Graphic Design Manager Contract

THE ORGANIZATION

Founded at the University of Michigan Medical School, TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) is among the most innovative and rapidly-growing school-based mental health solutions in the country. Today, our growing team is working toward the TRAILS mission of transforming the landscape of youth mental health care delivery by equipping school staff with the training and resources they need to provide evidence-based and culturally responsible programming to their students. 

To date, TRAILS has brought essential skills and resources to more than 14,000 teachers, administrators, and school mental health professionals. Our best-in-class program materials are built specifically for the school setting, and our unique training model is driven by research from the field of implementation science. Our website and library of materials are utilized by educators and clinicians across the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world. While our impact today is greatest in our home state of Michigan, TRAILS is expanding nationally with strong support from education and health sector leaders, public offices, and state policymakers. 

On October 1, 2024, TRAILS became an independent 501(c)(3) organization, a transition that underscores the need to evaluate and fortify its foundational systems, processes, and policies to mitigate risks and ensure smooth operations as a standalone entity. As we grow our team and continue to evolve as an organization, we seek candidates who share our commitment to equity in health and healthcare access, who practice cultural humility, and who thrive in and contribute to an inclusive working environment. Visit our website to learn more about our 3-tiered model.

THE ROLE

TRAILS is seeking an experienced, creative, and highly collaborative Graphic Design Manager to  create visually engaging and effective collateral to advance the TRAILS mission, accurately reflect our program model, and embody the values of our organization. In collaboration with the Managing Director of Communications and Design and other creative team colleagues, the Graphic Design Manager leads the creation of visually striking and effective materials and graphics for print and digital media used in TRAILS programming, marketing and communications. 

The Graphic Design Manager ensures all program materials, collateral and graphics are aligned with brand standards, are accessible, and follow design best practices. They also provide creative recommendations and inspiration for fellow creative team colleagues, effectively manage design projects, maintain an active pulse of design trends and best practices, and incorporate innovations into design processes and standards at TRAILS.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES

Collateral Design (30%)

• Conceptualize and develop creative solutions for design projects that align with the organizational priorities and values of TRAILS, as well as industry best practices for accessibility
• Produce high-quality visual designs for various projects including print materials, digital assets, branding, and marketing collateral in collaboration with other creative team members and across various design iterations
• Develop concepts, mockups, and final designs based on project requirements using the Adobe Creative Suite 
• Design and format materials for virtual trainings and presentations in collaboration with and other TRAILS teams (Clinical, Implementation, Communications)
• Distill information and requirements into user-friendly designs in collaboration with other TRAILS teams (Clinical, Implementation, Communications) 
• Produce reports and special communication projects for a variety of audiences in collaboration with other TRAILS teams (Communications, Evaluation)

Visual Asset Development and Brand Integration (30%)

• Create original illustrations, icons, and infographics based on project requirements and objectives
• Develop concepts and visual narratives that effectively communicate ideas, messages, or stories
• Develop and refine illustration styles that align with project goals, brand identity, and target audience
• Adapt illustration styles to suit different project types and mediums while maintaining consistency and coherence
• Uphold brand standards and guidelines across all design projects, ensuring consistency and coherence in messaging and visuals
• Further develop brand assets and collateral for use by TRAILS teams
• Collaborate with external vendors, such as printers and photographers, to ensure the quality and timely delivery of outsourced design services

Project Management and Cross-Collaboration (30%)

• Oversee multiple simultaneous design projects from concept to completion, ensuring deadlines are met and deliverables meet expectations
• Review design concepts, layouts, and graphics to ensure accuracy, adherence to brand guidelines, and alignment with project objectives
• Allocate design resources effectively while responding to changes in project scope or requirements and communicate pivots to stakeholders as necessary 
• Address challenges and obstacles that arise during the design process, recommending and implementing solutions and communicating to stakeholders as needed
• Work closely with cross-functional departments, (Clinical, Implementation, Tech Innovations, Communications) to understand project requirements and translate them into compelling visual solutions; facilitating effective communication and timely project updates
• Share collateral and design drafts with appropriate departments/stakeholders, including workgroups aligned with accessibility guidelines and amend based on feedback

Team Responsibilities (10%):

• Attend all staff meetings and retreats, workgroups, and other relevant TRAILS meetings as necessary
• Support TRAILS team with all-hands-on-deck events as needed and other team initiatives

THE PERSON 

Our experience suggests that the following types of professional experiences lend themselves to this work:

• 4+ years experience as a lead graphic designer, graphic designer, illustrator, or similar role
• 4+ years experience project managing the development of materials for print, digital and web-based distribution to a variety of audiences
• 4+ years experience collaborating with writers and graphic artists on projects, social media posts, etc.
• 2+ years of experience developing digitally accessible materials
• High-level expertise in Adobe software including InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat
• Demonstrated experience utilizing standard accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG 2.1) 
• Strong portfolio demonstrating creative expertise in developing materials for print, digital and web-based distribution to a variety of audiences.
• Prior work experience developing and adhering to brand guidelines 
• Demonstrated experience assessing design choices for elements of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Proficiency with the Google Workspace, particularly Google Slides, Google Docs and Google Sheets

Our experience suggests that the following skills lend themselves to this work:

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts to cross-functional teams
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously and across multiple design iterations. 
• Leadership abilities, with a track record of building rapport with and motivating colleagues
• Attention to detail and a commitment to quality, with a keen eye for aesthetics and design principles
• Strong understanding of design fundamentals including layout, typography, color theory, and composition and ability to utilize those tools to develop compelling visual narratives and concepts
• Strategic problem solver, with a creative brain and a problem-solving mentality 
• Experience utilizing an established asset library including paragraph styles, character styles, and graphic elements
• Utilization of best practices for information hierarchies and document structures (e.g., heading levels, tables) 

EDUCATION

Our experience suggests the following certifications and degree(s) lend themselves well to this work:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Digital Media, Communications or related field
• Applicable experience/competencies may be considered in lieu of formal education

COMPENSATION

The salary range for this role is $107,593 to $113,570. 

TRAILS offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision as well as a 403B with a safe harbor match and short and long term disability. We offer a generous holiday and paid time off package. 

 APPLICATION NOTES

• Our job descriptions reflect TRAILS’ assignment of essential functions and qualifications of the role. Nothing herein restricts management’s right to assign, reassign or eliminate duties and responsibilities to this role at any time. 
• We are only considering applicants who are legally authorized to work in the United States.   

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION 

Addressing inequities in access to evidence-based mental health care is intrinsic to the TRAILS mission. The intentionality behind this approach is woven into everything we do at TRAILS, resulting in a staff-wide commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for all facets of our program. If this commitment is something to which you could positively contribute, we encourage you to apply, particularly if your voice represents a historically excluded perspective. 

TRAILS is an “at-will” and equal opportunity employer. Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance.