Senior Graphic Designer

National Museum of Australia; Canberra; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Graphic Designer at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra leads design direction for the Museum’s public facing work. From initial questions to final asset, you interpret exhibition or campaign needs, decide the visual approach, and present ideas to stakeholders for backing.

Working within the Creative Studio, you collaborate with marketing, exhibitions, retail and digital teams, and with external printers and illustrators.

Qualifications

• Australian citizenship and pre‑employment checks required.
• Experience defining and delivering public-facing design across print, digital and large format.
• Ability to lead design thinking from brief to final asset and present to non‑design stakeholders.
• Experience commissioning or art directing illustrators or related illustration practice.

Responsibilities

• Take briefs and deliver original ideas with clear direction and reasoning.
• Deliver high-quality design across print, digital and large-format production.
• Design multi-page publications from concept to print, including cover and production.
• Present and defend creative concepts to non-design audiences; extract requirements from teams.
• Apply and extend visual identity across formats and touchpoints.
• Manage several concurrent projects to deadlines with external suppliers.
• Ensure designs are culturally sensitive and inclusive.

Skills

Creative leadership

Art direction

Motion graphics

Publication design

Job description

National Museum of Australia – Canberra ACT

The Senior Graphic Designer owns design direction for the Museum's public facing work. The role takes projects from the question behind them through to the finished asset: interpreting what an exhibition or campaign needs to communicate, deciding the visual approach, and presenting that thinking to the people who need to back it.

The role sits in the Creative Studio, a team of around ten covering design, video, photography, editing and web content. It is one of three senior design roles. It works closely with teams across the Museum, including marketing, exhibitions, retail and digital, and with external suppliers, printers and commissioned illustrators.

A significant proportion of the studio's work is not briefed by other teams. The Senior Graphic Designer is frequently responsible for defining what the work is before designing it, drawing requirements out of colleagues and turning them into work that reaches an audience.

The role has no direct reports. It supports the Creative Studio Manager in lifting the standard of design across the Museum and contributes to building the studio's creative product as its operating model develops.

The Senior Graphic Designer owns design direction for the Museum's public facing work. The role takes projects from the question behind them through to the finished asset: interpreting what an exhibition or campaign needs to communicate, deciding the visual approach, and presenting that thinking to the people who need to back it.

The role sits in the Creative Studio, a team of around ten covering design, video, photography, editing and web content. It is one of three senior design roles. It works closely with teams across the Museum, including marketing, exhibitions, retail and digital, and with external suppliers, printers and commissioned illustrators.

A significant proportion of the studio's work is not briefed by other teams. The Senior Graphic Designer is frequently responsible for defining what the work is before designing it, drawing requirements out of colleagues and turning them into work that reaches an audience.

The role has no direct reports. It supports the Creative Studio Manager in lifting the standard of design across the Museum and contributes to building the studio's creative product as its operating model develops.

The key duties of the position include:

• Taking open or undefined briefs and returning with original ideas, a clear direction and the reasoning behind them.
• Delivering high quality design across print, digital and large format production, evidenced by a portfolio that shows the thinking as well as the finished work.
• Designing multi-page publications and carrying a title end to end, including cover direction and print production.
• Presenting and defending creative thinking to people who are not designers, and drawing requirements out of teams that have not written a brief.
• Applying and extending an existing visual identity across multiple formats and touchpoints.
• Managing several concurrent projects to deadline, including end to end production with external suppliers and printers.
• Designing in a way that is culturally sensitive and inclusive, with an understanding of the role cultural institutions play.

It is highly desirable that the Senior Graphic Designer also has the following experience:

• Creative or strategic leadership, particularly in an agency, design studio or creative organisation.
• Commissioning and art directing illustrators, or illustration practice of their own.
• Motion graphics, or an understanding of design within motion.
• Magazine or cultural publication work specifically.

Eligibility

Eligibility

Applicants must be Australian citizens and undergo pre-employment checks, including a national police history check.

APS capabilities

Positions at the Museum are assessed in accordance with the Australian Public Service Commission Role Evaluation Framework. The occupant of this position is expected to demonstrate the capabilities, skills and knowledge described by the Work Level Standards, the Integrated Leadership System Capabilities, the APS Values and Code of Conduct, and the APS Legislative Framework.

Equal opportunity

The National Museum of Australia is an equal employment opportunity workplace. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those from culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for roles at the Museum.

RecruitAbility

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under RecruitAbility, applicants who declare a disability and meet the minimum requirements for the position will be invited to participate in further assessment activity.

Child safety

The Museum is committed to ensuring a child-safe and child-friendly environment. All employees are expected to demonstrate a commitment to, and support for, these principles in theory and practice.

Adjustments

Reasonable adjustments are available at any stage of the recruitment process.

Accessibility

If you are deaf, hearing or speech impaired, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. TTY 133 677, Speak and Listen 1300 555 ***.

Getting to know the National Museum of Australia

The National Museum of Australia is recognised at home and around the world as the place where the story of Australia comes alive. The Museum is the only institution equipped to tell the complex and comprehensive story of Australia from 65,000 years ago to the present day. The story of Australia is a remarkable one, from the ancient and enduring histories of the world’s oldest living cultures to the achievements of modern Australia.

It is a story that is ever evolving and growing – and it is a story for a nation and for the world. Our vision and mission

• The Museum inspires, challenges and empowers people to find their voice and place in the world.
• We strive to build a just and equitable society that honours and respects the

First Nations peoples of this continent and all who have come after.

• We collect, document, research and make accessible heritage collections that represent the diversity of experience in Australia.
• We engage with audiences physically and digitally to promote learning, dialogue and debate about our past, present and future.
• We promote collaborative work across the breadth of artistic and creative practice to enhance the cultural life of our nation.
• We value and respect the commitment and contribution of all who participate in and contribute to the Museum’s community.
• The National Museum of Australia brings to life the rich and diverse stories of Australia through compelling objects, ideas and events.

For more information, visit the NMA website.

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