SR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: SR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Company: El Pollo Loco

Location: Costa Mesa, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-08-28T07:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads the end-to-end execution of major creative initiatives, developing new design directions and translating existing elements into high-fidelity asset systems for digital, print, social, and in-restaurant channels.

• Acts as a creative thought partner to the Senior Manager of Graphic Design, contributing original ideas and pushing creative concepts beyond the initial brief.

• Produces senior-level creative work for priority brand campaigns and elevated initiatives, requiring meticulous craft and execution.

• Serves as a trusted resource and project leader for the design team, guiding junior designers and ensuring quality, consistency, and brand adherence across output.

• Collaborates closely with marketing, product, communications, and external agencies to bring integrated brand campaigns to life on time and on brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Graphic Designer, indicating a need for advanced design skills, project leadership experience, and the ability to mentor or guide less experienced team members without formal management responsibilities. The hybrid work model with 3 days in office suggests a collaborative team environment focused on in-person brainstorming and ideation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end execution of major creative initiatives, creating new design directions and translating existing design elements into complete, high-fidelity asset systems across digital, print, social, and in-restaurant channels.

• Produce high-fidelity design work for priority brand campaigns, key initiatives, and elevated creative that requires senior-level craft.

• Serve as a trusted resource for the design team, offering feedback and technique expertise to help hone meticulous, high-quality execution and provide project leadership across campaign work in flight.

• Build out the complete range of adaptations, resizes, and channel-specific creative from established concepts in collaboration with the design team.

• Contribute original ideas, creative perspectives, and design recommendations during ideation and concepting to elevate campaign concepts beyond the initial brief.

• Serve as a day-to-day project lead on creative work in flight, managing timelines, deliverables, stakeholder feedback, revisions, and cross-functional coordination.

• Partner with marketing, product, communications, and other internal stakeholders to translate briefs into creative solutions and deliver integrated campaigns on time and on brand.

• Collaborate with external creative and production agencies on projects, ensuring seamless integration, quality control, and consistent brand execution.

• Serve as a day-to-day steward of brand consistency across all creative output.

• Act as a dependable source of design knowledge for the team, providing guidance on technique, tools, and production workflows to elevate collective craft.

• Stay informed about advancements in design tools, AI capabilities, and industry trends, applying them to elevate the team's creative output and streamline production.

• Undertake other assigned activities, duties, or responsibilities as delegated by the supervisor.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and project leadership, emphasizing the need for a candidate who can both create high-quality assets and manage their delivery. The focus on "senior-level craft" and "elevated creative" suggests a requirement for strong conceptual thinking and execution skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: BA/BS degree in Graphic Design, or similar educational experience in Design or a related field.

Experience: 5+ years of design experience with progressive responsibility, ideally in restaurant, retail, or multi-unit concepts with frequent product launches and concurrent campaigns. Demonstrated experience leading creative execution end-to-end. Prior experience providing craft feedback, project leadership, and technical guidance to more junior designers is required. Client-side or agency experience is welcomed.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional design skills with a portfolio demonstrating high-fidelity, impactful creative work across multiple mediums including digital, print, social, and campaign work.

• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), with a strong understanding of print production, color management, prepress, and file preparation across digital and print destinations.

• Strong understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, layout, and brand systems.

• Ability to take art direction and base design elements from a design leader and expand them into complete, on-brand asset systems across multiple formats and channels.

• Comfortable serving as a trusted design resource, sharing technique expertise and feedback when needed, without owning formal responsibility for their development.

• A creative-forward mindset; comfortable both executing against clear direction AND contributing original ideas, alternative perspectives, and creative recommendations during ideation.

• Strong project management skills, comfortable owning multiple concurrent projects, deadlines, and stakeholder relationships in a fast-moving in-house creative environment.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain creative decisions to both creative and non-creative audiences.

• Adept at working cross-functionally with marketing, product, and communications teams, and at partnering with outside agencies and production vendors.

• Detail-oriented, dependable, and takes ownership of quality output that is on-time and on-brief.

• Passion for innovation, creativity, and staying current on design trends, tools, and technology, including AI-assisted design tools.

• Possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

• Ability to work at the Support Center consistent with the hybrid work policy.

• Willingness and ability to travel locally within Southern California to photoshoots and restaurant locations, and to out-of-state locations as needed, by car or airplane. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion graphics and video (After Effects, Premiere Pro).

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a strong technical foundation in design software and principles, coupled with practical experience in managing projects and collaborating with stakeholders. The preference for restaurant/retail experience and the requirement for a driver's license and travel indicate a role that is both dynamic and hands-on, often requiring on-site presence for shoots or reviews.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing high-fidelity, impactful creative work across diverse mediums including digital, print, social media, and comprehensive campaign work.

• Portfolio should highlight end-to-end creative execution, from initial concept development to final asset delivery, illustrating problem-solving and strategic thinking.

• Include examples of how you've translated base design elements and art direction into complete, on-brand asset systems for various channels.

• Showcase projects where you've contributed original ideas and pushed creative boundaries beyond the initial brief.

• Provide evidence of project leadership, including managing timelines, stakeholder feedback, and cross-functional coordination on creative initiatives. Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your process for taking a creative brief and translating it into actionable design solutions, detailing your workflow from concept to final output.

• Demonstrate your approach to ensuring brand consistency and adherence across all creative assets produced.

• Showcase your methods for collaborating with internal teams (marketing, product, communications) and external agencies, highlighting effective communication and partnership strategies.

• Include examples of how you manage multiple concurrent projects, deadlines, and stakeholder relationships in a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, serving as proof of concept for design skills, project management capabilities, and strategic thinking. The emphasis on "high-fidelity" and "end-to-end execution" suggests a need for detailed case studies that walk through the entire design process and its impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $105,000 - $116,000 per year

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance for comprehensive health coverage.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) for tax-advantaged medical savings.

• 401(K) Retirement Plan with immediate vesting and company match for long-term financial planning.

• Paid Vacation and Sick Pay to support work-life balance and well-being.

• 12 Paid Holidays to allow for rest and personal time.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential support services.

• Complimentary El Pollo Loco food and restaurant discounts for employees.

• Access to PerkSpot discounts program for various retail and service savings.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Senior Graphic Designer role in the Southern California region. The comprehensive benefits package, including specific perks like free food and discounts, reflects a company culture that values employee well-being and engagement. The salary range is an estimate and may vary based on experience and other factors.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage / Restaurant (Quick Service Restaurant - QSR)

Company Size: Over 500 restaurants across 9 states, indicating a large, established organization with significant operational scale.

Founded: 1980, with over four decades of history and growth, establishing it as an "L.A. mainstay and cultural benchmark."

Team Structure:

• The role is part of the Restaurant Support Center (RSC), implying a corporate structure supporting the restaurant operations.

• The designer will work within a design team, reporting to a Senior Manager of Graphic Design, and will collaborate with other departments such as Marketing, Product, and Communications.

• Expectation of cross-functional collaboration and teamwork, as emphasized by the company's core value "Together" and the hybrid work policy. Methodology:

• Emphasis on "Quality Chicken. Fast. Easy. Affordable." as a core brand promise.

• Commitment to growth for its people through specialized training and career trajectory.

• A "Great Place to Work®" recognized office culture driven by core values: Simple. Together. Relentless. Ownership. Nimble. Growth.

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the focus on performance metrics and brand consistency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: El Pollo Loco emphasizes a culture of growth, collaboration, and employee well-being, as evidenced by their "Great Place to Work®" recognition and their core values. The hybrid work model is a key aspect of their current operational approach for the Support Center.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a Senior Graphic Designer, signifying an experienced individual contributor with leadership potential. It's a step beyond a standard Graphic Designer, requiring more autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to guide others.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer reports to the Senior Manager of Graphic Design. This indicates a clear hierarchy within the design team, with opportunities to learn from senior leadership.

Operations Impact: The graphic design function directly impacts brand perception, marketing effectiveness, and customer engagement across all touchpoints (digital, print, in-restaurant). High-quality, on-brand creative is crucial for driving sales and reinforcing brand identity in a competitive QSR market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advancement to Senior Manager: Potential to progress to a Senior Manager role within the design team, taking on more strategic oversight and team management responsibilities.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like digital campaign design, motion graphics, or brand system development.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Working closely with marketing, product, and communications teams can lead to broader understanding of business operations and potential career shifts into marketing or brand management.

• Leadership Development: Developing project leadership and mentorship skills without formal management responsibility provides a stepping stone to future leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers clear pathways for career progression within the creative function and provides exposure to broader business operations, making it an attractive position for ambitious designers looking to grow their careers in a dynamic industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the Restaurant Support Center (RSC) in Costa Mesa, CA, which is described as a hybrid work environment.

Office Location(s): Costa Mesa, California.

Workspace Context:

• A hybrid model requires employees to be in the office 3 days per week, fostering a collaborative environment for idea sharing and team synergy.

• The RSC likely houses various corporate functions, providing opportunities for cross-departmental interaction.

• Access to standard office technology and design software (Adobe Creative Suite) is expected.

• The environment is described as "innovative, winning, and welcoming," aligning with their "Great Place to Work®" recognition.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, with the expectation of being in the office for 3 days, indicating a structured but flexible hybrid arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a significant aspect of the work environment, balancing in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. The Costa Mesa location is central to their operations support.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about experience, role responsibilities, and cultural fit. Focus on understanding your approach to design challenges and project leadership.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or in-depth review of your portfolio, likely involving a presentation of key projects. Expect questions about your creative process, problem-solving, and how you've collaborated with stakeholders.

• Cross-functional/Team Interview: Meeting with key stakeholders from marketing, product, or communications, and potentially other design team members, to assess collaboration skills and ability to align creative with business objectives.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and long-term fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end execution capabilities, brand system thinking, and ability to create assets across digital, print, and social channels.

• Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. For each, clearly articulate the brief, your creative process, the challenges you faced, the solutions you developed, and the impact of your work.

• Be prepared to discuss your role in each project, especially your contributions to ideation, execution, and project management.

• If possible, include examples of how you've taken initial concepts and developed them into comprehensive asset suites.

• Highlight any experience working within a fast-paced, multi-unit concept environment like restaurants or retail.

• Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and any experience with AI-assisted design tools. Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate a design challenge that might involve adapting existing brand elements, creating campaign concepts for a specific product launch, or resizing assets for different platforms.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, explaining the rationale behind your creative choices, especially when communicating with non-designers.

• Prepare to discuss how you manage feedback, revisions, and tight deadlines.

• Familiarize yourself with El Pollo Loco's current branding and marketing efforts to understand their aesthetic and strategic direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily rely on portfolio review and practical application of design skills. Candidates should prepare to articulate their process, justify their creative decisions, and demonstrate their ability to collaborate and manage projects effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Mastery of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for creating high-fidelity assets across print and digital media.

• Adobe After Effects & Premiere Pro: Experience with motion graphics and video editing is considered a plus, indicating potential for dynamic content creation.

• AI-assisted Design Tools: Familiarity and willingness to leverage emerging AI tools for design and production efficiency is noted.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly mentioned, an understanding of how design impacts engagement metrics on digital platforms (social media, website) would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this design role, but awareness of marketing automation platforms might be helpful for understanding campaign deployment.

Other Potential Tools: Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) for managing timelines and deliverables. File sharing and collaboration tools (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, Slack).

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite is a non-negotiable requirement. Experience with motion graphics and emerging AI tools will set candidates apart.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Simple: Focus on straightforward, effective design solutions that align with brand clarity.

• Together: Emphasizes collaboration, teamwork, and shared responsibility within the design team and with cross-functional partners.

• Relentless: A drive for high-quality execution, continuous improvement, and meeting demanding deadlines with dedication.

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for creative output, project management, and brand consistency.

• Nimble: Adaptability to changing project needs, market trends, and new technologies in a fast-paced environment.

• Growth: Commitment to personal and team development, learning new skills, and advancing creative capabilities.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with a significant emphasis on working "Together" with internal teams and external agencies.

• A supportive environment where team members act as trusted resources, offering feedback and sharing knowledge to elevate collective craft.

• Expectation of active participation in ideation and concepting, contributing diverse perspectives.

• Communication is key, with the ability to explain creative decisions to both creative and non-creative audiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are deeply integrated into the team's culture, promoting a balanced approach of individual contribution, team synergy, and continuous improvement within the creative function.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Effectively pushing creative boundaries while strictly adhering to brand guidelines and strategic objectives for a well-established brand.

• Managing Multiple Concurrent Projects: Juggling numerous campaigns and asset types with competing deadlines in a fast-paced QSR environment.

• Translating Art Direction into High-Fidelity Assets: Taking conceptual direction and executing it into polished, production-ready designs across various platforms.

• Staying Ahead of Design Trends: Continuously innovating and incorporating new design tools and techniques (including AI) to maintain a fresh and effective brand presence.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring design solutions meet the needs of diverse stakeholders (marketing, product, operations) and external agencies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship from Senior Leadership: Learning advanced design strategies, project management techniques, and creative direction from the Senior Manager of Graphic Design.

• Exposure to Campaign Strategy: Deepening understanding of marketing strategy and how design contributes to overall campaign success.

• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to develop expertise in motion graphics, video, or AI-assisted design tools.

• Industry Trend Adoption: Encouragement to explore and implement new design technologies and methodologies.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance into leadership roles within the design team or explore related fields within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential by providing exposure to senior-level creative challenges, strategic collaboration, and opportunities to master new design technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you took art direction or base design elements and developed them into a complete, high-fidelity asset system for a multi-channel campaign. What was your process?" (Focus on process, execution, and channel adaptation).

• "How do you balance contributing original creative ideas with fulfilling a specific brief and adhering to brand guidelines?" (Assess creative thinking vs. execution and brand stewardship).

• "Walk us through a complex creative project you led from concept to completion. What were the key challenges, how did you manage stakeholders, and what was the outcome?" (Evaluate project management, problem-solving, and communication skills).

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a wide range of assets and touchpoints?" (Gauge understanding of brand systems and attention to detail).

• "Describe your experience providing constructive feedback or technical guidance to junior designers without formal management responsibility." (Assess mentorship potential and team support). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about El Pollo Loco's brand and our mission?" (Showcase research and genuine interest).

• "How do you embody our core values of Simple, Together, Relentless, Ownership, Nimble, and Growth in your work?" (Align your experience with their stated values).

• "Given our hybrid work model, how do you ensure effective collaboration and communication with your team and stakeholders?" (Demonstrate understanding of hybrid dynamics).

• "How do you stay current with design trends, tools, and AI advancements, and how have you incorporated them into your work?" (Highlight passion for innovation and continuous learning). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your end-to-end execution capability.

• Storytelling: For each project, tell a clear story: the problem/brief, your approach/process, your specific contributions, the challenges overcome, and the results/impact.

• Visuals: Ensure your presentation is visually engaging and reflects your design aesthetic. Use high-quality mockups and clear visuals.

• Metrics: Whenever possible, quantify the impact of your work (e.g., increased engagement, successful campaign metrics, efficiency gains).

• Q&A Readiness: Be prepared to answer detailed questions about your design choices, technical skills, and collaborative experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be ready to demonstrate not only their design prowess but also their project management skills, collaborative spirit, and strategic thinking, all within the context of the QSR industry and El Pollo Loco's specific brand identity.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the El Pollo Loco careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate end-to-end creative execution, multi-channel asset development, and experience within the restaurant or retail sector.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of progressive design experience, emphasizing leadership in creative execution, project management, and any mentorship roles. Use keywords like "Adobe Creative Suite," "brand systems," "campaign execution," and "stakeholder management."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and creative rationale. Prepare to discuss your experience with El Pollo Loco's brand and how you align with their core values. Rehearse presenting key portfolio projects, focusing on storytelling and impact.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with El Pollo Loco's current marketing campaigns, brand aesthetic, and their commitment to being a "Great Place to Work®." Understand their menu and target audience to better contextualize your design approach.

⚠️ 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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