficiency, strategic thinking, and the ability to integrate into the university's specific environment. A well-prepared portfolio and clear articulation of process are key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for professional graphic design. This includes:

  • Photoshop: For image editing and manipulation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustrations.
  • InDesign: For page layout and editorial design (e.g., magazines, brochures).

• Figma: A collaborative interface design tool, increasingly used for UI/UX and broader design collaboration.

• Canva: For creating accessible templates and supporting campus clients who may use this platform.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: For creating branded presentations and templates for internal use.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding how design impacts engagement metrics (e.g., social media engagement, click-through rates on digital ads) is beneficial. The role may interact with analytics dashboards managed by other teams. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how marketing automation platforms or CRMs are used for campaign delivery can provide context for design needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma is non-negotiable. Familiarity with Canva and PowerPoint is crucial for supporting diverse university stakeholders and managing templates efficiently.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Craft: A commitment to high-quality design and meticulous attention to detail in all visual outputs.

• Brand Integrity: Upholding and strategically advancing the Westminster University brand identity through consistent and compelling design.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Working effectively with internal teams and campus stakeholders, fostering strong relationships and open communication.

• Efficiency & Timeliness: Managing projects effectively to meet deadlines and deliver results in a timely manner, especially in a dynamic university environment.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Staying current with design trends and technologies to bring fresh perspectives and effective solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Supportive: Actively engaging with team members and stakeholders, offering creative input and support.

• Solution-Oriented: Focusing on finding effective visual solutions to meet communication and marketing objectives.

• Feedback-Driven: Open to constructive criticism and skilled at iterating on designs based on input from the Director of Marketing and other stakeholders.

• Mentorship Focused: Willingness to guide and develop junior designers and student staff, fostering a positive learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The university environment often fosters a culture of shared purpose and collaboration. This role is expected to embody a blend of creative passion and operational reliability.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Effectively translating strategic goals into compelling designs while strictly adhering to established brand guidelines.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Catering to the varied design requests and expectations from different university departments, each with unique objectives.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Digital Trends: Continuously adapting design strategies to new platforms, formats, and user expectations in digital and social media.

• Print Production Complexities: Navigating the technicalities and vendor management involved in high-quality print production.

• Mentoring and Delegation: Effectively guiding junior staff and delegating tasks while ensuring quality and fostering their development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to attend workshops or courses in areas like motion graphics, advanced UI/UX design, or specialized illustration.

• Brand Strategy Development: Deeper involvement in shaping the university's visual brand strategy.

• Project Management Skills: Enhanced training in project management methodologies relevant to creative operations.

• Higher Education Marketing Trends: Gaining insights into best practices for marketing and communications within the higher education sector.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Developing skills in managing and inspiring a creative team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a chance to tackle complex design challenges within a meaningful context, with ample opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a visual campaign for a university event or initiative." (Focus on strategy, concept, execution, and measurement.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple design projects and stakeholders?" (Highlight process, tools, and communication.)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to manage a challenging client relationship or feedback." (Demonstrate problem-solving, communication, and resilience.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working in higher education and specifically at Westminster University?" (Show research into the university's mission, values, and brand.)

• "How would you approach mentoring our junior graphic designer and student employees?" (Focus on your leadership style and development approach.)

• "How do you measure the success of your design work?" (Discuss metrics like engagement, brand recognition, and contribution to campaign goals.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by demonstrating your range. Begin with your strongest, most relevant work.

• Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your specific role, the creative process, key design decisions, and the outcome. Use storytelling to convey the impact of your work.

• Highlight Operations: Be ready to discuss the operational aspects of your projects, such as workflow management, vendor coordination, or template creation.

• Visuals: Ensure your presentation is visually clean, professional, and reflects your design aesthetic. Use high-quality mockups.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your design choices, your process, and how you handle challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to articulate not just your design skills, but also your strategic thinking, operational capabilities, and ability to integrate into the university's collaborative and brand-conscious environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided ADP link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience in brand management, multi-channel design execution, and project operational management, especially within the context of higher education or similar institutions.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 3+ years of professional experience, emphasizing achievements in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, brand stewardship, and successful project delivery. Use keywords found in the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your process, strategic thinking, and operational contributions. Prepare responses to common interview questions related to design strategy, client management, and team collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Westminster University's mission, values, current marketing initiatives, and brand identity to demonstrate your understanding and enthusiasm for the institution.

⚠️ 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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