The Opportunity:

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens seeks a creative, detail-oriented, and effective Graphic Designer that will develop on-brand marketing, advertising, and communication materials for print publications, digital assets, and signage applications. This position has an emphasis on printed publications, such as our member magazine, annual reports, and customized reports. 

Position Summary:

The Graphic Designer is a critical part of our Marketing team and is responsible for maintaining and producing creative work that is consistent across all The Living Desert’s brand touchpoints. Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing & Communications, the Graphic Designer will create compelling, on-brand marketing and graphic materials to support the Zoo’s mission. The Graphic Designer will be responsible for maintaining institutional brand standards in all print, in-park, and digital media of the Zoo, as well as fulfilling all vendor relations, printing, publishing, tracking, etc., for signs, brochures, newsletters, etc. 

This position has an emphasis on publication production, therefore a strong background in printed magazine or publication design is required. The ideal candidate will design, develop, and coordinate the production of marketing and collateral materials, institutional publications, exhibit graphics signage, and displays for the Zoo. Fluency in creative software is required, including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator). Photography/videography skills and experience with Lightroom, 3-D imaging, animation, After-Effects, and/or Premier considered a plus.

The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented and creative with a genuine passion for storytelling, communications, and wildlife conservation. The successful candidate will support The Living Desert in its mission of desert conservation through preservation, education, and appreciation, and help the organization achieve a forward-thinking vision of a modern zoo and inclusive culture.

Responsibilities:

As Graphic Designer you will:

• Work under the direction of the Vice President of Marketing & Communications and in collaboration with the other graphic designers and marketing managers to create compelling, effective, and creative work. 
• Further develop and elevate existing brand standards while creating highly technical artistic work for new marketing, communications, signage, and publication projects.
• Work directly with the Editorial Manager on print publications such as the member magazine, the Annual Report, customized reports, and specialized printed projects.
• Work collaboratively and consultatively to process all projects submitted to the marketing department in a timely manner.
• Design, develop, produce, and coordinate assigned marketing materials, collateral material, signage, and print publications. 
• Communicate with internal teams concerning workflow and timelines.
• Utilize, maintain, and update existing project management software to maintain a visible work log, schedule, and status report of all projects through completion.
• Operate in-house print machinery to finalize production of projects including printers, paper cutters, paper folders, laminator, mounting equipment, etc.
• Build strong relationships with print and production vendors, obtain quotations/bids for projects from vendors and suppliers, and negotiate on behalf of the organization.
• Occasionally oversee/manage vendor installation projects.
• As assigned, photograph various park assets, and utilize photo-editing software to produce print-ready images for marketing materials.
• Assist with file/asset management and archiving of creative assets.
• Contribute to desert conservation through reduction of waste, water and energy use, and inspiring guests and team members to take conservation actions.
• All other duties, as assigned. The specific tasks outlined are not all-inclusive, but rather it is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of the job. The employee may be requested to perform other job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.

Key Skills and Qualifications:

• Minimum 4 years previous work experience in printed magazine or publication design and multimedia marketing production. 
• Experience in vendor relationship management including print cost negotiations is a plus.
• Desire to work in a collaborative environment with multiple departments. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, to take direction, to receive feedback, and to execute accordingly.
• Attention to detail, while being a creative thinker and ability to work both within and without guidelines.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and project management skills.
• Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Broad set of production skills including printed publication or magazine design, production of mounted paper signage, and experience prepping files for print, etc.
• Applicant must be a self-starter, able to manage and complete multiple projects, and work well under tight deadlines with limited supervision.
• Bachelor’s degree or secondary education in graphic arts/design, or related field. An equivalent combination of formal education, training, and experience may also be considered.
• Photography and operation of DSLR camera and basic video equipment, a plus.
• Additional Adobe Suite: Lightroom, Premiere, After-Effects, a plus.

Equipment/Software Used: PC computer, Adobe Creative Suite software, Microsoft Office software, camera, general office equipment, scanner, printer, telephone, 2-way radio, electric golf cart, large format printer, paper cutter, paper folder, laminator, etching machine, among others.

Physical Position Description:

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL TASKS: Occasional standing, walking, bending, twisting, some lifting up to 50 lbs. Safely operating print and production machinery.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Primarily an office environment, occasionally on-grounds.

HOLIDAY/EVENING WORK: Occasional Holiday and evening work.

TRAVEL: Occasional travel to vendors and suppliers. 

Licenses and/or Certificates:

• Must hold a valid California Driver License and be insurable on The Living Desert’s auto policy.