Tailwind Group is a top twenty owner and manager of off-campus student housing and brings a wealth of knowledge to the industry. We are committed to creating and sustaining a workplace culture that is second to none. We strive to fight for the highest possible good of the people that matter most, including our team members! Attracting and retaining the most talented and passionate individuals in our industry is an ongoing objective at Tailwind Group. We would love for you to join our team!

The Position: The Brand Design Specialist supports the visual identity and creative execution of Tailwind Group’s brands, with a strong focus on the student housing industry. Working under the direction of the Graphic Design Manager, this individual creates high-quality, original design assets, including marketing collateral, digital and print materials, templates, and campaign creative. The role focuses on maintaining brand consistency while leveraging eye-catching, on-trend design, visual storytelling, and effective marketing messaging to engage student audiences, support property marketing and leasing efforts, and contribute to broader Tailwind Group initiatives.

As a part of your application, please submit a portfolio and/or examples of your creative and design experience to recruiting@thetailwindgroup.com. Applications submitted without work examples will not be considered.

This is a full-time position working a standard schedule, Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm. Nights or weekends may be required from time to time dependent on business needs.

This is an in-person position that can be fulfilled from our Mankato or Excelsior, MN, corporate offices. Remote work may be considered for internal and/or highly skilled applicants.

The compensation range for this position is $52,000 - $61,500 plus bonus potential. This range is determined by current market data based on the position requirements and complexities. Final offers of employment will be based on multiple factors including candidate education, skills, experience, and location.

Benefits & Perks

We strive to provide our employees with the most competitive benefits package in the industry. A few of those benefits and perks include:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance for employees and their families
• Vacation & Sick Leave + 12 Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with company matching
• On-the-job training and career development
• Paid Parental Leave

Responsibilities & Duties

• Create visually compelling marketing materials and scalable, user-friendly templates that empower on-site teams to execute marketing initiatives while maintaining each property’s unique identity.
• Develop and maintain a library of reusable design assets, templates, and marketing resources that streamline workflows and promote brand consistency across the portfolio.
• Design digital, print, social media, and onsite materials, including promotional items, signage, flyers, social media stories, and other creative assets that support property marketing and leasing efforts.
• Fulfill custom design requests from Marketing, Leasing, and other internal teams, translating project needs and business objectives into polished, effective creative deliverables.
• Develop engaging visual storytelling, marketing messaging, and creative hooks that resonate with student audiences, capture attention, and support lead generation and leasing conversions.
• Collaborate with the Graphic Design Manager and cross-functional teams to support property-level marketing efforts and broader Tailwind Group initiatives.
• Apply established brand guidelines and creative direction to maintain visual consistency, quality, and accuracy across properties, campaigns, and company-wide materials.
• Manage multiple creative projects and incoming requests simultaneously, balancing priorities, incorporating feedback, communicating timelines, and meeting deadlines.
• Stay current with design trends, student culture, social media practices, and developments in the student housing industry to create fresh, relevant, and engaging marketing content.
• Take initiative in identifying creative opportunities, improving existing materials, and providing design support to internal teams while ensuring deliverables meet established quality and brand standards.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, Marketing, Communications, or another related field preferred.
• One or more years of experience in a marketing and/or design-focused position.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency (Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, InDesign, etc.) is required.
• Understanding of design and marketing trends with the ability to stay adapt as trends change.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and professionalism.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to multi-task and exhibit a high attention to detail.
• Strong administrative, organization, and communication skills.
• Ability to think both creatively and strategically.
• Advanced proficiency in Canva, both creating designs and developing templates.
• Strong grammatical skills and the ability to develop effective messaging.

To learn more about our core values and vision, check out: http://thetailwindgroup.com/.

A complete list of responsibilities and duties can be provided during the interview process.

This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship at this time. Tailwind Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.