Graphic Designer

The Graphic Designer is responsible for supporting the marketing, communications, and advertising functions for multiple city departments through exceptional graphic design and publication production. This includes creating innovative design solutions, maintaining brand standards, and managing projects from concept to completion.

Responsibilities

• Creates and executes innovative, impactful and unique design solutions, as assigned.
• Applies designs for different audiences including supporting translation needs.
• Maintains high standards from design to final production in accordance with the City's brand guidelines and accessibility standards.
• Promotes and strengthens Lakewood’s identity and tone of voice.
• Designs and produces publications, promotional materials (banners, signage, posters, fliers, postcards, etc.), brochures, programs print and digital ads, building signage and other creative projects as requested by internal clients.
• Serves as a project lead for city publications, to include staff coordination and communication, layout, design, editing, proofing, printing and generating an interactive file for digital platforms.
• Ability to produce collateral that can be used across various platforms (digital, print, mobile) as well as be responsive to emerging technologies/trends.
• Maintains timely accounting of assigned projects and their status in project management software.
• Prepares for regular team meetings pertaining to project tasks, deliverables and professional achievements.
• Maintains design files and archives of work, which are easily accessible and organized.
• Serves as a resource/liaison between internal clients and the city print shop.
• Researches and coordinates external printing projects with vendors and oversees installation as needed.
• Effectively communicates directly with clients utilizing department communication tools to support the city’s creative needs.
• Contributes to the innovation and efficacy of the team by researching and implementing new ideas and approaches to projects.
• Examples include animation and accessible design.
• Obtains quotes and coordinates with outside vendors as needed while seeking cost-effective solutions.
• Supports the workgroup with administrative tasks as necessary and when time allows.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Displays exceptional time management skills and ability to manage multiple deadline-driven tasks and projects at one time.
• Interacts with others in a professional and positive manner.
• Manages creative opportunities strategically to remain productive and meet competing project deadlines.
• Skills in written and verbal communications, such as creating written materials for promotion and proofreading.
• Remains open and flexible to feedback.
• Consistently produces high volumes of work with little supervision or direction.
• Exhibits strong collaboration skills working directly with clients.
• May need the ability to transport oneself to off-site locations.
• Requires regular and prompt attendance.
• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design preferred.
• Five or more years’ experience designing with Adobe Creative Suite.
• Demonstrated proficiency with project management software.
• Excellent computer knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (primarily InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat.)
• Ability to work with a Mac and PC.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to apply accessibility tools to ensure compliance with Colorado House Bill 21-1110 is preferred.
• Proficiency with Canva is preferred.

Key Skills

• Adobe Creative Suite (primarily InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat.)
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Accessibility tools
• Canva
• Project management software
• Time management
• Professional communication
• Strategic management
• Written and verbal communications
• Feedback
• Collaboration
• Transportation
• Attendance
• Translation
• Brand guidelines
• Accessibility standards
• Identity and tone of voice
• Publications
• Promotional materials
• Brochures
• Programs
• Print and digital ads
• Building signage
• Creative projects
• Project lead
• Staff coordination
• Communication
• Layout
• Design
• Editing
• Proofing
• Printing
• Interactive file generation
• Collateral production
• Emerging technologies
• Trends
• Project management
• Design files
• Archives
• Resource/liaison
• Vendor coordination
• Installation oversight
• Client communication
• Innovation
• Efficacy
• New ideas
• Approaches
• Animation
• Accessible design
• Quotes
• Cost-effective solutions
• Administrative tasks

Benefits

• Medical Cigna HDHP with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Kaiser Permanente DHMO with Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Dental Delta Dental PPO plus Premier Plan
• Vision Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Life Insurance Employees are covered for 1.5 times their annual base salary in life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, up to a maximum of $500,000 (the minimum benefit is $50,000). The city pays the cost of this coverage.
• Pension Our pension fund is a social security replacement, money purchase plan. Mandatory employee contribution is 11% of gross base salary; city contribution is 13% of gross base salary.
• Sick Leave Full-time employees earn 8 hours per month. Part-time employees earn 6 hours per month.
• Vacation Full-time employees with less than five years of service earn 8 hours per month. Part-time employees with less than five years of service earn 6 hours per month.
• City Holidays Holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Deferred Compensation
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• Injury Leave
• Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
• Military Leave
• Jury Duty
• Tuition Assistance
• Credit Union
• Recreation Facilities Employees are eligible for free general admission into the city’s recreation centers, swimming pools and Bear Creek Lake Park.
• Wellness Programs