Graphic Design Specialist at City of Gaithersburg, MD
City of Gaithersburg, MD · Gaithersburg, United States Of America · Hybrid
- Professional
- Office in Gaithersburg
About the Department
The Department of Communication & Public Engagement is seeking a creative Graphic Design Specialist experienced in both print and digital media to support City-wide communication efforts and marketing programs for internal and external projects by designing, creating, and maintaining a wide variety of graphic art and visual materials for use in print and digital media that effectively communicate the City's mission, values, services, and other information.
The successful candidate will design and create communications collateral (print and digital) consistent with the City's values and brand and collaborate closely with City staff on communications and marketing projects. Requires advanced technical ability and creativity, attention to detail, and a strong eye for visual composition; excellent communication (verbal and written), collaboration, organizational, time/resource management, and customer service skills; the ability to provide creative input as well as take creative direction and constructive feedback; and the ability to deliver creative and imaginative ideas while handling multiple priorities and meeting firm deadlines with minimal direction.
Please Note: To be considered, you must attach a portfolio of your recent work, or provide a website link to your portfolio in your response to Supplemental Question #5.
The successful candidate will design and create communications collateral (print and digital) consistent with the City's values and brand and collaborate closely with City staff on communications and marketing projects. Requires advanced technical ability and creativity, attention to detail, and a strong eye for visual composition; excellent communication (verbal and written), collaboration, organizational, time/resource management, and customer service skills; the ability to provide creative input as well as take creative direction and constructive feedback; and the ability to deliver creative and imaginative ideas while handling multiple priorities and meeting firm deadlines with minimal direction.
Please Note: To be considered, you must attach a portfolio of your recent work, or provide a website link to your portfolio in your response to Supplemental Question #5.
Starting salary for this position is negotiable within the anticipated target hiring range ($70,000 - $82,000) and will be offered at a level consistent with the relevant experience and qualifications of the candidate. The City provides comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, long-term care, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, health and wellness programs, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, training and professional growth and development opportunities, and excellent work/life balance.
Position Duties
What you will do with us:
- Design and create communications collateral (print and digital) consistent with the City's values and brand, including but not limited to, signs, guides and directories, documents, business cards, stationery, logos, forms, reports, programs, manuals, brochures, fliers, newsletters, novelty items, advertisements, infographics, animated graphics, and other materials.
- Consult with staff on communications and marketing projects and other needs; work collaboratively with publication authors or contributors to define project requirements; provide advice on best processes and procedures to realize the optimal final product; ensure collateral is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- Plan and format projects for final print and digital output; prepare, edit, and proofread text.
- Consult with supervisor and/or internal clients to provide graphics for individual projects or requests.
- Prepare charts, graphics, slide presentations, and other visual aids.
- Recommend new equipment and software to keep up with changing technology.
- Provide cross-training on digital signage, video bulletin board, and website maintenance to contribute and provide assistance with Department functions and initiatives as needed.
- Provide outstanding service, pursue continuous improvement, and exceed expectations.
Key job responsibilities are highlighted above; please click here to view the complete classification description for the Graphic Design Specialist position. The classification description indicates the full salary range established for this position to provide opportunity for growth and development (Grade 108 in the City's FY 2026 Schedule of Salary Ranges).
Minimum Qualifications
What you will need to be considered:
- Relevant Bachelor's Degree.
- At least 3 years of related graphics or design experience.
- Demonstrated advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop, and the Microsoft Office Suite.
- Excellent interpersonal, marketing, communication (verbal and written), and customer service skills.
- Demonstrated ability to design, develop, and prepare accurate and visually appealing materials from notes, sketches, research, and verbal or written direction.
- Extremely organized, with strong project and time/resource management skills, and the ability to meet deadlines and shift gears seamlessly when priorities change.
- Excellent command of the English language including grammar, spelling, and punctuation; attentive to detail, with excellent proofreading and editing skills.
- Solid understanding of marketing, production, website design, product packaging, advertisement, and multimedia design.
- Submission of work portfolio (either by attachment to the application or by link provided in your response to Supplemental Question #5) required.
- Or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform job duties.
Other Qualifications
Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:
- A complete online application (supporting materials will not be accepted in lieu of a completed online application)
- Current Resume (attached to the online application)
- Letter of Interest (attached to the online application) - include why you are interested in this position and highlight the special skills and abilities that make you uniquely qualified to serve in this position
- Portfolio of recent work (by attachment or website link)
Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is strongly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are received or all hiring decisions have been made.
This is a full-time salaried "exempt" position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week (not eligible for overtime compensation under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the City's personnel regulations). The position can accommodate some remote work (at the discretion of the Department Director). Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.
The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post-accident and random testing.
For more information about the position, please contact Director of Communication & Public Engagement Courtney Davis at [email protected] or 240.805.1126. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at [email protected] or 301.258.6327.
This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.
Apply Now
This is a full-time salaried "exempt" position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week (not eligible for overtime compensation under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the City's personnel regulations). The position can accommodate some remote work (at the discretion of the Department Director). Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.
The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post-accident and random testing.
For more information about the position, please contact Director of Communication & Public Engagement Courtney Davis at [email protected] or 240.805.1126. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at [email protected] or 301.258.6327.
This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.
