Graphic Designer and Animator

AAJA26; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits eligible

Job summary

AAJA26 is seeking a Graphic Designer/Animator to produce compelling thumbnails and motion graphics for OPB programs, including Oregon Field Guide and news segments. The role prioritizes strong Adobe Creative Suite proficiency (After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator) with optional Blender 3D skills, and demands fast, clear collaboration across editorial teams.

The position is hybrid, based in Portland, OR, with typical hours and occasional non-standard times for breaking news.

Qualifications

• Degree in design, fine art, documentary or journalism or related field or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position.
• 1–2 years equivalent full-time professional experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating range of work as designer/illustrator/animator, including maps, data visualizations and strong thumbnail images.
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills including After Effects and Premiere.
• Thinks systemically about how to balance routine needs like basic maps with more creative challenges.

Responsibilities

• Create compelling thumbnail images and variants for OPB feature videos on YouTube and the OPB video app.
• Create original editorial motion graphic and animated sequences for OPB video shows.
• Create quick turn simple animated maps and data visualizations for news visuals teams.
• Production planning and asset management.
• Staying up to date with industry trends and best practices.

Skills

After Effects

Premiere

Photoshop

Illustrator

Blender

Education

Design or related degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Important, interesting ideas aren’t always easily shown in photo or video. A powerful graphic design, illustration or animation can often help audiences better understand and connect with the kinds of true Pacific Northwest stories that OPB tells. From intriguing thumbnail images for YouTube and OPB’s video streaming app, to quick and repeatable map shots and simple animated data visualizations turned around in tight news cycles, to creative animations illustrating hard-to-film concepts and phenomena, OPB needs a creative visual thinker with a passion for journalistic non-fiction storytelling.

The role is a hybrid Graphic Designer/Animator position supporting OPB’s expanding digital content needs, with a primary focus on creating compelling graphics and animations for programming such as Oregon Field Guide and our news programs. The ideal candidate may be early in their career and should bring strong Adobe Creative Suite skills, particularly After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop and Illustrator. Journalism experience, illustration and 3D skills in Blender or similar software are preferred but not required. Day-to-day responsibilities will include creating compelling thumbnails for weekly feature videos and creating motion graphics and animations for both shows with longer timelines and news videos with tight turnarounds, so strong deadline management, communication, adaptability, and the ability to switch contexts effectively are essential.

The Graphic Designer and Animator creates compelling thumbnail images and animated sequences for a variety of video stories, adhering to OPB’s high brand and editorial standards. This position creates and animates in a variety of styles, lengths and formats for distribution on multiple platforms including digital, social media and television.

Responsibilities

30%- Create compelling thumbnail images and variants for OPB feature videos on YouTube and the OPB video app.

30% - Create original editorial motion graphic and animated sequences for OPB video shows.

30%- Create quick turn simple animated maps and data visualizations for news visuals teams.

5%-Production planning and asset management.

5%- Staying up to date with industry trends and best practices.

Working Conditions

• Work environment:Hybrid role located at the Portland OPB location. Work is done on a Mac or PC in an office environment.
• Schedule: Typical weekday working hours with access to edit studios on an as-needed basis. Occasional non-standard hours may be required in response to breaking news.
• Physical demands: Lifting/carrying/moving equipment up to 10 pounds is sometimes required.
• Travel: Local travel is possible.

Required Education & Experience

• Degree in design, fine art, documentary or journalism or related field or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this position.
• 1-2 years equivalent full-time professional experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating range of work done as designer/illustrator/animator, including maps, data visualizations and strong thumbnail images.
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills including After Effects and Premiere.
• Thinks systemically about how to balance routine needs like basic maps with more creative challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to work quickly. Not all assignments will be quick, but some will be long term assignments.
• Demonstrated ability to give shape to vague requests, ending in a compelling solution.
• Comfortably collaborates with non-editorial teams and OPB brand stewards.
• Ability to work within a consistent visual language and identity, while breaking patterns intentionally when needed.
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently across a variety of teams.
• Demonstrated journalistic values and editorial judgement.
• Demonstrated collaborative working spirit.
• Demonstrated ability to meet production deadlines.
• Enthusiasm for the mission of OPB.

Preferred Position Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Experience in journalism and/or documentary production.
• Physical animation and crafting skills, such as stop-motion.
• Advanced video editing skills.
• 3D animation in Blender, C4D or a similar package (Primarily Blender).

Additional Information

• This full time, regular status position reports to theDirector Content Innovation and is SEIU represented and benefits eligible.
• The expectedhiring range for this role is $32.69/hr. compensation will depend on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

This position will remain open until filled.