Recently by Jeff Brainard

Graphic Designer and Producer

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) seeks an experienced, talented graphic designer and producer of visual content to join our accomplished communications team for the Maryland Sea Grant College (MDSG), located in College Park, MD. UMCES, a research institution, administers MDSG, which supports scientific research, education, and outreach focused on restoring and preserving the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's coastal and watershed resources. The designer will join our communications staff of four professionals who produce high-quality print, video, and web-based content to advance MDSG's mission and inform the general public and targeted professional audiences. We seek an individual who will share an enthusiasm for the subject matter - the Chesapeake Bay and environmental science -- and who will be a proactive, collegial team member. The individual hired for this position will carry out a mix of duties including graphic design and production. The design work will include laying out and producing our award-winning print and online magazine Chesapeake Quarterly and other print and digital publications, including technical reports, brochures, and fact sheets and managing their print production. The designer will also design and produce new digital and online content such as illustrations, interactives, and infographics. Finally, this person will help to generate and produce new visual content by shooting photographs and video. Duties • Design print and digital visual communication projects and manage their production using best practices in graphic design. • Manage offset and digital printing to produce high-quality materials. Contract for quality printing services at reasonable cost. • Create and improve web pages, mobile apps, and interactive graphics. Work with our web developer. • Lead and develop web-based photographic, video, and infographic projects. • Shoot and edit photographs and video for web and other uses. • Acquire images from outside sources (e.g., stock photography). Manage relationships with free-lancers. Assure compliance with copyright rules. • Keep up to date and fluent with the latest graphic design software and technology. • Archive digital content. Develop and maintain an archive that is searchable, sustainable, and user friendly. Assist in keeping records about MDSG publications. • Post visual content to social media. Help to adopt new social media platforms. Required skills • Use of design principles, color, and layout to create attractive products. • Use of design/illustration software: InDesign (and/or Quark Xpress), Photoshop, Illustrator. Understanding of technology for print publishing. Ability to manage technical quality of print production. Deep knowledge of typography. • Understanding of copyright standards. • Knowledge of posting visual content to a website through a CMS. (We prefer users of Drupal, our CMS.) • Use of still and video cameras. (Video-editing skills are desired.) • Proofing text in visual presentations. (Copy-editing skills are desired.) • Can juggle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, work quickly, and operate collaboratively or independently as needed. • Strong English language skills and writing proficiency. Education and work experience • B.A. or B.S., preferably in graphic design, graphic art, or related field. • Professional experience that demonstrates the skills necessary to carry out the duties of this position as described above. At least five years' of professional experience is strongly preferred.