Senior Graphic Designer

Job no: 530459
Position type: Staff Full Time
Benefit Status: Benefited-Union
Campus: UMass Lowell
Department: Office Marketing&Communication
Salary: See posting section for salary range details.
Applications Open: Nov 13 2026
Applications Close: Open until filled

General Summary of Position:

We are seeking a talented and experienced Senior Graphic Designer to join our creative team. This role is ideal for a highly creative visual storyteller who understands brand identity, typography, color palettes, photography, graphic elements, messaging and design systems, and can translate ideas and editorial content into compelling visual experiences.

Marketing & Communications is responsible for promoting the university to the campus, prospective students and families, alumni, granting institutions, industry partners, legislators and the general public. The Senior Graphic Designer is a creative, curious, detail-oriented and highly collaborative visual storyteller who helps lead the design of the university's print and digital communications. The role translates ideas and editorial content into compelling visual experiences that shape and communicate the UMass Lowell brand for national reputation, recruitment and affinity building. Reporting to the Creative Director, the designer takes ownership of projects while welcoming feedback and moves comfortably between conceptual thinking and meticulous production to deliver polished, memorable work under deadline.

Minimum Qualifications (Required):

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field plus 12-15 years of professional graphic design experience, preferably in brand identity design, magazine and publication design, marketing and advertising design, environmental graphic design, print and production design, or a related creative environment.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional typography, layout, branding and visual storytelling across print, digital, email, web and direct mail.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, After Effects and Premiere Pro, as well as MS Office Suite; proficiency on a Mac.
• Strong understanding of print production, prepress, color, typography and digital design, including two-color and four-color process, digital (POD) and commercial offset printing, variable printing and fulfillment services, and current U.S. postal standards.
• Excellent visual judgment and a sophisticated understanding of composition, hierarchy and concept development.
• Working knowledge of accessibility standards and best practices for visual, digital and print communications.
• Ability to translate editorial concepts and written content into distinctive visual narratives.
• Excellent organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to work independently, prioritize multiple projects, meet tight deadlines and deliver a consistently high standard of work.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work directly with clients and mentor junior designers.

Additional Considerations:

• Higher Education experience preferred
• Ability to work under deadline pressures on multiple projects with changing priorities
• Fast-paced environment
• Ability to establish priorities, budgets and timelines on multi-piece, large-scale projects.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Only Internal Professional (SEIU 888 Professional Union) Bargaining candidates will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

This position is full-time, benefited and in the SEIU Professional union in grade P18. Anticipated salary based on qualifications/experience within the range, with minimum: $72,170 and 25th quartile: $82,093 and midpoint of $92,017.

Initial review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled; however, the posting may close when an adequate number of qualified applications is received.

Please include a resume, cover letter and a link to your portfolio with your application. Names and contact information of three references will be required at the time of application.

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