Graphic Design Specialist - Return Utah (Part time)

Full Job Description

Are you creative, passionate, imaginative, and ready to reenter the Workforce?

The Department of Commerce is looking for a Graphic Designer to join their communications team and would like this new team member to be someone who has been on a career break and is looking for support with coming back to work.

The Return Utah program is a formal career reentry program, designated for Utahns reentering the workforce after a career break.

The program is tied to the state job you are applying for, meaning that, along with a new role and traditional on-the-job training, candidates hired will receive 16 weeks of transitional support (which includes an office technology review, coaching, career development opportunities, mentorship, networking opportunities, and job market readiness training).

Career break reasoning is irrelevant.

To be eligible for Return Utah, candidates must:

1. 1. Have prior professional/life experience and/or qualifying skills suitable for the job’s functional area of interest,

   2. A career break of one year or more at the time of application, or

   3. Confirm military affiliation (as a service member, veteran, spouse, or partner) or,

   4. Be underemployed at the time of application.

This is a temporary position.

However, this job has an option to convert to career service exempt, meaning that upon completion of 16-weeks of employment, in conjunction with the Return Utah program, participants may receive a long-term offer of employment, based on performance, successful completion of organizational objectives, and ongoing budget.

**This is a hybrid position requiring in-person and remote work for State of Utah residents. The position will be in the office for the first 4 weeks, then may move to 2 days in the office (M/W).

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

As the Commerce Graphic Designer, you will be working with the Communications Director to create and develop materials and digital assets, develop and implement innovative design concepts across multiple mediums, and develop marketing collateral.

You will assist with storyboards, concept boards, sketches, and illustrations for advertising materials, provide illustrations, technical design, data visualization, and charts for print and electronic layouts, and will also assist with photography for Commerce events, which include post-production editing.

Duties may include, but not be limited to the following:

• Collaborating with the Communications Director, the Communications Specialist(s), and other Division communications staff to create and develop materials and digital assets.
• Researching and maintaining knowledge of current trends in graphic and digital design, evolving marketing and design trends, software updates/changes, advertising channels and trends, web design, animation, video editing, photography, and printing.
• Assisting the Communications Director in developing and implementing innovative design concepts that require originality and imagination, across multiple mediums and/or advertising channels.
• Assisting the Communications Director in developing marketing collateral through strategy, research, concepting, implementation, and evaluation of outcomes.
• Complying with consistent branding and messaging across all promotional materials, publications, events, and internal and external communications through an organizational style guide and templates to enhance brand positioning and awareness.
• Assisting with storyboards, concept boards, sketches, and illustrations for advertising materials (i.e., television, radio, newspaper, billboard, web banners, email, eBooks, etc.)
• Providing illustrations, technical design, data visualization, and charts for print and electronic layouts (catalogs, flyers, brochures, posters, newsletters, ads, exhibit materials, presentations, annual reports, etc.).
• Coordinating with Commerce staff for layout, design, changes, and art approval.
• Creating prepress files and coordinating projects with printers.
• Assisting with photography for Commerce events, which includes post-production editing.
• Successfully managing multiple projects at a time; may work on 20 or more projects per month.
• Completing assigned tasks within specified deadlines, and with the highest degree of quality and creativity.
• Maintaining an organized archive of images, photos, files, and previous work products.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Our model candidate will:

• Be a motivated self-starter who can work independently on projects.
• Have excellent time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Have the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Eagerly take on assignments and perform them well.
• Have the ability to successfully build relationships and solve problems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 1 year of work experience as a graphic designer, or experience being trained as a graphic designer.
• Skills in Adobe Creative Cloud, including all listed below:
  • Adobe Express, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere, and After Effects.

PREFERENCES

Preferences will be given to applicants with the following (these are not requirements of the position):

• 2 years of working experience as a graphic designer.
• Experience with photography and video equipment and lighting, including experience with DSLR cameras.
• A working knowledge of the pre-press and printing process (proofing, bids, paper stocks, processes, digital or offset printers, etc.).
• Experience working for a government entity such as a municipality, county, state, or federal agency.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN OUR TEAM

As a member of the Commerce Communications team, you’ll be working with fast-paced, dynamic individuals who are actively pursuing ways to improve Utah’s regulatory environment in order to enable the economic prosperity needed for Utah’s future, and to educate and protect consumers and investors.

AGENCY

The Department of Commerce is the licensing and registration agency for Utah's professional and business community.

Its mission is to strengthen trust in Utah’s commercial activities through education, licensing, enforcement, and regulation.

We provide oversight of business registrations, trademarks, Uniform Commercial Code filings, professional and occupational licensing, consumer protection, public utilities, securities, real estate, and residential mortgage lending.

Please visit our website for more information about our agency.

Qualifications

Possess a strong understanding of marketing and design principles with technical design skills in Adobe Creative Cloud products including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Acrobat.Must be creative and possess skills in fine arts, complex problem solving, decision-making, customer service, verbal/written communication, organization, and computers.Must be proficient in Google Workplace applications and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Suite, basic knowledge of web design and digital trends.

Additional Information Top candidates will be asked to provide a design portfolio to illustrate software skills and creativity.

Classification: Graphic Arts Specialist II (#29060)

Please note that a position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.

Effective July 1, 2021, in-state work rules require all work to be performed while physically within the state’s borders.

Valid driver's license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per UCA53-3-202(1)(a)