Graphic Design Specialist

Posting Details (Default Section)

Position Title Graphic Design Specialist
Special Instructions to Applicants
The marketing team at Contra Costa College supports the college's mission primarily, but not exclusively, in three key areas: boosting enrollment, elevating perceptions of the college and its brand, and supporting the success and safety of students and staff.

NOTE : New employees will be placed at the first step which is $79,704 per year, second step $83,736 per year or third step at $87,972 per year (depending upon experience). Based on current salary placement guidelines, all step increases for which an employee becomes eligible shall take place on July 1st of each fiscal year. These increases will occur, on annual basis, until the maximum step of $97,080 per year is reached on the salary schedule.

Our Vision for Social Justice
We are seeking people who recognize the critical role community colleges play in social justice, who have ability in this space, enthusiasm for this work, ideas and vision to improve our approaches, and a commitment to achieving equitable academic success for the 50,000+ students attending our five beautiful colleges and centers. Our social justice work calls for employees who have a sense of social responsibility, interest in our community and world in which we live.

The intention of social justice work is to strengthen humanity by understanding that every person deserves the benefits of fully participating in our society and institutions.

Academic researchers have illustrated that crucial social justice principles are a compilation of equality, equity, diversity, inclusion, engagement, environmental sustainability and human rights. These complex principles are challenging to operationalize in higher education; yet we are steadfast in our diligence to forge ahead to advance this vital mission.

Community colleges are uniquely positioned to lead higher education in the work of social justice. Many of our students come from historically underserved and underrepresented backgrounds, students of color, students with recent immigrant histories, students from cycles of low income if not poverty, students from indigenous communities, and students from first-generation families.

The idea of promoting social mobility through education is unconditionally and uncompromisingly embraced by community colleges. This is an exciting role, and it comes with a heavy responsibility. Simply put, we need to create environments where our students achieve greater academic success, so much so that we close our persistent equity/opportunity gaps.

If you are committed to social and racial justice and if you are interested in joining a community dedicated to solving these inequities through education, please apply.

Recruitment Type: Open (Internal and External applicants)
Location Contra Costa College
Posting Number 0002160
# of Openings 1
Range 66
Salary YEARLY: $79,704, step 1 - $97,080, step 5 (see special instructions for initial step placement)
Position Status Permanent
Overtime Status Non-Exempt (eligible)
Position Full-Time
If temporary, employment duration: N/A
# of Hours Scheduled Per Week 40
Work Schedule By Day and Work Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00am-5:00pm
(Some evenings and weekends required)

Shift Differential % N/A
# of Months 12
Non-work Periods: N/A
EEO Job Category Technical/Paraprofessional
Employee Group Classified
Department C1005 - Marketing
Position Definition
Use best practices in graphic design strategy to produce a wide variety of marketing materials that inform, inspire and convert audiences. The role involves collaboration with colleagues to produce visually compelling designs that align with the college's brand identity as well as strategic marketing and communications goals.

Distinguishing Characteristics
N/A

Examples of Duties/Essential Functions
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Design and Production:

• Writes creative briefs, coordinates production of copy and images, including photo selection and editing, and designs assets for print and digital channels including posters, booklets, postcards, web and social media graphics, and may include academic schedules and catalogs.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Work closely with the Marketing and Communications team to understand project requirements, target audiences, and key messages.
• In partnership with colleagues, develops and/or advises on design strategy for marketing assets in alignment with KPIs, brand standards and accessibility requirements.

Brand Management:

• Maintain and enforce brand standards across all visual materials.
• Assist in the development of brand guidelines and templates for use across the college.

Project Management:

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality output.
• Coordinate with vendors to provide marketing and communication deliverables, printing, and to meet other production needs as necessary.
• Provide assistance with budget preparation, providing input as to what materials, supplies, and equipment are needed.
• Maintain digital asset management ( DAM ) system, template library, style guides, support documentation, request forms, etc

Quality Assurance:

• Implements version control and quality assurance (QA) protocols to ensure that final design deliverables meet requirements and are error free.

Photography and Videography:

• Capture and edit photos and videos for use in marketing materials, websites, and social media.
• Manage photo and video shoots, ensuring high-quality content that reflects the college's brand.

Training and Support:

• Provide training to colleagues on the use of design templates and branding tools.
• Offer guidance and support to student workers or interns as needed.

Minimum Qualification-Education/Experience
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
Three (3) years of work experience in graphic design or related field.

EDUCATION / LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE
Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or an associate degree and two years of relevant work experience. Additional work experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree with two years of experience substituting for one year of education.

Minimum Qualification-Knowledge Of
Knowledge of:

• Graphic design software, such as proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and other relevant tools.
• Design strategy relating to brand identity, target audiences, project goals, visual style and tone, channels, and user experience.
• Effective visual storytelling with the ability to convey messages, ideas, and emotions through visual elements.
• Design principles including composition, layout, typography, message hierarchy, and color theory.
• Principals of photography including composition, and related standards for image resolution and formats, color management, editing and retouching, licensing, fair use, and copyright.
• Accessibility standards and practices to ensure that designs are inclusive and usable by individuals with disabilities or diverse needs.
• Production processes and requirements for print and digital channels
• Best practices for visual brand and digital asset management in a large organization with a distributed workforce

Minimum Qualification-Skill To
N/A

Minimum Qualification-Ability To
Skill/Ability to:

• Create design concepts that fit within existing brand standards while finding new ways to tell the college's visual stories.
• Design, lay out, and produce artwork that supports the achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.
• Schedule and prioritize work to accomplish expected results in an effective, efficient, and timely manner.
• Learn, interpret, and apply District policies and procedures.
• Develop visual assets that effectively convey the college's brand and messaging in alignment with strategic marketing and communications goals.
• Communicate in a clear, concise manner to a variety of audiences.
• Maintain a strong attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality work.
• Coordinate multifaceted graphic design projects that may involve multiple stakeholders, creative and/or technical vendors.
• Stay current with emerging trends and technological advances relating to graphic design.
• Demonstrates understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, and religious background of all students, faculty and staff, and with all individuals encountered in the performance of required duties.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of Accessibility Standards: Understanding of ADA compliance and best practices for creating accessible digital and print materials.
• Photography Skills: Proficiency in taking and editing photographs for use in various college publications and online platforms.
• Web Design Experience: Skills in designing and maintaining websites, including knowledge of HTML , CSS , and content management systems like WordPress.

Job Open Date: 04/21/2025
Job Close Date: 05/21/2025
Open Until Filled No
Foreign Degree and Credit Statement:
In accordance with the Human Resources Procedure 3050.05, all foreign degrees and credits used to meet the minimum qualifications must be evaluated by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services ( NACES ) agency www.naces.org prior to the implementation of the equivalency process. You must upload your evaluation with your application when you apply for this position to be considered. We cannot accept foreign degree evaluations after the closing date. The candidate bears all responsibility and costs associated with obtaining the evaluation.

Employee Benefits:
Insurance: The District offers health, vision, dental and life insurance for monthly classified employees and managers/supervisors and their eligible dependents. Monthly classified employees and managers/supervisors covered by another health medical plan may waive District coverage and receive a monthly cash stipend.

Retirement: Most employees are members of the PERS (Public Employees Retirement System). Faculty employees and Academic Managers are members of the STRS (State Teachers Retirement System). Police Service employers are members of Safety Public Employees Retirement System.

Deferred Compensation: The District offers two optional deferred compensation plans. Eligible employees have a choice of the 457, 403b plans and a selection of savings and investment options.

Leave Allowance: The District offers monthly eligible classified employees and managers/supervisors a generous vacation and sick leave benefits as well as 20 paid holidays annually (which can vary based on length of winter break).

Additional Benefits: The District also offers monthly eligible classified employees and managers/supervisors educational reimbursements, employee assistance programs, a travel assistance plan, longevity compensation, retiree benefits, employee discounts on health memberships and a comprehensive wellness program.

Newly hired employees may notify the respective union (Local 1 or United Faculty) if they opt to join and/or authorize payment to the union. If the newly hired employee authorizes payment to the union then the following fees apply: Local 1 has a one-time initiation fee of $45.00 and monthly contribution of 1% of gross pay +$1. United Faculty has an agency fee of .55% of gross pay plus $2.50. (All confidential, supervisory and management positions are exempt from union membership)

For further information regarding benefits eligibility and details please refer to the following documents available on the 4CD website:

Classified Employees Local 1 Contract (Article 20-Benefits):
https://www.4cd.edu/hr/localonecontract/2019-2022%20Local%201%20Contract.pdf

Managers/Supervisors/Confidential Personnel Manual (Section 8-Insurance Benefits):
https://www.4cd.edu/gb/policies-procedures/manuals/MSC_08.pdf

POST OFFER PRE-PLACEMENT EVALUATION PROGRAM (PEP)
All job offers of employment are conditional upon the applicant's satisfactory results of the Post Offer Pre-Placement Evaluation Program. This involves a physical strength test to demonstrate a minimum level of strength to perform the essential duties of the job. There is no charge for this service. Please do not make an appointment for testing until you have received notification from the Human Resources Department after a job offer is extended. The positions we currently evaluate are: Building Maintenance Worker, Custodian I and II, Lead Custodian, Cook, Food Services Assistant, Food Services Supervisor, Food Services Supply Clerk, Food Services Coordinator, Grounds Worker/ Gardener I and II, Senior/ Lead Grounds Worker/Gardener, Lead Maintenance Mechanic, Senior Equipment Maintenance Worker. If you are not hired in a listed classification, you may disregard this notification.

ADA Accommodations:
In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests for reasonable accommodations may be made to slever@4cd.edu. For administrative purposes, requests must be made at the time of application.

COVID-19 Information
N/A

Quicklink https://www.4cdcareers.net/postings/11369
Diversity Statement
It is the District's policy to ensure that all qualified applicants for employment and employees have full and equal access to employment opportunity, and are not subjected to discrimination in any program or activity of the District on the basis of ethnic group identity, race, color, ancestry, religion, marital status, sex, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, parental status, citizenship or because an individual is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

* Tell us how you meet the minimum requirements of (1) Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or an associate degree and two years of relevant work experience. Additional work experience may be substituted in lieu of a degree with two years of experience substituting for one year of education. AND (2) Three (3) years of work experience in graphic design or related field.
(Open Ended Question)

* Explain your experience with web design. What platforms and tools have you used? How have you ensured the websites you designed were user-friendly and visually appealing?
(Open Ended Question)

* Describe two projects in which you had to collaborate with multiple stakeholders, such as faculty, staff, and students. How did you manage their different needs and expectations, and what was the outcome of the project?
(Open Ended Question)

* Please submit a PDF document containing three examples of your best work. Each example should include a brief description of the project and your role in its creation.
(Open Ended Question)

Required Documents
Required Documents

Cover Letter

Resume/CV

Unofficial Transcript (must show degree(s) conferred)

Work Sample 1

Optional Documents

Answers to Supplemental Questionnaire

Application for Equivalency

Work Sample 2

Unofficial Transcript 2

Unofficial Transcript 3

Work Sample 3