Graphic Designer (Communications Specialist) Job at Heartland Consulting in Wash

The Graphic Designer (Communications Specialist) supports the program office, project team, and stakeholders by creating visually compelling materials for project deliverables, ensuring cultural relevance for Navajo and Indigenous audiences. This role focuses on internal and external communications through visual content, aligning with branding and quality standards to meet project objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the planning and scheduling of project communication activities, ensuring timely delivery of culturally sensitive visual deliverables for Navajo and Indigenous audiences.
• Gather, analyze, and compose technical information to inform the development of visual content, ensuring the use of proper program and technical terminology relevant to community planning and Indigenous contexts.
• Conduct research to support visual communication efforts, verifying accuracy and cultural appropriateness of designs for stakeholder workshops and public meetings.
• Interpret and review documentation, determining graphics needs for communications, reports, presentations, and other project deliverables, including posters, infographics, charts, and maps.
• Establish schedules for visual content production and conduct quality assurance/control inspections at specific intervals to ensure standards are met.
• Collaborate with the project team to create data visualizations and layouts that present complex data clearly, respecting Indigenous cultural contexts and project branding.
• Incorporate stakeholder feedback to refine designs, ensuring accessibility and cultural sensitivity for diverse audiences under tight deadlines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, visual arts, communications, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 2 years of related experience in communications, graphic design, or content development, preferably for community-based or public-sector projects.
• Experience gathering, analyzing, and composing technical information to inform visual content, with attention to proper program and technical terminology.
• Demonstrated ability to support internal and external communications, including planning and scheduling visual communication activities.
• Proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and familiarity with document production processes.
• Ability to conduct quality assurance/control inspections and manage visual content production schedules.
• Strong visual communication skills, with experience creating culturally sensitive designs for diverse audiences, preferably Indigenous or tribal communities.
• Preference: Proficiency in the Navajo language and/or Indigenous descent, particularly Navajo, to create culturally resonant designs.