Lead Designer

Cardus; Hamilton; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cardus, a non-partisan think tank focused on credible public research, seeks a senior graphic designer to lead visual identity and production across print and digital media. Translate complex briefs into clear, compelling visuals and guide internal teams and external partners.

You will mentor staff, maintain brand standards, and develop templates while hands-on designing infographics, publications, fundraising and promotional materials. Office-based in Hamilton/Ottawa with remote flexibility.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated professional design experience with a strong portfolio.
• Strong typography, composition and visual identity skills.
• Ability to lead staff and external contractors to achieve outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead design projects from briefing to finished product, ensuring alignment with Cardus ethos and values.
• Steward visual identity and brand standards across all media and platforms.
• Develop typography, layouts and visual messaging for digital and print production.
• Maintain templates and resources; advise teams and partners on usage.
• Personally design infographics, social clips, publications and fundraising materials.
• Supervise and mentor the Graphic Artist; coordinate external designers when needed.
• Oversee and improve systems for design requests.

Skills

Typography

Brand development

Project management

Communication

Visual storytelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Premiere Pro

Job description

Cardus is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to clarifying and strengthening, through research and dialogue, the ways in which society's institutions can work together for the common good.

Drawing on 2,000 years of Christian social thought, we bring credible public research to bear on concrete needs. We place particular emphasis on the role of civil society, which is composed of the mediating institutions that lie between the individual and the state, such as the family, the school, labour unions, and faith congregations.

Cardus is strongly team-oriented and entrepreneurial, with a culture that emphasizes hospitality, hopefulness, creativity, and constructive discussion. Our staff are skilled and knowledgeable people who love working together to further the Cardus mission.

Learn more at www.cardus.ca.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

You are a college or university graduate energized by big ideas and public debate about the issues shaping society, with a gift for translating complex thinking into compelling visual form. You have an eye for clarity and beauty, with exceptional command of typography, layout, and visual identity. You have the conceptual thinking needed to interpret a brief and translate it into compelling visual communications. You know how to set a creative direction and see it through, from initial concept to finished, production-ready work. You are self-organizing, able to assess priorities and use time effectively. You are skilled at leading staff and external contractors to accomplish shared outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead design projects from the initial briefing to the finished product. Understand the purpose of each product to be designed, and translate that purpose into design decisions that are aligned with Cardus's ethos and values and convey excellence and professionalism.
• Steward Cardus's visual identity and brand standards, ensuring consistency and quality across all visual communications and platforms, while evolving the visual identity thoughtfully over time.
• Develop strong typography, layouts, compositions, and visual messaging, and prepare files for digital and print production.
• Develop and maintain best practices, templates, and other design resources, and advise internal teams and external partners on their use.
• Personally design materials in a variety of media formats—infographics, social media clips, publications, digital graphics, fundraising and promotional materials, and more.
• Supervise and mentor the Graphic Artist, assigning their work and coaching their craft, and direct external freelance designers and creative professionals (photographers, illustrators, etc.) as needed.
• Oversee and develop systems and processes for design requests.

KEY ABILITIES

• Exceptional command of typography, composition, hierarchy, colour, and visual identity.
• Ability to develop designed assets from initial briefing to final product, across print and digital media.
• Excellent knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills. Ability to adjust and negotiate priorities, accurately estimate time needed, and deliver products on time.
• Able to communicate proactively and effectively with others to accomplish shared goals.
• Five or more years of professional design experience, or equivalent, with a strong portfolio demonstrating sophisticated visual design and creative direction.
• Highly desired: Experience with brand development, data visualization, video production and editing, and editorial and publication design.

HOURS, LOCATION, AND SALARY

This position is full-time (40 hours/week) and works at one of our beautiful offices, which are located in Hamilton and in Ottawa. Cardus permits work-from-home one day a week; the other four days will be in the office. Some travel (approximately ten days/year) is required. Salary range $70,000 – $90,000.

LANGUAGE(S)

English essential. English-French bilingualism is a significant asset.

REPORTS TO

Director of Marketing.

SUPERVISES

Graphic Artist.

Cardus is committed to providing accommodation through the recruitment process for applicants with disabilities. Applicants who require accommodation are invited to advise us, and Cardus will consult with the applicant to provide or arrange suitable accommodation.

We will review applications as they are received, and the position will be posted until filled. We look forward to hearing from you.