Senior Graphic Designer (Media Creative Team)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer (Media Creative Team)

Company: Elevation Church

Location: Matthews, North Carolina, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creation of high-impact visual assets for weekend services, sermon series, and digital platforms, ensuring alignment with Elevation Church's mission and values.

• Lead design direction for campaigns, contributing to conceptualization, look-and-feel development, and execution across multiple media formats.

• Maintain and elevate the church's brand visual identity, ensuring consistency and excellence across all communication channels.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including writers and programming, to translate messages into compelling visual narratives.

• Drive the execution of designs across broadcast, social media, web, print, and environmental applications with meticulous attention to detail and quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within a church environment, emphasizing a blend of creative professional skills and active participation in ministry. The "Senior" title implies a leadership capacity in design direction and potentially mentoring junior designers or freelancers.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute visually compelling designs for weekend experiences, sermon series, digital content, social media graphics, and special church projects.

• Partner with the Creative Director, writers, and programming teams to conceptualize and produce strong visual assets that effectively communicate messages.

• Take ownership of the design direction for major campaigns and series, from initial concept through to final execution and brand integration.

• Uphold and advance the visual standards of Elevation Church's brand identity across all internal and external communication platforms.

• Produce creative assets for diverse media, including broadcast, social media, web, print collateral, and environmental signage, ensuring high quality and consistency.

• Provide constructive creative feedback and direction to fellow designers and external freelance resources.

• Collaborate with video production, animation, and other creative departments to ensure cohesive, multi-platform visual experiences.

• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

• Prepare and deliver final, production-ready design files for various media outputs, adhering to technical specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for a designer who can not only execute but also lead creatively and manage projects from conception to delivery, with a strong emphasis on brand consistency and cross-functional collaboration within a ministry context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior Graphic Designer role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional graphic design experience, with a demonstrated track record of leading creative projects and contributing to strategic visual direction. Experience in a church or non-profit setting is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Active participation in a church community, demonstrating a lifestyle aligned with church values (inviting others, volunteering, generosity, community).

• A robust portfolio showcasing exceptional design skills, advanced typography, and sophisticated layout expertise.

• Proven experience in leading design projects and actively contributing to overall creative direction.

• Advanced proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Deep understanding of branding principles, visual systems development, and effective storytelling through design.

• Ability to balance creative vision with practical execution and attention to detail.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively within a team.

• High level of attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to producing excellent work.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within a non-profit organization or ministry setting.

• Foundational knowledge or experience in motion design and animation principles.

• Prior experience designing for broadcast media or large-scale environmental installations.

• Familiarity with current social media trends and best practices for digital-first design strategies.

• Exposure to or experience with AI-assisted design tools for creative enhancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for active church participation is a critical qualification that transcends technical design skills, indicating a strong emphasis on cultural and spiritual alignment for this role within Elevation Church.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of design projects that demonstrate mastery of typography, layout, color theory, and visual hierarchy.

• Include case studies that highlight the process of translating complex messages or campaign objectives into clear, impactful visual designs.

• Present examples of brand system development or application, demonstrating an understanding of brand consistency and evolution.

• Feature projects that illustrate collaboration with other creatives or stakeholders, if applicable, showing the ability to integrate feedback.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a clear workflow for concept development, from initial brief to final design, highlighting iterative processes and feedback incorporation.

• Illustrate how design solutions were developed to meet specific communication objectives or overcome creative challenges.

• Showcase how brand guidelines were applied or evolved through project execution.

• Explain the rationale behind design choices, linking them to project goals and audience engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Graphic Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only display aesthetic talent but also the strategic thinking, process management, and collaborative capabilities expected of a senior-level creative professional, particularly within a mission-driven organization.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry standards for a Senior Graphic Designer in the Matthews, NC area with 5-10 years of experience, a salary range of $70,000 - $95,000 annually is estimated. This range can vary based on the specific scope of responsibilities, the candidate's portfolio, and direct negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical benefits, with Elevation Church covering 100% of the employee's premium.

• 403b retirement plan with a 4% company match.

• Dental and Vision benefits.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) for vacations, life events, and rest.

• Subsidized counseling services, covering 6 sessions annually.

• Basic Life Insurance coverage for the employee, spouse, and children.

Working Hours: The standard workweek is 40 hours. The typical schedule is Monday through Thursday in the office from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Sundays are dedicated to supporting weekend worship experiences, either directly in their role or through volunteer service at a campus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The generous medical benefit coverage and the subsidized counseling are significant offerings. The Sunday work requirement is unique and fundamental to the role's context within Elevation Church, requiring an understanding of this commitment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Religious Organization / Non-profit Ministry. Elevation Church operates within the faith-based sector, focusing on community outreach, spiritual development, and engaging worship experiences.

Company Size: Elevation Church is a large, multi-site organization, indicated by the need for a dedicated Media Creative Team and support for weekend experiences across campuses. This implies a structured environment with significant operational scale.

Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, Elevation Church has grown significantly since its inception, establishing a strong presence and impact within its community and beyond. This growth suggests a dynamic and evolving organizational culture.

Team Structure:

• The Media Creative Team is likely a specialized unit within a larger Ministry or Communications department, focused on visual storytelling and brand consistency.

• This role reports to a Creative Director, working alongside other designers, video producers, animators, and content creators.

Methodology:

• Design execution is driven by the needs of weekend services, sermon series, and overarching church initiatives, requiring adaptability and responsiveness.

• Emphasis on clear communication and visual storytelling to engage congregants and communicate core messages effectively.

• A blend of structured project management for campaigns and agile approaches for day-to-day content creation is likely employed.

• Continuous learning and professional development are encouraged within the creative staff.

Company Website: http://www.elevationchurch.org

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is deeply rooted in faith and ministry. Candidates must align with the church's beliefs and values, viewing their role as a form of service and ministry. The "Sunday-Thursday" work schedule is a significant cultural differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Graphic Designer position, indicating a mid-to-senior level role within the creative hierarchy. It requires not only strong technical design skills but also leadership potential, project management capabilities, and the ability to contribute to strategic creative direction.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will report to the Creative Director, who likely oversees the entire Media Creative Team. This structure allows for guidance, mentorship, and alignment with broader organizational goals.

Operations Impact: The work of the Senior Graphic Designer directly influences the perception and effectiveness of Elevation Church's messaging and outreach. High-quality visuals enhance engagement, communicate spiritual concepts, and support the church's mission to reach people with the Gospel. The role contributes to the overall brand strength and impact of the ministry.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design areas like motion graphics, environmental design, or digital strategy.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Designer, Art Director, or Managerial role within the Media Creative Team, mentoring junior staff and overseeing larger projects.

• Broader Ministry Involvement: Opportunities to contribute creative skills to various ministry initiatives, expanding understanding and impact across different church functions.

• Professional Development: Access to ongoing training, workshops, and potentially conferences (as mentioned in "Day-to-Day") to stay current with design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth within Elevation Church's creative department appears to be tied to both professional design advancement and deeper involvement in ministry, offering a unique career trajectory for individuals passionate about both disciplines.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The description implies a professional office environment within Elevation Church's facilities, likely designed to foster creativity and collaboration among the media and programming teams.

Office Location(s): Matthews, North Carolina, is the primary location. Elevation Church operates multiple campuses, so while the core team is in Matthews, the work supports a multi-site ministry.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as "fast-paced" and requiring "adaptability," suggesting a dynamic workflow where priorities can shift.

• "Creative staff" implies an environment that values innovation, fun, and camaraderie, with opportunities for social interaction and team building.

• The workspace likely includes standard office amenities and access to necessary design software and hardware.

Work Schedule: The "Sunday-Thursday" schedule is a defining characteristic. Mondays through Thursdays are standard office hours (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM) for core work. Sundays are dedicated to supporting ministry activities, which may involve on-site presence at a campus or remote support, depending on the specific need and role. This schedule requires significant commitment and integration of work with ministry service.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Sunday work requirement is crucial. Candidates must understand this is not a standard Monday-Friday role and that Sundays are integral to the job's function within the church's operational rhythm.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submission of resume and portfolio.

• Portfolio Review: The hiring team will scrutinize the portfolio for design quality, conceptual thinking, and range of work.

• Screening Call: Potentially a brief call to discuss experience, alignment with church values, and role expectations.

• In-Person Interviews: Likely involves interviews with the Creative Director, HR, and potentially other team members to assess skills, cultural fit, and ministry alignment.

• Design Challenge/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to complete a design exercise or present specific portfolio pieces, explaining their process and rationale.

• Final Interview: Possibly with senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss final details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best represent your senior-level design capabilities, leadership in concept development, and ability to execute across various media.

• Showcase Process: For key projects, include brief explanations of the brief, your design thinking, challenges faced, and how you arrived at the final solution. This demonstrates strategic acumen beyond just aesthetics.

• Highlight Brand Work: If you have experience with brand development or maintaining brand consistency, emphasize these projects, especially for a role focused on brand standards.

• Demonstrate Adaptability: Include projects that show versatility in style and format, proving your ability to design for different audiences and platforms.

• Align with Ministry: If possible, subtly highlight any relevant experience or passion for design within faith-based or non-profit contexts.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Mission: Deeply research Elevation Church's mission, values, and recent campaigns. Be prepared to articulate how your design skills can serve their specific objectives.

• Practice Articulation: Be ready to discuss your design process, decision-making, and how you collaborate with teams. Practice explaining complex visual concepts clearly and concisely.

• Anticipate Ministry-Specific Questions: Be prepared for questions about your faith, church involvement, and how you view your role as a ministry partner through design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh cultural and spiritual alignment alongside technical design proficiency. Candidates should prepare to discuss their faith journey and how they see their creative talents serving a ministry purpose.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency is mandatory, with a strong emphasis on:

  • Photoshop: For image manipulation, digital asset creation, and mockups.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and complex illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout design of print materials, brochures, and multi-page documents.

• Other Adobe Products: Familiarity with After Effects (for motion graphics, a "nice-to-have") and Premiere Pro could be beneficial.

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) and communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) will be essential for team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Generally not directly used by graphic designers, but understanding how designs are deployed through marketing automation platforms or content management systems might be helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is deep expertise in Adobe Creative Suite for graphic production. The mention of AI-assisted design tools as a "nice-to-have" suggests an openness to new technologies, but proficiency in traditional tools remains paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A commitment to high-quality output and attention to detail, reflecting the value placed on serving God and the congregation.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams across the church to achieve common goals, fostering a spirit of unity and shared purpose.

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to visual communication that effectively convey messages and engage audiences.

• Integrity & Authenticity: Living a life aligned with biblical principles and bringing one's full self to work, fostering trust and genuine connection.

• Service: Viewing design work as a form of ministry, contributing talents to support the church's mission and impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are integral to campaign development, working closely with writers, video teams, and ministry leaders.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that likely encourages constructive feedback and iteration to refine creative output.

• Shared Vision: A strong emphasis on understanding and aligning with the overarching vision and messaging of Elevation Church.

• Ministry Partnership: Collaboration extends beyond project completion to supporting the broader mission and community of the church.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of professional creative standards with spiritual commitment. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding that their role is not just a job but a ministry calling.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Ministry Needs: Ensuring designs are aesthetically strong and strategically effective while adhering to church messaging and theological principles.

• Fast-Paced Environment & Adaptability: Managing multiple urgent requests and pivoting quickly to meet evolving ministry demands requires resilience and strong prioritization skills.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency Across Diverse Platforms: Ensuring a unified visual identity across a wide array of media and applications.

• Integrating New Technologies: Staying current with design trends and potentially incorporating new tools like AI-assisted design in a way that enhances, rather than detracts from, the core mission.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Techniques: Opportunities to learn and implement new design software features, motion graphics, or digital design strategies.

• Ministry Understanding: Gaining deeper insight into church operations, theology, and communication strategies, enhancing the ability to create resonant visuals.

• Leadership Mentorship: Learning from experienced Creative Directors and potentially mentoring junior designers or interns.

• Industry Exposure: Attending relevant workshops, conferences, or online courses to stay abreast of design industry best practices and trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity to merge professional creative expertise with a passion for ministry, providing growth in both technical skill and spiritual impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a sermon series concept and translating it into a comprehensive visual campaign across multiple platforms." (Focus on strategy, process, and execution.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across diverse media, especially when collaborating with different teams or external partners?" (Highlight your understanding of brand systems and collaboration.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What is your personal connection to Elevation Church's mission and values? How do you see your role as a form of ministry?" (Prepare to discuss your faith and alignment with the church's calling.)

• "How do you approach collaboration within a team, especially when working with individuals from different functional areas (e.g., programming, video)?" (Emphasize teamwork and communication.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell the Story: For each project presented, outline the objective, your creative solution, the process, and the outcome. Connect your design choices to the client's or ministry's goals.

• Highlight Seniority: Demonstrate leadership by explaining how you guided projects, contributed to strategy, or mentored others.

• Showcase Versatility: Present a range of work that proves your ability to design for different media and styles, from digital to print to environmental.

• Be Prepared for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss your software proficiency and how you leverage tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign to achieve specific visual effects or outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviews will heavily assess not just design talent but also character, spiritual maturity, and the ability to thrive in a faith-based, fast-paced, and collaborative ministry environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the application link provided on the Elevation Church careers page.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in graphic design, creative direction, brand management, and any relevant experience in non-profit or ministry settings. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed visuals for X sermon series, reaching Y attendees").

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date, showcases your best senior-level design work, and includes case studies or explanations that demonstrate your process and strategic thinking. Prioritize projects that align with the church's visual aesthetic and communication goals.

• Prepare for Ministry Alignment Questions: Familiarize yourself with Elevation Church's beliefs, values, and mission statement. Be ready to articulate your personal faith journey and how you view your role as a Senior Graphic Designer as a ministry opportunity.

• Research Recent Campaigns: Review recent sermon series, social media content, and weekend experience visuals from Elevation Church. This will demonstrate your understanding of their current brand and style, and allow you to speak intelligently about their creative output.

⚠️ 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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