Graphic Design and Marketing Specialist

Reporting to the Internal Communications Manager, the Graphic Design and Marketing Specialist will be responsible for managing, designing, and producing projects from concept to delivery for LIRS's internal and external marketing and communications needs. This position will manage, create and design marketing collateral for various program related projects, events, advertisements, and initiatives across the organization, developing key marketing projects that heighten LIRS's brand and credibility as a faith-based thought and service leader. S/he will contribute to marketing and communications planning, and strategy development including donor communications and social media; and collaborate with colleagues and partners to garner content for a variety of uses. The Graphic Design and Marketing Specialist will coordinate with contracted printers, advertisers and other vendors for timely execution of deliverables; maintain positive flow of inventory; conduct periodic collateral audits; and identify opportunities for new materials.  

• Design graphics and marketing collateral that effectively portray desired message (i.e. brochures, reports, templates, donor mailings, etc.). Assist with determining the message the design should portray; develop or adapt concepts for a variety of graphic design projects; create the actual project design and layout.
• Advise on scope of project, design and content strategies to reach a particular audience; collaborate with internal teams to ensure brand guidelines and consistency in all materials; articulate specific production requirements and techniques, and oversee execution. 
• Work directly with internal program staff to effectively manage production timelines, budget and delivery of final materials; self-manage project planning and tracking, deadlines, and tasks.
• Create, organize, and manage the essential elements of a project including photos, typography, graphic elements, rendering objects to enhance the design, with particular consideration to cultural aspects in the design of materials.
• Coordinate and oversee relationship with external design agency and related resources. Package artwork and provide to external vendors.
• Coordinate translation of materials with internal teams and external vendors. Flow translated copy to designs and verify accuracy.
• Represent the LIRS brand at all levels of content and graphics creation, events, and vendor interaction.
• Develop and maintain positive and effective relationships with internal and external resources.
• Evaluate priority of requests, projects, and activities to ensure best return of investment of time and resources; develop project management process/tools to track project information and effectively communicate with program partners, and external vendors on schedule of work, production timelines, information on project costs, etc.
• Research and collaborate with vendors to gather spec information, pricing, and integrate the vendor production schedule with LIRS' production schedule.
• Review against marketing strategies of LIRS and marketing best practices.

• Undergraduate degree in communications, graphic design, marketing, advertising or related field. 
• Minimum 2-3 years of corporate, and/or non-profit experience.
• Proficiency with software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Flash and extensive experience in Microsoft Office applications. 
• Exceptional written and verbal communications skills; demonstrated experience with copy editing and proofreading. 
• Meticulous attention to detail; takes pride in work quality.
• Strong interest in design trends; artistic flair and eye for design.
• Outstanding organizational skills and demonstrated ability to meet project deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to be adaptable and maintain effectiveness in a fast-moving, changing, deadline-driven environment.
• Commitment to timely achievement of deliverables and outcomes.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team with strong problem solving skills.
• Ability to negotiate pricing and cultivate vendor relationships with a high degree of integrity.
• Competency in cross-cultural communications.
• Experience with and commitment to working in a very diverse workforce.
• Commitment to LIRS's core values and ability to model those values in relationships with colleagues and partners.

Please submit a cover letter and work samples/portfolio. Applications submitted without the supporting documents will not be considered.

LIRS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND COMPLIES WITH ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS.