Senior Specialist, Graphic Design

Position overview

The Senior Specialist, Graphic Design (SSGD) is a hands‑on creative manager responsible for producing high-quality visual design across client and agency initiatives. This position emphasizes strong layout, typography and visual systems thinking. The SSGD is accountable for graphic execution, consistency and delivery of materials, and includes the development of visual systems, campaign assets, presentations and digital collateral, largely within an established creative direction and strategy for each assignment.

Working in partnership with content, engagement and account management professionals, the Senior Specialist, Graphic Design brings strong judgment and craft to execution while helping ensure clarity, accessibility and cohesion across all visual work.

This is a full‑time role with expectations for 40 scheduled working hours each week, Mondays through Fridays during traditional business hours. This role requires in‑office, client‑site and/or off‑site presence three days a week. The role reports to a Director. Its progressive roles are Assistant Director, Director and Senior Director. The role includes medical insurance and earns paid vacation and sick time off, transit benefits and access to a 401(k) program with a 3% employer‑match upon eligibility.

The Senior Specialist, Graphic Design leads the development and execution of high‑quality visual assets across digital and print platforms, ensuring alignment with established creative direction and content strategy. This role supports the client services team by developing visual systems, campaign assets, presentations, and digital collateral. Working alongside writers, a videographer, and other content professionals, the Senior Specialist advances clear, accessible, and cohesive visual storytelling across the agency’s core areas and 5‑8 concurrent projects.

The Senior Specialist is expected to deliver projects on schedule and within budget, closes projects with production‑ready documentation. Key responsibilities include developing cohesive visual systems for major campaigns; leading layout for complex, text‑heavy materials; producing long‑form publications (e.g., annual reports and toolkits) free of post‑production errors; supporting brand and website initiatives; and designing event and presentation materials as needed. The Senior Specialist also will review work created by junior designers, collaborate with videography partners to ensure visual alignment, present their work to decision‑makers, maintain organized digital files.

This role requires daily time‑entry compliance.

• Six or more years of professional graphic design experience
• Strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in layout, typography and visual hierarchy
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, including InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop
• Strong working knowledge or presentation tools such as Microsoft PowerPoint Miro and Google Slides
• Demonstrated experience designing both digital and print materials
• Proven ability to work efficiently within established creative direction
• Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating across teams
• Experience working in an agency or multi‑client environment
• Familiarity with accessibility standards for visual design
• Working knowledge of website and digital design best practices
• Basic familiarity with motion or video adjacent design workflows
• Experience reviewing work for and mentoring early‑career designers

There is no relocation support for this role. Preferred applicants are based in metropolitan Chicago and have familiarity about the area's geography and public and cultural affairs.