Job & Business Opportunities

Job Summary

This classification is primarily responsible for performing tasks in the following areas: Graphic Design, Photography and Image Retouching, Illustration, Computer Troubleshooting and Maintenance, Production Art and Fabrication, and Project Coordination. This is the advanced journey, highly specialized and/or lead level within this series, responsible for the most complex assignments. Some positions may perform full supervisory duties but do not do so for a preponderance of time. Work mainly involves the review of information, including summarization, analysis, interpretation, and re-presentation in a different format.

Supervision

Supervision Received: This class works under direction, wherein the employee receives general instructions regarding the scope and approach to projects or assignments, but procedures and techniques are left to the discretion of the employee.

Supervision Exercised: This class may provide direct and/or indirect supervision to lower level personnel; however, this supervisory responsibility is not the primary purpose of the class.

Distinguishing Characteristics

N/A

Essential Functions

A. General Graphic Design duties
Duties may include:
Deal with clients to establish expectations, timelines, and deadlines. Plan and design project with artwork deadline, production deadline, and client budget in mind. Create sketches or mockups for approval, and produce project artwork until approved. With established deadlines in mind, deal with outside vendors or create project in-house as appropriate or necessary. Purchase materials as necessary to accommodate established deadlines. Follow-up on production and delivery. Call outside vendors if necessary for follow-up to accommodate established deadlines. Other duties as assigned.

B. Photography and Image Retouching
Duties may include:
Shoot digital and film photographs. Manipulate images and produce photos. Other duties as assigned.

C. Illustration
Duties may include:
Illustration layout, design and production. Other duties as assigned.

D. Computer Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Duties may include:
Purchase hardware and software. Monitor and maintain equipment. Other duties as assigned.

E. Production Art and Fabrication
Duties may include:
Produce documents and products that need to be produced in-house on the appropriate printer. Fabricate end product according to job. Other duties as assigned.

F. Project Coordination
Duties may include:
Evaluate time and resources necessary to complete projects and assign projects to graphic designers. Organize and coordinate work within the Graphic Design Unit to best utilize staff and resources. Monitor project progress and report to Public Information Manager. Other duties as assigned.

Job Demands

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Mobility: frequent use of keyboard; frequent sitting for long periods of time; occasional bending or squatting.


• Lifting: frequently up to 10 pounds; occasionally up to 25 pounds.


• Vision: constant use of overall vision; frequent reading and close-up work; occasional color and depth vision.


• Dexterity: frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding, and reaching.


• Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone.


• Emotional/Psychological: frequent decision-making and concentration; frequent public and/or coworker contact; occasional working alone.


• Environmental: frequent exposure to noise.

Knowledge and Abilities

Required Knowledge of:

• Color correction, contrast, and image correction.


• Advanced special effect techniques, overlays, photo manipulation, and type styling.


• Camera operation and function, both digital and traditional film.


• Computer illustration and design applications combined to produce the desired results.


• Fabrication techniques to economically produce materials in-house and maximize budgetary constraints.


• Graphic computer file creation and preparation to best facilitate the needs of outside vendors.


• Graphic design principles, equipment, and protocols.


• Graphic design hardware and software models, peripherals, and upgrades.


• Multiple file formats to overcome cross-platform issues when dealing with client files and when creating files for distribution.


• Printers and network printer configurations/supplies and maintenance.


• Production, printing, and finishing techniques; time constraints and cost issues as they relate to design and fabrication.


• Scanning techniques for traditional film photography.

• Research and compile information from various sources.


• Produce and revise graphic products on computer or by hand.


• Direct outside vendors to assemble finished product.


• Develop layout concept and determine photographic needs.


• Schedule or arrange photo-shoot requirements.


• Take photographs or gather photographic material from third party sources.


• Gather digital information and manipulate photographic imagery to suit requirements of project concept.


• Perform color manipulation/preparation and correction techniques to guarantee success of final piece.


• Develop layout concept and determine illustrative needs.


• Create sketch concepts and determine best technique for digital production.


• Produce final art suitable for constraints of project and final production techniques.


• Perform routine maintenance, program upgrades, and virus definition upgrades.


• Perform preventative maintenance and run routine backup.


• Set-up and install RAM, hard drive upgrades, and peripheral upgrades.


• Research software technology, troubleshooting, and maintenance techniques.


• Order and replenish supplies for departmental printers.


• Plan, schedule, design artwork.


• Fabricate from design.


• Track progress of individual design projects.


• Handle all internal and external contacts with courtesy, diplomacy, and tact.


• Work well with others.


• Deal with difficult people and situations.

• Graphic design, illustration, and image processing software.


• Common word processing software.


• Department Operations software functionality.


• Email, contact management, and scheduling software.

Minimum Qualifications — Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Required Prior Experience:
Four years of increasingly responsible graphic design experience.

Required Prior Education:
An Associate’s Degree in Graphic Arts, Graphic Design, or closely related field.