Graphic Designer

Cape Fear Community College; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Cape Fear Community College is seeking a skilled Graphic Designer to support marketing, enrollment, and institutional initiatives. You will create high-quality print and digital materials aligned with CFCC brand standards and collaborate with internal teams and external vendors.

The role emphasizes producing ads, brochures, posters, signage, and digital assets for campaigns, events, and outreach, while maintaining consistency and accessibility across materials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Digital Media, or related field.
• Two years of professional graphic design experience preferred.
• Portfolio showing print and digital design work.
• Experience preparing files for commercial printing and working with production vendors.

Responsibilities

• Develop creative materials for CFCC marketing, enrollment, and communications.
• Design and produce print and digital materials (ads, brochures, posters, signage, social graphics).
• Create materials for program launches, campaigns, and recruitment initiatives.
• Adapt advertising materials for multiple platforms and audiences.
• Produce materials supporting high school outreach, workforce development, and events.
• Assist with large-format design projects (banners, signage, environmental graphics).
• Support major institutional projects (annual reports, commencements, campaigns).
• Maintain brand identity and update materials as content changes.
• Prepare production-ready files for printers, vendors, and digital platforms.
• Collaborate with designers, CFCC departments, and external partners.

Skills

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Branding

Typography

Print & digital

Time management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

DEFINITION:

The Graphic Designer supports Cape Fear Community College’s marketing and communications efforts by creating high-quality visual materials for print, digital, advertising, enrollment, and institutional initiatives. The position works within established CFCC brand standards and provides design and production support for the College’s academic programs, Continuing Education offerings, events, and other institutional priorities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

• Receives direct supervision from the VP of Marketing and Community Relations
• Exercises no supervision.

ESSENTIAL AND OTHER IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS STATEMENTS:

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

• Works with the Community Relations team to develop creative materials supporting CFCC’s marketing, enrollment, and communications efforts.
• Designs and produces digital and print materials, including advertisements, brochures, flyers, postcards, posters, invitations, programs, signage, social media graphics, digital display ads, and other promotional materials.
• Develops materials supporting new and existing programs, including program launches, enrollment campaigns, and recruitment initiatives.
• Creates and adapts advertising materials for multiple platforms, audiences, dimensions, and media placements.
• Produces materials supporting high school outreach, employer partnerships, apprenticeships, workforce development, and community engagement initiatives.
• Assists with large-format design projects, including banners, displays, interior and exterior signage, vehicle graphics, bus and trailer wraps, billboards, and other environmental graphics.
• Supports the design and production of major institutional projects, including annual reports, publications, commencement materials, institutional campaigns, and special events.
• Updates and revises existing creative materials as program information, dates, schedules, and other content changes.
• Prepares accurate, production-ready files for commercial printers, advertising vendors, digital platforms, and the College’s internal print operation.
• Works collaboratively with the Graphic Design Manager, Community Relations staff, College departments, and external vendors to complete projects accurately and on schedule.
• Manages multiple concurrent design requests with varying levels of complexity, urgency, and approval requirements.
• Incorporates revisions and stakeholder feedback while maintaining design quality and CFCC brand standards.
• Ensures compliance with CFCC’s brand identity across assigned digital and print materials.
• Maintains organized design files, templates, photographs, graphics, and other creative assets.

• Applies accessibility best practices to digital and print design as appropriate.
• Uses Adobe Creative Suite and other approved design platforms to efficiently produce professional creative materials.
• Appropriately uses AI-powered and emerging creative tools to support design, production, concept development, and workflow efficiency while maintaining institutional standards for quality, accuracy, and brand consistency.
• Coordinates with printing services, advertising partners, sign companies, photographers, and other creative vendors as assigned.
• Supports Community Relations projects and College events as needed.
• Assists with photography, image selection, editing, and management of visual assets as assigned.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Strong knowledge of graphic design principles, typography, layout, composition, and visual communication.

• Experience designing for both print and digital applications.
• Knowledge of print production processes and preparation of production-ready files.
• Experience creating advertising and marketing materials for multiple formats and platforms.

• Ability to work effectively within established brand standards.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and deadlines.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and consistency.

• Ability to receive, interpret, and incorporate feedback and revisions.
• Knowledge of large-format design and production, including signage and environmental graphics.

• Knowledge of digital accessibility and best practices for accessible visual communication.

• Familiarity with Canva or similar cloud-based design tools.
• Familiarity with appropriate applications of artificial intelligence and emerging technology in graphic design and creative production.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, internal clients, and outside vendors.

Ability To:

• Perform related work as required.
• Work well both independently and as part of a team with individuals with diverse backgrounds.
• Communicate clearly and respectfully, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Interpret and apply CFCC goals, objectives, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:
  1. Making observations
  2. Reading and writing
  3. Communicating with others
  4. Operating assigned equipment
  5. Handling varied tasks simultaneously
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following:
  1. Standing, walking, or sitting for extended periods of time
  2. Operating assigned equipment
  3. Handling varied tasks simultaneously
  4. Bending, stooping, climbing, or lifting up to 50 pounds
• Maintain mental capacity, which allow the capability of:
  1. Making sound decisions
  2. Responding to questions
  3. Demonstrating intellectual capabilities

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES:

Minimum Education/Training:

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Digital Media, or a related field.

Minimum Experience:

• At least two years of professional graphic design experience.
• Professional portfolio demonstrating experience with print and digital design.

Preferred Education/Training, Experience, Skills:

• Experience working in higher education, an advertising or creative agency, an in-house marketing department, or another high-volume creative environment.
• Experience developing advertising campaign materials.
• Experience designing publications, brochures, reports, annual reports, and other multi-page documents.
• Experience with large-format graphics, signage, environmental graphics, vehicle wraps, bus and trailer wraps, and outdoor advertising.
• Experience preparing files for commercial printing and working directly with print and production vendors.
• Experience creating graphics for social media, digital advertising, and other online platforms.
• Knowledge of ADA accessibility standards and accessible design practices.
• Experience using AI-assisted creative tools to improve design and production workflows.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• This position REQUIRES UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND/OR TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS be submitted in addition to the application. Please have these documents ready to upload when applying.
• Candidates are required to submit OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS for all degrees obtained prior to their first day of work or hire date. If highest level of education is High School diploma or equivalent, proof of completion is required.
• Candidates who have obtained their education outside of the US and its territories must have their academic degree(s) validated, at their own expense, by an outside credential evaluation service as equivalent to the Baccalaureate or Master's degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
• To claim veterans’ preference, all eligible persons shall submit a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, to Human Resources during the application process. Human Resources will verify eligibility.