Community Engagement Specialist-Graphic Designer

Department: Transportation Department

Salary: $60,612.00 - $87,129.74 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

The Graphic Designer plays a vital role within CDOT, serving as the department's creative communications lead and supporting the full range of design and visual communications work that helps CDOT present its work clearly to the public, partners, and decision-makers. This position is responsible for developing thoughtful, creative, and purposeful designs across print and digital formats, from community engagement materials and project communications to presentations and public-facing campaigns. The ideal candidate is an experienced professional who thrives in a collaborative environment, excels at proactive problem-solving, and consistently delivers high-quality, detail-oriented work. This position works within the CDOT Mobility Engagement Section and Charlotte Communications and Marketing (CC&M) to keep CDOT aligned with citywide brand standards, communications strategy, and accessibility requirements.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Generate creative assets from conception to completion for Mobility initiatives, ensuring consistency with City of Charlotte brand standards and visual identity.
• Translate complex transportation and mobility planning information into clear, accessible visual communications for a range of audiences.
• Produce materials for print and digital collateral, including presentations, fact sheets, displays, maps, and digital content, using illustration, photo editing, and layout software.
• Ensure all graphics and visual projects are ADA-compliant and adhere to citywide accessibility standards.
• Develop visual concepts and creative solutions that support CDOT mobility planning programs, initiatives, and capital projects.
• Support development of templates and design resources for department-wide use.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously while balancing long-term delivery and short deadlines.
• Engage and develop collaborative relationships with stakeholders, community groups, and public/private agencies to support the city’s transportation policies and initiatives
• Develop a strong understanding of the vision and goals of the Strategic Mobility Plan and be able to effectively communicate that vision to the public
• Support CDOT staff with preparation of materials for public events and/or presentations to ensure effective and consistent messaging
• Maintain and expand collaborative relationships with other city and county agencies and CDOT Divisions
• Partner with staff and consultants to optimize creative work and ensure projects are delivered accurately and on time.
•  Support the division with communications and engagement needs as assigned.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong graphic design and visual storytelling skills, with proficiency in design software, including the Adobe Creative Suite, and familiarity with brand standards.
• Ability to translate technical or complex transportation and mobility planning information into plain, accessible visual communications for a range of audiences.
• Working knowledge of transportation and mobility concepts or demonstrated ability to quickly build that knowledge on the job.
• Knowledge and experience designing to Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and excellent attention to detail.
• Comfortable supporting public-facing engagement, including occasional night or weekend work as needed for public meetings and outreach events.
• Proven ability to collaborate across teams, manage multiple projects, and respond effectively to shifting priorities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, communication, graphic art, fine art, communication, or related field
• Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, media relations, or communications; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience leading graphic design, branding, or creative communications.
• Demonstrated portfolio of design and visual communications work.
• Experience producing ADA-compliant and accessible materials.
• Familiarity with public-sector, transportation, or planning communications.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email [email protected]

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.