Associate Communications Designer

We’re searching for a digitally savvy Associate Communications Designer who has experience creating a wide range of digital and print communications. This position requires in-person work with the option for a hybrid arrangement and is based in Kelowna at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

The Associate Communications Designer works with Communications Designers and Communications Strategists to support a wide range of online and print communications for academic and administrative units on UBC’s Okanagan campus. These communications provide information to the general public, students, faculty and staff, and other groups in the community.

Organizational Status

This position reports to the Manager, Graphic Design. The Manager, Graphic Design works as part of the University Relations team and interacts with content providers across the university.

Work Performed

Branding:

• Develops visual concepts and themes in support of marketing efforts, working closely with graphic designers and communicators.
• Collaborates on visual concepts in support of area- and system-wide projects.
• Considers accessibility issues such as colour, contrast, typography, and other factors for people with disabilities.

Graphic design:

• Designs, plans and researches web layouts and digital communications material (social media graphics, online advertising, email templates), including draft concepts for client review and bringing the product to final stages.
• Discusses assignments with clients, in conjunction with the marketing and communications staff and other members of the team, to clarify subject material and design objectives before providing recommendations.
• Performs original graphic design and layout of digital and print materials.
• Considers user experience (UX) in all aspects of design.
• Performs quality control checks throughout the design process from conceptual development to proof checking to file archival.
• Manipulates digital images, takes photographs, creates vector and bitmapped illustrations as needed for web and print communications materials.

Project management:

• Works with communications design staff, and marketing and communications staff, to establish and meet production deadlines.
• Assists with photo shoots.

Other duties:

• Works with vendors of printing, advertising and graphics services.
• Assists with maintenance of the image database, including archiving, and responding to image requests from the UBC community.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The position must exercise tact and diplomacy when dealing with clients. This position must understand and explain how different design and media options will achieve the desired goals within the budget and timeframe available. People who rely on information provided by this position include faculty, staff, and students. Errors would cause inconvenience and could have financial consequences for UBC.

Supervision Received

Works independently within defined guidelines and objectives. Reports directly to the Manager, Graphic Design, Communications and Marketing.

Supervision Given

The position has no direct reports.

Qualifications

Minimum

• Graphic Design program encompassing current web and print design technology as well as illustrative and photographic components.
• Minimum of two years’ experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

• Ability to execute strategic and integrated communications solutions, consistent with the university’s brand guidelines, in complex and unique situations that directly link to and reflect the university’s mission and goals.
• Demonstrates skills in design, illustration, page layout, digital marketing, print management, pre-press, and communications development and planning through their portfolio.
• Ability to exercise diplomacy, tact and discretion when working with confidential and/or sensitive information and in dealing with various levels of administration and external agencies.
• Effective oral and written communication, prioritizing, multi-tasking, interpersonal and customer service skills. Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team cultivating a highly collaborative environment and to work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines. Ability to assess own performance and report on project status to senior staff.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, to prioritize, multi-task, and respond quickly to deadlines.
• Capacity for creativity and research; ability to exercise initiative, resourcefulness and judgement.
• This is a hybrid position that requires in-person work at UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna, typically three of five days a week.

Please apply for the Associate Communications Designer position using UBC’s Career and Job postings website.