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Graphic Designer I

University Marketing & Communications
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Great design opens doors before anyone steps through them.

A college is made up of thousands of stories — dreams taking flight, ideas being tested, milestones in motion, and ambitions realized. Your work will help bring those moments to life visually, celebrating our students, inspiring prospective students, and connecting an entire campus community across academics, athletics, student life, advancement, alumni, and beyond.

Our creative work is grounded in the mission of the university: to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. It’s not just what we say — it’s what we help bring to life through the visual stories we design. If that resonates with you, apply. We look forward to meeting you.

About the University

Founded in 1959 in beautiful Ventura County, California Lutheran University has an enrollment of about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students who come from across the nation and around the world from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and faiths. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, Cal Lutheran is looking for candidates with a dedication to and success in working in diverse communities. The university is committed to an inclusive learning and work environment that values individual differences and respects each person’s dignity.

What You’ll Do Here

Reporting to the Associate Creative Director of University Marketing & Communications, the Graphic Designer I will design and produce a wide variety of marketing materials that target internal and external audiences. Projects will include creating visual communications through the use of graphics, typography, photography, and the university brand standards and style guide.

How You’ll Contribute

1. Project Management/Coordination

• Reviews all submitted print and signage work orders and confirms if they are ready for production.

• Meets with Associate Creative Director to discuss submitted projects

• Contacts client to gather project information and assets when needed

• Schedules in-take and review meetings with clients

• Takes meeting notes and provides them to both client and internal team via email or Teamwork

• Creates a schedule for each project after assessing the creative team’s current workload, client’s requested due date, project scope, and more

• Assigns projects to designers (student designers, Student Design Studio) after assessing their current workloads

• Manages and oversees assigned projects as a project lead

• Initiates RFQ’s with vendors; coordinates reviews, approvals and processing of estimates and invoices with clients.

• Tasks out projects on Teamwork

• Sends design drafts to internal team for review/approval

• Sends design drafts to client for review/approval

• Sends client edits/feedback to a designer via Teamwork

• Sends follow-up emails or calls to clients when needed

• Documents all project updates or changes on Teamwork

• Checks projects’ health and status daily

• Ensures projects move forward without any issues and also meet their deadlines

• Adjusts project schedules and reassigns the tasks when needed (internal/external delays, last-minute changes, and more)

• Confirms installation/delivery when needed

2. Assist with priority University Marketing & Communications photography needs; on-location and in-studio coordination, team direction and management. 

• Assist with art direction during photo shoots for priority University Marketing & Communications projects such as ads, brochures, magazine spreads or banner campaigns.

• Prepares a shot list, photo sample sheet, and wardrobe instruction sheet for both photographer and photo shoot participants

• Reviews delivered photos, chooses selects, and categorizes them for the marketing photo gallery

• Advise or consult with other university (non-M&C) photography needs.

3. Coordinates EG/banner installation

• Schedules banner installation schedules with multiple vendors

• Generates a location plan/installation map for each installation and send them to vendor prior to the scheduled installation

• Notifies Facilities, Campus Safety, Events, and other involved campus partners of installation information and asks for their assistance if needed

• Attends banner installations to ensure safety and completion

4. Supports brand management

• Reviews submitted brand proofs (athletics gears, apparel, etc.) from an outside vendor, ensure they meet brand guidelines, and provide written feedback to vendor, campus partner, and Associate Creative Director

• Discusses brand-related topics and questions with Associate Creative Director when needed

5. Conceptualize, design and produce printed materials such as ads, brochures, invitations, posters, booklets, flyers, magazine layouts, programs, postcards and stationery.

6 Create visual assets that include program logos, marks, infographics, digital ads, social media graphics, and electronic newsletters.

7. Design and produce environmental graphics such as banners, window graphics, signage, billboards, and traveling marketing displays.

8. Organize and produce presentation materials for high-profile projects such as thumbnails, concept boards, full-size mock-ups and printing and paper options.

9. Collaborate with Associate Creative Director, project manager, videographer, photographer and clients for concept development, presentations, production and execution of design projects.

10. Attend creative focused meetings with clients/project team to gather project information, participate in project decisions, present design solutions or provide project design status.

11. Update or refresh existing print materials, digital ads, signage and other graphics or templates.

12. Create designs for promotional apparel and merchandise such as T-shirts, pens, cups, magnets and tote bags

13. Coordinates the printing production process on key projects.

• Initiates Requests for Quotes with associated bid documents and submits proposals for review and approval of selected vendor.

• Writes printing and other reproduction specifications (selects ink, paper, and print quality); and inspects proofs for accuracy and quality.

• Coordinate print order, file transfer, production specs and proofing with printers.

14. Generate, review and edit draft and final files to ensure design work follows university brand and style guide standards.

15. Maintain electronic archive of project assets, icon library, font library and university standard stationery template files.

16. Assist with design student production/projects as the Design Lead on assigned projects.

17. Perform miscellaneous other job-related duties as assigned.

What You’ll Bring

Candidates should have knowledge of:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop; Microsoft Word

• Principles, practice and techniques of graphic design including typography and color theory

• Generating digital ads such as animated GIF and HTML5 ads

• Creative process: Conceptualization to visualization to delivery

• Printing processes and requirements

• Photo enhancement and manipulation techniques

Skills You’re Great At

Candidates should demonstrate the following abilities:

• Create and produce graphic materials using a range of media, methods, techniques, and equipment.

• Organize and produce presentation materials

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Analyze graphic and technical information and create interpretive illustrations.

• Analyze and interpret user graphic requirements.

• Develop print and/or reproduction specifications.

• Work on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment with accuracy and consistency

• Understand overall strategic objective, as well as fine details to accomplish the goal of the project

• Work effectively as a member of a team

• Organize work and manage time effectively

• Demonstrate creativity and originality in graphic design while keeping in line with university brand standards

• Remain current with the latest design trends and technology by attending workshops, conferences, reviewing professional publications and online research.

• Successfully produce and complete projects on time, within budget and to the agreed design expectations.

• Grow and thrive with an in-house design team within an academic environment with high standards.

Must-Have Experience & Education

Minimum qualifications include a combination equivalent to: A Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field with three – five years of professional design and production experience.

What Sets You Apart

Preferred qualifications include experience in higher education marketing design.

Work Environment & Conditions Considerations

Physical Abilities: Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person and on the telephone; seeing to read and create visual communication materials; dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, printers and copiers; Sitting for extended periods of time.

Office environment: Frequent interruptions and deadlines; occasional evening and weekend work.

Hiring Range $27.00 - $31.00

Posting Number Staff005292022

Desired Start Date 07/27/2026

Required Applicant Documents

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Cover Letter

Portfolio/URL

To apply, please visit: https://careers.callutheran.edu/postings/13322

For questions or more info, please email HR@callutheran.edu

Statement

California Lutheran University is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment for all persons, regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable law. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program, activity or facility of the University on the basis of these factors in a manner consistent with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, ordinances, orders and rules, and University’s policies, procedures, and processes.

Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process can be provided to individuals with qualifying disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department for further information or to request an accommodation.