National Journal is hiring a Graphic Design Associate to contribute to, and deliver on, both internal and external design needs across our business. This person will be responsible for partnering with our analyst team to create a range of high-quality designed deliverables in client branding for use in engaging advocates, boards, and PACs. They will also work on NJ-branded initiatives to serve the team’s overall goals of attracting and retaining clients.
National Journal is a premier research and insights company committed to helping organizations effectively navigate Washington. Best known as one of Washington’s most trusted media brands for over 50 years, our expertise is unmatched with teams of specialists dedicated to government affairs, communications, and political research, in addition to exceptional journalism. Our mission is to equip the thousands of government and business leaders in the nation’s capital with the intelligence, insights, and connections they need to save time, increase efficiency, and deliver success.
What is National Journal’s creative team?
Our team consists of graphic designers who develop creative assets that engage, educate, and deliver value to our clients while also generating market interest in National Journal’s products. We work closely with revenue partners to capitalize on that interest and demonstrate value to bring on new clients and retain existing ones. The creative team plays a key role across our business contributing to all product evolution and marketing efforts.
The Role: The Graphic Design Associate will work with our Presentation Center team to develop creative, engaging, and unique deliverables. Their work will include partnering with our analysts on client deliverables ranging from annual reports, one-pagers, newsletters, and short publications to more extensive data visualizations, infographics, social media posts, animated graphics, gifs, videos, and more. This is an integral role on the team with the opportunity to have an impact across the business. This person will report directly to our Creative Lead, working closely with project managers, analysts, specialists, and more.
Major responsibilities include:
Produce high-quality high-quality print and digital graphics and presentations for NJ clients
Assist in all phases of design development, from partnering on the scoping process to working through edits and final delivery
Create custom client deliverables including infographics, newsletter templates, annual reports, one-pagers, briefing books, wireframes, social media posts, charts and graphics, data visualizations, infographics, motion graphics, animations and more. These are developed in partnership with our analyst team and delivered in the client’s branding
Transform quantitative data and qualitative research into compelling visuals
Here are a few recent projects you might have worked on if you were already part of the team:
Designing a suite of social media graphics for one of the 10 largest healthcare companies in the US
Designing a printed annual report for a Fortune 500 company
Collaborate on UX/UI input and wireframes for new internal websites
Create an animated data visualization for a client
Design an infographic one pager for a government client
The right candidate will:
Have an insatiable curiosity for creativity and a visible passion for design
Be able to quickly familiarize with and apply a wide-range of branding guidelines from a diverse set of members and clients
Excel at client discovery and be able to take explicit, detailed direction from different stakeholders
Be able to develop designs from concept to execution with multiple rounds of edit and input, receiving feedback well
Thrive in both collaborative environments as well as an independent workflow
Effectively manage multiple projects at one time and communicate expectations and deadlines
Provide a strong creative portfolio that includes data visualization and a demonstrated use of design principles including typography, color-theory, grid-based design, and white space. Please provide a link to your website or portfolio in your application
Contribute to a positive, collaborative work environment and use resources effectively to minimize turnaround time without compromising quality
Skills you will build and hone in this role:
Working with senior-level executives (both internal and at client organizations) to meet marketing, advocacy, and communications goals
Developing strong, compelling product content
Evolving your skills in static and motion graphic production
Building knowledge on many different stakeholder groups
Learning the ins and outs of how Washington works
Building competencies in new, scaleable graphic design software programs and automation tools
Using graphics and presentations to "show" rather than "tell"
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of relevant experience
Expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign and Illustrator a must) as well as Microsoft Office programs including PowerPoint. Canva experience is a plus.
Ability to create designs from provided wireframes and provide guidance on best practices for data visualization to others
Organized, focused, detail and deadline oriented with strong project management skills and the ability to meet deadlines
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to articulately deliver presentations and the story behind design choices
Entrepreneurial spirit, track record of initiative, and ownership of work
High energy, demonstrates a sense of urgency, poised under pressure, and understands the importance of the little details and follows through
Willingness to work outside the strict job description parameters, thinking creatively about how to provide the highest level of creativity
Active contributor to a diverse and inclusive workplace
A full course of the COVID-19 vaccination is required for employment at National Journal
Beneficial but not required:
**
**
Employment Type: Full-time
Compensation: The salary range for this role is $45,000 - $50,000
Location: This job is based in Washington, DC. National Journal will be operating on a hybrid basis, with employees required to be in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. During the month of August 2023, National Journal teams will be fully remote.
About Us
Across National Journal Group, generally, the firm looks for two “pillar gifts” in you, and everyone else. In all of us, these are more aspirational than actual, but they are central in our intentions –
Force of Ideas: At the center of National Journal Group work are the ideas within our writing. We believe that ideas – to the good and not – have consequences. Our highest work is bringing rigor, insight, intellectual honesty, to that ultimate purpose of separating the bad from the good, and giving voice to the latter.
Spirit of Generosity: National Journal Group seeks in its ranks a spirit of generosity – a natural disposition in each colleague toward service and selfless conduct. National Journal Group writing should be cut from the same cloth –critical on the merits but informed by charity and forbearance in measuring motive and personal character.
National Journal is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.