Creative Design Specialist

Posting Number S14921P Working Title Creative Design Specialist Department PSO-Carl Vinson Inst of Govt About the University of Georgia Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university ( The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full‑time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine. About the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government – Who We Are As a Public Service and Outreach unit at the University of Georgia, the UGA Institute of Government contributes directly to the university’s overarching public service mission of improving people’s lives by helping to create jobs and prosperity, developing leaders, and addressing critical issues. This public service mission, and the Institute of Government’s role in its success, is at the heart of UGA’s land‑grant and sea‑grant mission to serve the State of Georgia and its residents. We have a team of experts who inform, inspire, and innovate every day so that governments, large and small, can be more efficient and responsive to their citizens, address current and emerging challenges, and serve the public with excellence. We are uniquely positioned to provide impartial support to local governments and state agencies and convene multidisciplinary and intragovernmental groups to plan for and address many of the challenges faced by communities across Georgia. Our areas of expertise and focus include workforce and economic development; infrastructure and community resilience; government operations and organizational effectiveness; measuring and reporting on impact and outcomes; building skills, knowledge and capacity of government leaders and teams; and maximizing technology and data for governments and their leaders. Whether it is through our award‑winning PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program for rural communities, our CyberArch student program that helps Georgia communities increase their cybersecurity, our efforts to build a visionary plan for military and community partnerships to spur economic prosperity and resilient infrastructure, our financial management certificate program to build the capacity of public officials, or hosting educational events about e‑mobility strategies for local governments … We Know Georgia. Fulfilling our land‑grant and sea‑grant mission to serve the State of Georgia is more than a project. It’s our purpose. We are growing and excited to add individuals to our team who share our commitment to public service – building stronger communities, inspiring economic resilience, and improving quality of life for communities across Georgia and beyond. Our Culture – How We Operate We disseminate knowledge through research, scholarship, and instruction. We collaborate internally across our areas of expertise and with academic researchers to bring best practices and expert insights to the governments and communities we serve. We are committed to fielding a team of experts who have a variety of professional and academic experiences and who are grounded in our culture of excellence and approach our work with Georgia’s governments in a comprehensive and objective fashion. College/Unit/Department website Posting Type External Retirement Plan TRS or ORP Employment Type Employee Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible Full/Part time Full Time Additional Schedule Information Normal business hours are M‑F, 8‑5. Advertised Salary Commensurate with Experience Posting Date 03/25/2026 Open until filled Yes Proposed Starting Date 05/01/2026 Special Instructions to Applicants Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment. Location of Vacancy Athens Area EEO Policy Statement The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (View email address on click.appcast.io). USG Core Values Statement The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at Classification Title Graphic Designer II FLSA Exempt FTE 1.00 Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent and 2 years of professional experience Preferred Qualifications A terminal degree of Masters in Landscape Architecture is strongly preferred. Position Summary This position provides the Institute of Government, its local, state, and federal government partners, and other collaborators with landscape design, graphic design, and other assistance that focuses on enhancing the long‑term resilience of communities and infrastructure systems. Design is used for both problem‑solving and visual communication purposes and should be based on research, analysis, and best practices. The position involves producing detailed graphic designs, systems, renderings, plans, and written documentation for Institute of Government projects, proposals, and publications. An important emphasis of the position will be to collaborate with established scholars and practitioners in community outreach, community design, landscape architecture, environmental planning, and engineering fields to advance the development of more resilient communities and infrastructure systems utilizing constructed and natural elements to strengthen society’s long‑term resilience. The position will support and/or conduct design, research, and training to expand and accelerate the adoption of best practices in resilience planning and design in the public and private sectors. The position exercises independent judgment in providing design solutions that reflect skill in landscape architecture and urban planning, graphic design and layout, hand rendering graphic skills, and knowledge of computer‑generated graphics programs (AutoCAD, Adobe Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, and SketchUp) so as to provide high‑quality, professional architectural and design/illustrations. The position coordinates meetings and site visits with clients and develops and maintains collaborative partnerships focused on design solutions with community leaders, local government staff, and state organizations. The position involves travel to conduct site visits, public input sessions, and deliver presentations to clients. The position provides program support by managing the design, research, and outreach efforts, including supervision of graduate and undergraduate students and interns. Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent and 2 years of professional experience. Skill in landscape architecture and urban planning, graphic design and layout, hand rendering graphic skills, and knowledge of computer‑generated graphics programs (AutoCAD, Adobe Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, and SketchUp) so as to provide high‑quality, professional architectural designs/illustrations. Experience with community engagement and stakeholder input to inform designs and community planning activities is also necessary. Duties/Responsibilities Design (50%) Provide high‑quality, research‑based, context‑sensitive professional architectural designs/illustrations; resilience planning including nature‑based infrastructure, coastal resiliency, reutilization and programming, and creative placemaking. Illustrations visually communicate the overall goals and strategies of planning projects and environmental planning initiatives, including adherence to the existing codes and ordinances within communities. Written Planning & Design (20%) Produce and compile written planning and design components, including analysis, and narrative descriptions of plans accompanying illustrative designs. Create written comprehensive reviews of previous plans, detailed work programs for clients, and more. Supervision (10%) Manage the design efforts of the program, including the supervision of graduate and undergraduate students. Supervise and assist students and interns in the collaborative production of designs. Stakeholder Engagement (10%) Solicit stakeholder input from across campus, local government, community leaders, and citizens on vision and design projects. Use community visioning to communicate what the solution would look like and help to decide what is necessary to achieve it. Site Visits & Outreach (5%) Schedule site visits, public input meetings, and client presentations. Apply creative problem‑solving strategies to address key issues in counties, cities, rural, and coastal areas. Professional Development (5%) Stay abreast of trends and best practices in community design; inform and share best practice knowledge with faculty, staff, and students. Physical Demands Position involves travel to conduct site visits, public input sessions, and deliver presentations to clients. Driving Responsibility Yes Position of Trust No Financial Resources Control No P-Card Requirement No Direct Interaction with Children No Security Access No Credit and P-Card policy Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website. Background Investigation Policy Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check, confirmation of credentials and employment history, and if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre‑employment drug test for positions with high‑risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website. Contact Details For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below. Recruitment Contact Name Leigh Elkins Recruitment Contact Email View email address on click.appcast.io #J-18808-Ljbffr