Senior Graphic Designer

Queen's University, Kingston

Contract
Senior
In Office

About the role

The Senior Graphic Designer supports the promotion of Queen's University's key messages across a wide range of audiences through the application of approved visual identity standards, as part of the Marketing and Brand team within University Relations.

Duties and responsibilities

Collaborates with colleagues across the Marketing and Brand team to apply established campaign themes and visual approaches across assigned projects.
Translates approved key messages into visual assets across integrated campaigns, including print, digital, social media, video iconography, signage and related materials.
Reviews design concepts with the Senior Director, Brand and, following direction and approval, develops and prepares final artwork for production and distribution.
Achieves assigned design tasks by coordinating schedules, time tracking and organizing workload in alignment with team priorities.
In collaboration with the Senior Director, Brand, assists faculties, departments and campus partners in applying the unified brand architecture and identity guidelines.
Reviews design materials from faculties and units to support alignment with established brand guidelines and accessibility requirements (e.g., AODA) and provides feedback or design support as required.
Reviews brand and visual identity guidelines as directed and supports updates to design documentation and reference materials as assigned.
Regularly updates and maintains approved design templates for print media, digital, presentation, social media and video assets used by departments across the university, ensuring functionality across formats.
Assists with the graphic elements of video production and maintains an organized archive of approved images, photos and design assets for reference and reuse.
Provides photography and/or video support at university events, if requested.
Uses available digital and AI-enabled tools, as appropriate, to support design production, formatting and quality review under established standards.
Provides design support to University Relations and campus partners on an as-needed basis.

Qualifications

Completion of a 3-year Graphic Design program from a college or university, with a high level of creativity and familiarity with all aspects of print production and how design is translated to a digital environment or equivalent training plus experience.
A minimum of 3–5 years' experience with:
- Proficiency in industry-standard graphic design, layout, image editing, motion graphics and digital production software used in print and digital communications, with the ability to adapt to evolving tools and technologies.
- Sound working knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe programs (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects).
- Familiarity with basic web design and content management.
- Familiarity with AI-enabled design and productivity tools that support layout, formatting, accessibility checks and quality review, in accordance with established standards.
- Experience organizing and maintaining photo and video assets within shared storage or asset management systems.
- Working knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design principles as applied within legislative and institutional guidelines.
- Strong organizational skills to produce and manage graphic design initiatives from conception to final artwork, including production and pre-press details.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously — including some requiring greater discretion and many with short timelines.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to think creatively.
- Strong written and oral, customer-focused communication skills.
- Ability to problem-solve when responding to program, client or supplier needs.
- Commitment to staying current on developments in graphic design and marketing (articles, competitive websites, conferences, etc.), including monitoring and recommending new software that may enhance design execution.

Supervisory Scope

This position does not oversee the work of others. The incumbent coordinates production schedules across projects and shares design expertise with colleagues on an ad hoc basis, including guidance on the application of official brand identity standards and feedback on design materials submitted by campus partners.

Working Relationships

The incumbent works mainly within University Relations, with occasional interaction with internal university clients on specific recurring projects, freelance designers and cross-university meetings.

Reporting and Supervision

The Senior Director, Brand sets overall goals, key messages and timelines. Work is assigned based on these priorities and under general supervision the incumbent aligns visual creation with key messages, presents design options prior to final development and manages multiple concurrent demands.

Problem-Solving

The incumbent applies established graphic design principles and the official University Brand Guidelines to resolve design challenges, escalating to the Senior Director, Brand when issues fall outside standard practice. The incumbent may also provide input on templates, workflows and design documentation as requested, though is not responsible for establishing standard procedures.

Team and Scope

Reports to the Senior Director, Brand and is a member of the broader Integrated Communications team (approximately 19 staff), one area within University Relations. Most interactions are within University Relations, with limited interaction across faculties and units during recurring campaigns.

Equipment / Assets

Works with department computers, external backup hard drives, printers, photo scanners and a colour calibrator — approximate value $15,000.

Additional Notes

This position supports the consistent application of Queen's University's visual identity by providing design services, templates and guidance within established frameworks, under the direction of Marketing and Brand leadership.