Graphic Designer

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.

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.

Qualifications

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Skills

• 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.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• 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)