Position Title: Creative Design Manager (Graphic Designer)
Reports To: Senior Brand & Content Marketing Officer
Pay Grade E: $67,314 - $79,094
Position Status: Full Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
About KZCF:
KZCF, established in 1925, has the vision of Kalamazoo County being the most equitable place to live, with the mission to mobilize people, resources, and expertise and to advance racial, social, and economic justice. Learn more at kalfound.org.
Core Values:
Center Anti-Racism and Equity
Advance Racial Justice
Nurture Healing and Love
Cultivate Transformative Relationships
Serve the Greater Good
Learn and Grow
Embrace Joy
Position Summary:
The Creative Design Manager plays an integral role in creating design and layout for the Foundation’s website, social media, publications, events, presentations, signage and more. This role will in collaboration with the Senior Brand & Marketing Manager and the Chief Strategy & Communication Officer in increasing the Foundation’s visibility among key target audiences; educating the entire Kalamazoo County community and beyond about the Foundation’s mission and services through your art, engaging existing stakeholders to continue their passion for the Foundation’s mission.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities:
Content Creation
- Envision and design all social media graphics both independently and in coordination with other members of the organization
- Create and develop all design elements for reports, events, training materials, merchandise, and other activities as requested
- Assist the communications team in the development of digital campaigns
- Track and report on the effectiveness of design initiatives as part of the team's larger data reporting efforts
- Create GIFs, videos, and other visual materials for use in email and social media campaigns
- Engage with alumni, elected officials, and partner organizations to collect stories, manage projects, and gather stories to be used in communications materials
- In coordination with the full communications team, develop strategy to increase brand visibility and engagement across all platforms
- Maintain clear, organized system to store and share all design materials
- Develop and share timely ideas to respond to current events and/or opportunities for design assets, campaigns, actions, and other ideas. Creativity is welcome!
- Support the organizations on broader communications and training tasks as needed. This can include, but is not limited to, Giving Tuesday campaigns, end of year giving campaigns, training coverage on social media, endorsement promotion, highlighting elected officials work, etc.
- In coordination with the Digital Content Specialist, develop engaging, digestible, action oriented digital campaigns for both NAL (C3) and NALAF (C4) platforms to mobilize advocates and promote action around organizational priorities and issues
- With Digital Media Manager, make and implement recommendations for website updates.
Other Duties
- Performs special projects as directed by the Senior Brand & Marketing Officer and the Chief Stragety & Communications Officer.
Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Anti-Racism:
- Apply an equitable and anti-racist analysis to all functions to achieve organizational goals.
- Embrace, support, and integrate Community Foundation philosophies related to diversity, inclusiveness, and anti-racism with a willingness to acknowledge and address other forms of bias.
- Ability to confront personal, individual, and internal systemic bias regarding race, age, gender, gender- identity, sexual orientation, ability, etc., which will require sharing and discussing personal identities related to the work environment.
- Ability to work and navigate emotionally taxing conversations related to power, privilege, racism, and oppression on a regular basis.
- Must have strong emotional intelligence and resiliency skills to lead and/or actively participate in advancing our work relative to racial, social, and economic justice.
Professionalism:
- Support the mission, vision, and strategic goals, as a part of the Performance Excellence Model of the Community Foundation, to serve both internal and external customers.
- Follow and support Community Foundation policies and procedures.
- Evaluate own performance and assumes responsibility for professional development.
- Embrace philosophy of one actively engaged in lifelong learning.
- Demonstrate and models Process documentation for clarity and consistency.
- Maintain current knowledge of all changes affecting area of work.
- Conduct self in a professional manner and follows and support the core values, commitments, and behaviors.
- Maintain appropriate professional appearance and confidentiality.
Engagement/Participation:
- Actively represents KZCF at community-based meetings and events which may require evening and weekend engagement throughout the year
- Actively participate in meetings, committees, and volunteer opportunities within the organization
- Apply an anti-racism analysis and engage with others in support of learning ways to advance collective DEI understanding and skills.
- Participate as a team member utilizing a collaborative style to achieve mutual goals.
- Provide proactive, creative cross-functional thinking and ideas to enhance services to customers.
- Demonstrate ability to work effectively with others.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, communications, marketing or related field, or an equivalent combination of training and relevant work experience.
- Ability in photography and photo editing
- Some relevant experience with a proven track record of success and/or recommendations by teachers, mentors or freelance clients
- High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with a proficiency in Canva and other design programs and social media applications
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and in video editing software a plus
- Highly organized, creative and self-motivated with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple
- projects simultaneously
- Strong interpersonal and networking skills among diverse constituent groups
- Willingness to work some evenings and weekends
Preferred:
- Existing knowledge of the local community and philanthropic landscape a plus
- Portfolio of applicable communications work from current or past employment (i.e. press releases, social media posts, articles, etc)
- Some knowledge of Canva or similar graphic design software.
- Some knowledge of marketing software such as customer relationship management and content management systems.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications
The Kalamazoo Community Foundation shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include hiring and termination of staff, selecting volunteers, selecting vendors, and providing services.