Graphic Designer

Department

ESA Creative Operations and Web Design

About the Department

The Office of College Admissions has a staff of over 40 people, most of whom are Admissions Counselors. They manage marketing to, and recruitment of, prospective students as well as the admissions process for first year and transfer students into The College, and summer programs for high school students. The Office of College Admissions is a forward-facing department often providing the first impression of UChicago to visitors in-person and virtually as well as telephonically and via email engagement. Of its several schools and departments, The College is the single-largest entity and this office is responsible for bringing to campus a class of students with a diverse set of backgrounds who are prepared to take on rigorous academics while engaging with the University, surrounding neighborhood, and city of Chicago. For more information please visit our website at: http://www.collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu.

Job Summary

The University of Chicago’s Enrollment and Student Advancement Division (ESA) seeks a highly organized, creative, and detail-oriented graphic designer to support communications and outreach across the division. This position will have a particular focus on designing print and digital collateral for student career programs, University Master’s programs, and college access initiatives like STARS (Small Town and Rural Students Network). This role is central to translating the division’s work into compelling, accessible materials for diverse audiences while ensuring consistent, high-quality execution across print and digital channels. The position will collaborate closely with project leads, contribute to outreach strategy, and support the day-to-day operations that advance the division’s mission.
This position reports to ESA’s Executive Director of Creative Operations and works closely with project leads across affiliated departments.

Responsibilities

• Designs and produces print collateral for ESA initiatives, including brochures, one-sheets, handouts, signage, and event materials.
• Creates digital collateral including social media graphics, email assets, and promotional materials across platforms.
• Maintains brand consistency across all materials, ensuring alignment with University of Chicago visual identity standards.
• Manages and organizes a library of design assets, templates, photos, and production files for ongoing and future use.
• Works closely with colleagues in the University’s Career Advancement and College Admissions offices to scope project requirements and source content.
• Supports content development across platforms, ensuring alignment with institutional standards and messaging.
• Prepares files for print production, including vendor coordination and press-ready output.
• Attends meetings with project leads and stakeholders; prepares clear, actionable notes and summaries.
• Tracks project timelines and deliverables to support successful execution.
• Contributes to defining and refining outreach goals for ESA initiatives.
• Evaluates the effectiveness, relevance, and feasibility of outreach efforts and projects.
• Supports efforts to expand visibility and engagement with key audiences.
• Conceptualizes and creates graphic artwork, such as charts, graphs or illustrations, for various publications, advertising materials and/or customers with limited supervision.
• Uses on-the-job experience to complete a variety of assignments, such as coordinating production support with outside vendors, as needed.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Designing print and digital collateral in a professional or institutional setting.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Adept at preparing files for print production and working with external print vendors.
• Familiarity with digital design for social media platforms and email marketing.
• Working knowledge of typography, layout, and color theory as applied to both print and screen.
• Familiarity with WCAG accessibility standards as applied to digital materials.
• Hands-on exposure with motion graphics tools such as Adobe After Effects.
• Hands-on exposure with Lightroom or similar tools for photo editing and asset management.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Think critically about outreach goals and assess the impact and viability of projects.
• Collaborative and responsive to work across teams and disciplines.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with strong follow-through.
• Comfortable balancing creative production with administrative and operational tasks.
• Interest in mission-driven programming.

Working Conditions

• Work will take place in a hybrid work environment.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (required)(3)
• Link to Portfolio and/or list of projects and responsibilities for each project. A portfolio demonstrating print and digital design work is central to the review process (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Communications

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$61,200.00 - $79,200.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.