Senior Associate, Graphic Design

Position Title:  Senior Associate, Graphic Design 

Status:  Full Time

FLSA:  Exempt

Location: Washington, DC Hybrid or Remote

The Senior Graphic Design Associate will be a key player in growing the Active Minds brand with external audiences, including its membership, supporters, and the general public. Key platforms in use by this position are Active Minds’ print and electronic collateral, website, email, and social media. 

The Senior Graphic Design Associate reports to the Senior Visual Brand Manager, as part of the Marketing and Communications department (MarComm), in addition to collaborating with other staff as needed.  

Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization mobilizing youth and young adults to change  the culture around mental health. Through our presence in more than 1,000 high schools, colleges, and  communities, and with a wide-reaching public audience, Active Minds is creating communities of  support and saving lives. Founded in 2003 by Alison Malmon after the tragic suicide of her brother,  Brian, Active Minds is dedicated to supporting a new generation in ending the silence, helping to make  mental health as highly valued as physical health. We approach our work with a racial equity lens and  are committed to the continued process of being and becoming a more antiracist and inclusive  organization. Through our many programs, we are changing social norms and behaviors related to  mental health across the country. 

Brand Representation for Programs, Fundraising & Events (80%)

• Create representative graphics and visuals to support online brand display across our various digital platforms.
• Integrate Active Minds’ visual brand into the programmatic materials, store products and advertisements, and chapter and partnership activities of Active Minds. 
• Assist with the integration of the Active Minds visual brand into programmatic, donor, and cultivation events, including the creation of signage and print materials.
• Lead design projects of progressively increased size and scope, including long-term initiatives with support and general oversight from the Senior Visual Brand manager.
• Support the development of templates and other long-term initiatives to grow the Active Minds Brand in consistent and sustainable ways.  
• Provide visual graphics for Active Minds’ blogs, emails, and other communications mechanisms.
• Coordinate with the Development department for social, print, and web elements of fundraising appeals.
• Create fast-response graphics for use across the organization, including for website needs, email assets, social media, partnership proposals, events, and more.
• Assist with the collection of archiving of photos and videos across the organization.
• Assist with the development of and updates to Active Minds branding guidelines.
• Review and proof materials, ensuring branding guidelines are followed.
• Support other designers on the team as a backup when necessary, including serving as ba
• Collaborate with other designers on the team on projects as assigned.
• Represent the design team as assigned in meetings and activities, including attending and schedule kick-off meetings, as needed and establishing/following up on comprehensive timelines and scopes.

Other duties as assigned (20%)

• Work directly with print and other vendors to ensure the delivery of high-quality brand materials.
• Archive all Active Minds materials as prescribed by the Senior Visual Brand Manager.
• Research and identify existing collateral and design assets when needed. 
• Propose ways for the design team to improve, taking into consideration budget, capacity, and sustainability conditions.
• Supervise the Graphic Design intern as opportunities arise.  

• A creative design eye and hand, with experience collaborating on design creation across teams.
• Accustomed to working on multiple projects with different deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, in writing, and with fellow staff members. 
• Stickler for details and quality.
• A problem-solver at heart with a passion for finding sustainable solutions.
• A community- and customer-oriented mindset.
• Self-starter with a positive attitude who enjoys working proactively and thinking creatively.
• Thrives in a fast-paced organization.
• Advocate for social entrepreneurship and a believer in young people making an impact.
• Trusted team-player who will successfully collaborate across teams and work harmoniously and productively with other members of the design team and the greater MarComm team.

You need to have:

• Degree in Graphic Design (or equivalent work experience, demonstrated through a portfolio).
• At least two years of graphic design experience in a similar role.
• Demonstrated grasp of design concepts, with an emphasis on typography skills.
• Experience with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, as well as Canva and other design tools.
• Experience designing both digital and print materials.
• Full digital-literate, including Microsoft and Google products, and online meeting tools.
• Video editing skills a plus.
• Photography and photo editing skills a plus.
• Illustration expertise a plus.
• Nonprofit and in-house design expertise a plus. 
• Figma experience a plus. 

This position offers an initial salary range of $58,800-$67,200 along with robust benefits. The starting pay for this position is equal to others at the same level throughout the organization. Candidates whose experience meets both the minimum and preferred qualifications may be considered for a starting salary that exceeds the current amount. The role sits within Active Minds Level 2 salary band, and as such, has the potential to grow to $75,600 over time. FLSA Status: Exempt.

Active Minds has an industry-leading and competitive benefits package that includes Health, Vision and Dental Insurance, Paid Vacation and Sick Leave, Paid Holidays, Company Wide Mental Health Days, 401(k) Matching, HSA and FSA Options, Life Insurance, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Fully Paid Parental Leave, Wellness Reimbursement Program, and Professional Development Stipends.

Active Minds recruits, hires, trains, compensates, and promotes our staff regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. 

Active Minds is a place where every employee matters.  We value diverse perspectives, radical authenticity, and a community-driven approach.  We dream big, offering flexibility to staff while we work to achieve our mission.  As such, we are proud to offer competitive salaries and benefits and an environment that is friendly to remote working and work/life balance.

Active Minds is an equal opportunity employer that works to advance racial equity and social justice in an increasingly multicultural and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background, intersectional identities, and lived experiences. We make a particular effort to recruit people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and people with other marginalized identities. Active Minds encourages all to apply for our open positions as we depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

• Active Minds will never ask an applicant to send – and Active Minds will never send an applicant  - a check or any payment or item of value (such as a gift card) in connection with the interview  process or job onboarding process. 
• Active Minds will never ask for personal information about an applicant (such as their Social  Security number or banking information) until the job onboarding process; 
• Active Minds will never extend a job offer without first conducting multiple rounds of video  interviews. The Active Minds interview/hiring process will always include at least 3 virtual  interviews. 
• All legitimate Active Minds job offers are extended verbally by the HR/People & Culture Team.  • If you are expecting an email from Active Minds, please always verify that the sending domain in  the email is activeminds.org and NOT any variation of it. 

For further information on how to protect yourself from employment scams, please review these  “Consumer Advice” guidelines.