(Hybrid) Graphic Designer - Current Students and Families (Marketing and Brand Strategy)

The Marketing and Brand Strategy Department at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Hybrid Graphic Designer.

About the Opportunity

The Graphic Designer plays a key role in developing integrated marketing materials and developing compelling visual communications that strengthen the university's brand, support strategic marketing initiatives, and engage key audiences, including current students, parents and families, and the broader university community.

The Graphic Designer will create integrated marketing materials across a variety of channels, including social media, email communications, digital signage, print publications, event materials, promotional products, campaigns, and other brand touchpoints. The ideal candidate is a highly creative problem solver who understands how visual storytelling can influence audience engagement and advance institutional goals.

This position will sit within the Current Student Marketing team and work collaboratively with marketing strategists, writers, photographers, multimedia specialists, videographers, digital specialists, and campus partners. This individual will translate strategic objectives into effective, audience-centered creative solutions while ensuring consistency with the university's visual identity.

The Graphic Designer will collaborate closely with the university's Design team to ensure creative work aligns with brand standards, visual identity guidelines, and established design principles. This position will contribute additional creative capacity, when needed, partnering with the Design team to support institutional priorities and deliver high-quality marketing materials across channels.

The Graphic Designer will manage multiple creative projects simultaneously, working through the full project lifecycle from concept development and design execution to revisions, approvals, and final delivery. This position will collaborate with stakeholders to understand objectives, establish project timelines, prioritize competing requests, and ensure projects are completed efficiently while maintaining a high standard of quality.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Creative Development

• Develop integrated marketing materials and produce high-quality visual communications across digital, print, environmental, and promotional channels.

• Create and design marketing assets and graphics for social media, email marketing, digital signage, presentations, print publications, brochures, posters, campus signage, event materials, branded merchandise, and promotional campaigns.

• Develop campaign creative that supports university priorities including student experience, retention, engagement, current parents, and institutional initiatives.

• Create scalable design systems and templates that improve consistency across campus.

• Prepare production-ready files for both digital distribution and commercial printing.

• Adapt creative concepts across multiple platforms while maintaining visual consistency and effectiveness.

Audience-Centered Design

• Design digital and print communications that prioritize usability, clarity, accessibility, and engagement.

• Apply user experience (UX) principles to create intuitive visual solutions for students, parents, and families.

• Develop creative assets that support the student lifecycle including student success initiatives, campus resources, events, health and wellness, academic support, and parent communications.

• Consider user needs, behaviors, and feedback throughout the creative process.

Collaboration

• Partner with marketing strategists, the Division of Student Life, and Parent's Club to translate campaign goals into effective visual communications.

• Work alongside digital services and mixed media to ensure designs support optimal user experiences across devices.

• Collaborate closely with the university's Design team to ensure creative work aligns with WVU's visual identity, brand standards, and creative direction. Provide additional design support and resources when needed to help advance institutional priorities and meet evolving marketing needs.

• Collaborate with writers and content creators to ensure visual and written communications work together effectively.

• Present creative concepts and explain design decisions using user-centered reasoning.

• Bachelor's Degree in graphic design, visual communication, or related field.
• A minimum of two (2) years of related experience.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of graphic design principles, including typography, composition, color theory, hierarchy, balance, and visual storytelling.
• Knowledge of branding principles and the importance of maintaining a consistent visual identity across multiple channels.
• Knowledge of current design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in marketing communications.
• Knowledge of digital design principles and best practices for social media, email marketing, and digital signage.
• Knowledge of print production processes, including file preparation, specifications, proofing, and vendor collaboration.
• Knowledge of accessibility and inclusive design practices for visual communications.
• Knowledge of audience-centered design principles and how visual communication influences engagement and behavior.
• Knowledge of marketing and communications strategies, including campaign development and audience segmentation.
• Knowledge of project management processes, creative workflows, and collaboration within a marketing environment.
• Professional portfolio demonstrating excellence across both digital and print design.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with quick turnaround times
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and work well under pressure
• Understanding of UX principles, responsive design, and accessibility best practices.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.