Desktop Publishing Technician

Rancho Santiago Community College District; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Rancho Santiago Community College District seeks a skilled publication designer to create and manage text-and-graphics layouts for internal and external materials. You will coordinate production timelines, ensure adherence to district graphic standards, and work with administrators, faculty, and vendors to deliver print and electronic publications.

The role requires desktop publishing training, strong typography, and proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Qualifications

• Two years of specialized desktop publishing training or equivalent experience.
• Proficiency with typography, layout, and print production processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Composes and produces layouts for publications that may include text and graphics.
• Plans production timelines with administrators, faculty, and staff.
• Collaborates with district media, publications, and vendors to ensure on-time delivery.
• Adheres to district graphic standards and deadlines for print and electronic distribution.
• Maintains and organizes digital source files for major district publications.

Skills

Graphic design

Desktop publishing

Typography

MS Office

Communication

Time management

Education

Two years of specialized desktop publishing training

Job description

About Rancho Santiago Community College District

Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is one of the most established districts in the state and has been in operation for nearly 50 years. Located in the heart of Orange County, it is one of the largest of California's 72 community college districts, based on the number of credit and non-credit students. RSCCD encompasses 25 percent of Orange County's total area and serves a population of more than 700,000 residents in the communities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Tustin, and Yorba Linda. The district includes Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College, as well as the Centennial and Orange Continuing Education Centers, the Digital Media Center, the Joint Powers Fire Training Center, the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy, the College and Workforce Preparation Center, and the District Operations Center. RSCCD's three (3) auxiliary Foundations are actively involved in supporting both community and campus programs.

RSCCD’s student population is a direct reflection of the diverse communities in the surrounding neighborhoods. As a whole, the district has the honor of serving approximately 55,537 students: 51% Hispanic/Latinx, 20% White, 9% Asian & Filipino, and 2% are African American. RSCCD is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and serves predominately historically underrepresented students. There is a commitment to foster student centered values among our employees to provide equitable student learning, academic excellence, and workforce development. By delivering high-quality educational programs and student support services, the district ensures that students have the appropriate resources to achieve their goals.

At RSCCD, our mission is to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice into all aspects of student academics and employee relations. Thus, creating transformational experiences that prepares students and employees to engage in the world with a renewed sense-of-self. Through this commitment, Rancho Santiago Community College District strives to cultivate a learning environment that prioritizes respect, to ensure that RSCCD stakeholders feel valued and supported throughout their academic and professional careers.

About the Position

The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural competency in serving diverse community college populations, including faculty, management, and students from varied ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This includes those with differing abilities, AB 540 students, DACA recipients, Foreign Residents, VACA participants, and Continuing Education students. They will support RSCCD’s mission to promote self-awareness, knowledge, and communication skills, enabling all members of the college community to participate creatively and confidently in an ever-changing world.

Candidates will contribute to an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture that supports the diverse needs of faculty, management, staff, and students. They will effectively provide services and support to individuals with differing academic preparation levels and unique learning or workplace needs, ensuring equitable access and opportunities for success. Candidates should demonstrate cultural competency, sensitivity, equity-mindedness, and a commitment to anti-racism in all interactions and contributions. Through their role, they will empower students to achieve their educational and career goals while promoting a positive and inclusive environment where faculty and management can thrive, fostering creativity, confidence, and lifelong learning throughout the college community.

Class Summary

Plans, composes, organizes, and produces text-and-graphics media for internal and external promotional and informational use. Acquires text and graphics and, using computer and fundamental principles of graphic composition, creates layouts for printed and multimedia publication. Organizes and maintains digital source files for district's major support publications and coordinates periodic revision. Works under general supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Representative Duties

Composes and produces, using desktop publishing and other software, digital and hardcopy finished layouts for publications that range from simple to complex. Materials include but not limited to, class schedules, catalogs, bookmarks, postcards, stationery, forms, applications, directories, maps, handbooks, student and media guides, media guides, signage, banners and other publications.

Participates in production planning for informational and promotional text-only and text-with-graphics layouts. Consults directly with administrators, faculty, and support staff to plan, authorize, acquire, revise, verify and deliver both electronic and hard copy publication material.

Consults directly with district media, publications, and computer/network personnel, as well as outside vendors, to facilitate distribution and production of publication materials. Adheres to established graphic standards and inter-department timeline requirements and ensures workability of layout specifications for traditional presswork, electronic copying, and electronic publishing. Reviews and approves hard and soft copy proofs for general and major district publications.

Acquires and prepares text and graphic elements, prior to layout composition, using a variety of methods: direct typing; disk-copy and e-mail transfer of files; scanning of documents/illustrations/photographs; optical character recognition (OCR); search and download from internet; word processing and spreadsheet software to import/export and modify text; illustration and photo software to import/export, create and modify graphics.

Works with committee-planned timelines and guidelines, taking part in periodic large-scale revision processes for class schedules and seasonal publications such as student and media guides ensuring adherence to district graphics standards and deadlines.

Design, establishes, tests, and troubleshoots coding schemes to enable translation of large text database files into automatically formatted electronic page layout files.

Troubleshoots system hardware and software problems. Maintains publications layout system components such as computers, laser printers, scanner, file storage and transfer devices.

Uses type management software to install and manage a large collection of typefaces, and file management software to organize and maintain a large collection of graphics files.

Analyzes publications layout practices, and hardware and software, in light of changing district needs and technology advances; modifies procedures, adopts new techniques and recommends system upgrades to accommodate changes and improve productivity.

Performs document and file conversion processes for publications department customers to facilitate production.

Performs file conversions for online distribution of documents.

Organizational Relationships

This position reports directly to appropriate department administrator providing substantial support to the Graphic Communications, Electronic Media, Public Affairs and Publication teams, producing documents for print and electronic distribution.

Training and Experience

Any combination of training/experience equivalent to at least two years of specialized training in desktop publishing practices and procedures with increasing levels of responsibility in a print and electronic production environment.

Knowledge and Abilities

Highly proficient with personal computer platforms as well as Microsoft Office software.

Thorough Knowledge of:

offset and reprographic print production and file formatting practices. English, spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, grammar, proofreading and basic composition skills.

Familiarity with and ability to:

implement fundamental principles of graphic design for a variety of text-with-graphics layouts; classifications, characteristics and appropriate use of type fonts and font families; Postscript printing environment; ability to develop and work with text coding schemes that enable automatic conversion of text databases; and to perform multiple tasks in high volume, service-based environment.

Additional Qualifications

Candidate must demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community.

A Complete Application Packet Must Include the Following:

1. RSCCD Online Application
2. Resume - details all relevant education, training, and other work experience

Application Screening

Job announcements will include screening criteria to be used during screening and interviews. This may include, but is not limited to:

• Education experience (breadth and depth)
• Work experience (breadth and depth)
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with others
• Bilingual ability (if needed)
• Demonstrated experience and sensitivity to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Professional growth activities
• Specialized skills training
• Leadership skills
• Written and/or oral communication skills
• Presentation
• Problem Solving.

Based on the information presented in the application materials, a limited number of candidates with qualifications most pertinent to the position will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a written test and an oral interview.

Meeting the position's minimum requirements does not guarantee advancement in the selection process. Candidate qualifications will be assessed to determine those who meet and exceed requirements and are deemed the most competitive in the applicant pool.

Interview

Applicants selected for an interview may be required to take additional tests or assessments and will be notified of such prior to the date of the interview. During the oral session, those selected for interviews will, in addition to the above, also be evaluated on the following factors:

• Oral communication skills
• Presentation
• Problem-solving skills

A predetermined set of questions will be asked of all applicants interviewed. Applicants are requested to provide thorough yet concise information on their related experience to ensure the correct evaluation of their qualifications. Evaluation criteria will be applied consistently to all applicants.

Disability Accommodations

Individuals who require reasonable accommodations in the Application or Interviewing Process in accordance with ADA should notify the Recruitment Office in the Human Resources Division at least two days prior to the closing date, by calling [phone].

Conditions of Employment

The selected candidate is required to complete the following before employment as part of the onboarding process:

1. Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
2. Provide a certificate of Tuberculosis Exam.
3. Fingerprints (by a Live Scan Agency at the candidate's expense, and clearance must be received before the first day of employment)

The Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is an equal opportunity employer. The policy of the District is to encourage applications from persons who are economically disadvantaged and individuals belonging to significantly underrepresented groups within the District’s workforce, including ethnic and racial minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. No person shall be denied employment because of ethnicity or race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, or political or organizational affiliation.

RSCCD will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional employment offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if RSCCD is concerned about a conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.