St. Charles Prep: Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: St. Charles Preparatory School (Catholic Diocese of Columbus)

Location: Columbus, Ohio, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: August 19, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creation of compelling visual and digital content across various platforms including print, video, social media, and web to enhance the St. Charles brand narrative.

• Develop engaging creative assets that highlight student life, academic achievements, athletic endeavors, faith-based activities, and alumni successes.

• Produce high-quality publications, event materials, fundraising campaign collateral, and general school communications to support institutional goals.

• Ensure consistent brand identity and strengthen the St. Charles presence across all marketing and communication channels.

• Foster a collaborative environment by working closely with school leaders, faculty, staff, students, and external partners on diverse marketing and design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer, reporting to the Director of Advancement, indicating a need for demonstrated experience in visual storytelling and brand management within an educational or non-profit context. The emphasis on "Building Better Men" and Catholic education suggests a strong mission-driven aspect to the role.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce graphics, animations, and video content tailored for social media platforms, videoboards, livestreams, websites, and broader marketing campaigns.

• Conceptualize and execute creative visual content that effectively communicates the school's core values, student experiences, academic rigor, and community engagement.

• Develop and manage the production of school publications, event invitations, promotional materials, and donor-focused fundraising campaign collateral.

• Actively contribute to the maintenance and evolution of the St. Charles brand guidelines, ensuring visual consistency and impact across all communication touchpoints.

• Collaborate effectively with various school departments and stakeholders, translating their needs into impactful visual communications and marketing strategies.

• Build and mentor a student creative team, providing practical, hands-on experience and guidance in graphic design, photography, videography, and digital media production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of mentoring a student creative team is a significant aspect of this role, suggesting that candidates should possess not only strong technical design skills but also leadership potential and a passion for education and mentorship. This aspect elevates the role beyond a standard graphic design position.

ുകൾ Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Marketing, Communications, or a closely related field.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in graphic design, with a proven track record in visual content creation for marketing and communications.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated proficiency and a strong portfolio showcasing expertise in graphic design principles and applications.

• Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Competency in Canva for rapid content creation and collaboration.

• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Experience in video production and digital content creation for various platforms.

• Strong understanding of branding principles and their application across different media.

• Excellent creativity, organizational skills, and meticulous attention to detail.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

• Effective collaboration and communication skills for working with diverse stakeholders. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Daktronics systems for videoboard content creation.

• Familiarity with animation software and techniques.

• Experience in photography and advanced videography.

• Knowledge of marketing campaign development and execution.

• Passion for storytelling and a commitment to the mission of Catholic education.

• Experience working within an educational institution or non-profit organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and Microsoft 365, combined with experience in video production and digital content creation, indicates a need for a versatile designer comfortable with a broad range of creative tools and outputs. The mention of Daktronics suggests a specific technical skill that would be highly advantageous.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong command of graphic design principles and visual communication across various media (print, digital, video).

• Case studies showcasing successful brand development or enhancement projects, illustrating strategic thinking and creative problem-solving.

• Examples of social media content, marketing collateral, and publications that align with institutional branding and communication goals.

• Demonstrations of video content creation, including editing and animation, if applicable.

• Evidence of ability to manage and execute design projects from concept to final delivery. Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate the design process, from initial concept and client brief to final asset delivery and implementation.

• Understanding of workflow management for multiple design projects, including prioritization and timeline management.

• Familiarity with brand guideline adherence and the process of maintaining brand consistency across all outputs.

• Experience in collaborating with stakeholders to gather requirements, provide design concepts, and incorporate feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio should not only showcase aesthetic quality but also demonstrate the candidate's ability to translate an organization's mission and values into compelling visual narratives. Evidence of managing projects within a structured process and collaborating effectively with non-designers will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Graphic Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Columbus, Ohio, the estimated salary range is $55,000 - $75,000 per year. This range accounts for the specific skills required, the educational institution setting, and the responsibilities outlined, including mentorship.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans.

• Life Insurance coverage.

• 403b retirement savings plan.

• Earned Paid Time Off (PTO).

• 12 paid holidays per year.

• Education reimbursements for continued learning.

• Professional Development Assistance to support skill enhancement.

Working Hours: This is a full-time, on-site position with standard working hours typically around 40 hours per week. While flexibility may be available, the nature of on-campus events and campaign launches may occasionally require work outside of standard business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on current market data for Graphic Designers in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area, considering experience level and the non-profit/educational sector. Benefits listed are standard for full-time positions and offer a competitive package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Education (Private, All-Boys Catholic High School)

Company Size: St. Charles Preparatory School is part of the Catholic Diocese of Columbus, which likely encompasses multiple institutions. The school itself is a significant educational establishment, suggesting a medium to large organizational footprint within its sector. The specific size of the school's administrative and support staff is likely in the range of 50-150 employees, with a student body of several hundred.

Founded: St. Charles Preparatory School was founded in 1923 by Bishop James J. Hartley. This long history signifies a deeply rooted tradition and a stable organizational environment.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer reports to the Director of Advancement, indicating a primary alignment with fundraising, alumni relations, and development efforts, but with broad cross-functional responsibilities.

• The role will involve close collaboration with various departments including Admissions, Academics, Athletics, and Administration.

• The team structure emphasizes a collaborative, mission-driven approach, common in educational and faith-based organizations, where individual contributions directly support the school's overall mission and "Founding Promise." Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the need for marketing campaigns and performance tracking, though the primary focus is on creative storytelling.

• Workflow planning and optimization are essential for managing multiple design projects and student team development.

• Automation and efficiency practices will be beneficial for streamlining design processes and content delivery, especially for digital platforms.

Company Website: Catholic Diocese of Columbus Website (While the direct link to St. Charles Prep was not provided, this is the parent organization. St. Charles Prep website: https://www.stcharlesprep.org/)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is deeply rooted in Catholic values, emphasizing faith, service, character, and academic excellence. The "Building Better Men" slogan and the "Founding Promise" highlight a commitment to holistic student development and accessibility. This mission-driven aspect is a critical cultural element for candidates to understand.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Graphic Designer role is positioned at a mid-level, focusing on executing creative strategies and managing day-to-day design needs. It offers a significant opportunity to shape the visual identity of a respected educational institution.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Director of Advancement, providing visibility into fundraising and development strategies, and requiring close collaboration with this leadership role. This reporting line suggests opportunities to learn about development operations and major gift campaigns from a visual perspective.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the school's ability to attract students, engage alumni, secure donor support, and communicate its mission effectively. Strong visual communications are critical for fundraising success, enrollment marketing, and overall brand perception, making this role pivotal to institutional advancement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas such as motion graphics, advanced video editing, digital marketing design, or UX/UI principles for web assets.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Senior Graphic Designer or Art Director role, taking on more strategic design direction and potentially managing a larger creative team or agency relationships.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Exposure to advancement operations, marketing strategy, and educational program development, offering a broader understanding of institutional management.

• Mentorship: Developing leadership and coaching skills through the guidance of the student creative team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth potential here is less about climbing a traditional corporate ladder and more about deepening expertise within the creative and educational sector, and potentially taking on more strategic leadership within the advancement function. The emphasis on "Building Better Men" and the school's mission provides a unique context for career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-campus, in-person role within a high school environment. The designer will likely work from a dedicated office space within the school's administrative or advancement departments.

Office Location(s): The role is based at St. Charles Preparatory School in Bexley, Ohio, an eastern suburb of Columbus. This location provides a professional, academic setting with access to faculty, staff, and students.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, involving frequent interaction with the Advancement team, school leadership, and other faculty and staff members.

• Access to necessary design software and hardware will be provided. The mention of videoboards and livestreams suggests a need for integration with school AV systems.

• Opportunities for creative synergy with students through the mentorship program will be a key feature of the daily work environment.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected. However, the nature of working in a school environment, especially supporting events, athletics, and fundraising campaigns, may necessitate some flexibility and occasional work outside of typical office hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a high school environment means being part of a community that is focused on student development and education. The designer will be immersed in the school's daily life, which can be both rewarding and demanding, requiring adaptability to the academic calendar and school-wide events.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing their design process, strategic thinking, and how their work aligns with the school's mission and brand. This will involve discussing past projects, problem-solving approaches, and impact.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Director of Advancement and potentially other key school leaders to evaluate collaboration skills, cultural fit, and understanding of the educational environment.

• Skills Assessment (Potential): A small design challenge or task may be administered to assess specific technical skills or problem-solving abilities.

• Background Check: Required for all employees working with or in proximity to students, in compliance with Diocese of Columbus requirements.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills and experience required for this role. Prioritize work that demonstrates versatility across print, digital, and video, and ideally, experience with non-profits or educational institutions.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your role, your creative process, the tools used, and the measurable impact or outcome. Focus on how your design solutions met the objectives.

• Highlight Brand Consistency: Showcase examples where you successfully maintained or developed brand guidelines.

• Showcase Mission Alignment: If possible, include projects that reflect a mission-driven approach or experience in storytelling for educational or charitable causes.

• Prepare to Discuss Mentorship: Be ready to talk about any experience you have mentoring junior designers or students, and how you would approach building and leading the student creative team.

Challenge Preparation:

• Familiarize yourself with St. Charles Preparatory School's mission, vision, and values. Understand their "Founding Promise" and "Building Better Men" ethos.

• Review their current website, social media presence, and any recent publications to grasp their existing visual identity and communication style.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing materials for specific school initiatives (e.g., an alumni fundraising event, an admissions campaign, a student life feature).

• Think about how to balance creative excellence with the specific needs and constraints of a Catholic educational institution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the candidate's ability to align their creative vision with the school's mission and values. A strong portfolio presentation that clearly articulates the strategic thinking behind the designs will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for professional graphic design, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Canva: For efficient content creation, social media graphics, and collaborative design tasks.

• Microsoft 365: Standard suite for document creation, presentations, and general office productivity (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools (e.g., Google Analytics): Understanding website traffic and user engagement to inform digital design decisions.

• Social Media Analytics: Monitoring performance of social media content to optimize future designs.

• CRM/Marketing Automation Platform Analytics: If applicable, understanding how design assets perform within broader marketing campaigns.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com): To manage project timelines, tasks, and team collaboration.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: Potentially used for organizing and storing approved creative assets.

• Video Editing Software: Such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, for video production and editing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. The inclusion of Canva suggests a need for both high-level professional design and rapid, accessible content creation. Experience with video editing software is also a key requirement given the responsibilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the Catholic faith, the development of young men ("Building Better Men"), and the school's "Founding Promise" of accessible education.

• Excellence: Striving for high standards in academics, athletics, and all aspects of school life, reflected in the quality of communication and design.

• Community & Brotherhood: Fostering a sense of unity and support among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the wider school community.

• Service & Faith: Integrating faith principles and a commitment to service into daily operations and communications.

• Accountability: Upholding responsibility for actions and contributions towards the school's goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires working closely with diverse departments, demanding clear communication and the ability to translate varied needs into cohesive visual strategies.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values constructive feedback to refine designs and ensure alignment with institutional goals.

• Team-Based Approach: While the designer leads creative efforts, collaboration is key to integrating design into broader marketing and advancement initiatives. Mentoring students also emphasizes a collaborative learning environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for the unique values of a Catholic educational institution. The ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from different backgrounds and roles within the school is paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Mission and Modern Design: Creatively representing traditional Catholic values and educational goals in a contemporary, engaging visual style.

• Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Managing design requests from various departments with potentially differing priorities and aesthetic preferences.

• Resource Management: Potentially working with limited resources or budget, requiring creative problem-solving and efficient use of tools.

• Mentoring Students: Effectively guiding and developing a student team, balancing their learning needs with project deadlines and quality standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific Adobe Suite applications or explore new design technologies.

• Professional Development in Educational Marketing: Learning best practices for marketing and communications within the K-12 or higher education sector.

• Mentorship and Leadership Skills: Developing coaching and management abilities through the student team.

• Exposure to Advancement Operations: Gaining insight into fundraising strategies, donor relations, and campaign management through close work with the Director of Advancement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for roles in mission-driven organizations, requiring adaptability and a strategic approach to creative execution. The growth opportunities are geared towards both technical skill enhancement and broader professional development within the educational advancement sphere.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new admissions brochure that appeals to prospective students and their parents, while also reflecting the school's Catholic mission and 'Building Better Men' ethos?" (Focus on target audience, messaging, visual hierarchy, and brand integration.)

• "Describe your process for managing multiple design projects with competing deadlines. How would you prioritize these requests, especially when working with a student team?" (Focus on project management, prioritization, communication, and delegation.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across various platforms like social media, print publications, and video content? Can you provide an example?" (Focus on understanding brand guidelines, systematic application, and adaptation for different media.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to St. Charles Preparatory School and its mission of Catholic education?" (Focus on genuine interest, understanding of Catholic values, and alignment with the school's purpose.)

• "How would you contribute to fostering a sense of community and brotherhood through your design work?" (Focus on understanding the school's core values and how visual communication can reinforce them.)

• "Describe a time you had to adapt your design approach to meet the specific needs or constraints of a particular organization or client." (Focus on flexibility, problem-solving, and client-centric design.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Organize your portfolio by project type or by the impact achieved. For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the creative process, key design decisions, and the outcome.

• Emphasize Strategic Thinking: Go beyond just showing pretty pictures. Explain the "why" behind your design choices. How did your design solve a problem or achieve a goal?

• Showcase Versatility: Highlight projects that demonstrate your skills across different media (print, digital, video, social media) and your proficiency with the required tools (Adobe Suite, Canva).

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have data on how your designs improved engagement, conversion rates, or event attendance, be ready to share it.

• Discuss Mentorship Approach: Be prepared to talk about how you would mentor the student creative team, what principles you would emphasize, and how you would manage their development and contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on understanding the unique mission of St. Charles Prep and articulating how your design skills can serve that mission. Demonstrating strategic thinking, strong collaboration abilities, and a clear plan for mentoring students will be key differentiators.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Paycor recruiting platform.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in graphic design, digital content creation, video production, brand management, and any relevant experience in educational or non-profit settings. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your most relevant and impactful design projects. Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases your skills in Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, video editing, and demonstrates your ability to create compelling visuals for marketing and communication purposes. Prepare a narrative for each project.

• Prepare for Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your design process, strategic thinking, and how your work aligns with the school's mission. Be ready to discuss your approach to mentoring a student creative team.

• Research the School: Thoroughly review the St. Charles Preparatory School website, its mission, values, and current marketing materials to understand their brand and culture. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview.

⚠️ 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.