Graphic Design Manager

If you're a thoughtful, collaborative designer who loves turning ideas into compelling visual designs, we'd love to meet you! As the Graphic Design Manager at Desert Botanical Garden, you'll create a wide range of engaging work from campaigns and events to publications, digital content and onsite experiences. Your work will help tell the story of the Garden, showcase the incredible work happening here and support our mission.

Position Purpose

The Graphic Design Manager translates marketing and organizational objectives into effective print, digital and experiential creative solutions that support Garden-wide initiatives, strengthen the Garden’s brand and engage diverse audiences.

Serving as a project manager on assigned campaigns and initiatives, this position develops and executes high-quality visual communications across a broad range of channels. The Graphic Design Manager partners closely with the Art Director, the Senior Marketing Director and other departments throughout the garden, vendors and creative partners to create design work that serves the entire Garden,

The ideal candidate is an experienced designer who can independently manage projects from concept through final execution, balance multiple priorities and deadlines, communicate and defend creative recommendations, and maintain a consistent visual identity across all Garden communications.

Essential Duties

• Serve as a project manager on assigned marketing campaigns, initiatives, events, exhibits and organizational projects.
• Develop print and digital design collateral, including advertisements, brochures, publications, event and exhibit creative concepts, social media content, e-mail and newsletter graphics, special-event materials, mailers, postcards, invitations, social media assets, on-site signage and other marketing collateral.
• Manages projects with Art Director oversight from print and digital design projects from initial concept and creative development through production and final execution.
• Partner with the Marketing team on design projects related to the Garden’s website and email campaigns, with a focus on visual consistency, accessibility and an effective user experience
• Manage multiple complex and time-sensitive projects simultaneously while maintaining quality, accuracy and creative standards.
• Work closely with the Art Director to develop, implement and maintain brand guidelines and visual standards.
• Collaborate directly with departments across the Garden to understand objectives, develop creative concepts and deliver effective visual solutions.
• Manage project timelines, priorities, deliverables, and stakeholder expectations for assigned creative initiatives
• Participate in campaign planning and creative strategy discussions to ensure creative work supports both the Garden-wide and Marketing team meet objectives.
• Develop original illustrations, logos, graphic elements and other visual assets using digital and traditional methods.
• Coordinate and execute photography and video shoots as needed, including planning, scheduling, creative direction and production support.
• Conceptualize, create and edit animated GIFs, motion graphics and videography to support Garden campaigns and communications.
• Ensure all graphics and creative materials produced by the Garden are visually compelling, accurate, accessible and consistent with established brand standards.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with print, production and special project vendors to identify cost-effective, high-qualify and sustainable production solutions within established budgets.
• Review and prepare files for print and digital production and coordinate with vendors as needed to ensure accurate final output.
• Maintain and organize physical and digital design archives, including project files, brand assets, photography and other creative resources.
• Represent the Marketing Communications department on committees and cross-functional working groupl as needed
• Stay current with emerging design, digital, marketing, technology and creative trends and evaluate their potential application to Garden communications.
• Contribute to a collaborative, positive, creative and solutions-oriented team environment.

Pay Range: $59,900 - $65,900

Requirements

Competencies

· Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communication, design or related field from an accredited art school or university preferred, with significant coursework in graphic design or related discipline or related work experience.

· Minimum of 4 years of professional graphic design experience with demonstrated expertise across both print and digital media.

· Strong professional portfolio demonstrating a range of creative, conceptual and production work.

· Demonstrated ability to independently manage projects from concept development through final execution

· Demonstrated ability to present and defend creative recommendations

· Experience with web and email design

· Experience with Elementor and Salesforce Account Engagement preferred.

· Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

· Strong understanding of graphic design principles, typography, layout, color, branding, image selection and production.

· Ability to translate strategic and organizational objectives into compelling creative concepts and visual solutions.

· Strong understanding of both print and digital production processes.

· Ability to develop presentations and supporting materials using Google Slides.

· Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.

· Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, stakeholders and competing priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

· Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and other Microsoft Office applications.

· Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

· Ability to work effectively with individuals at all levels of an organization and across multiple departments.

· Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure, track details of multiple projects, and interact with people at all levels

· Strong collaborative skills and a positive, passionate and solution-oriented approach to teamwork.

· Ability to work independently while also actively contributing to a creative team environment.

· Ability to remain calm, flexible and productive under pressure.

· Strong creative problem-solving skills and sound professional judgment.

· Project management experience preferred

· Ability to work off-hours with occasional evenings, weekends, and/or holidays to support Garden campaigns, events and special projects.