Junior Designer (Part Time & Temporary)

Paycom; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 29,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

United Methodist Publishing House seeks a Junior Designer (Part-Time Temporary) to support Cokesbury Kids and Teaching & Learning products. This half-time role handles design and production from concept to final files, ensuring brand consistency and production standards.

Responsibilities include layouts, templates, graphics, typography, and asset management, with collaboration across editorial, marketing, and production teams.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent training in graphic design with a strong portfolio.
• Portfolio demonstrating typography, layout, and polished print/digital design work.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Own assigned design work from start to finish for Big Faith products and related components.
• Create and maintain interior layouts, templates, graphics, and production assets that meet brand standards.
• Prepare, review, organize, and deliver production files following asset-management standards.
• Collaborate with editorial, production, marketing, and project teams and communicate status and risks.
• Manage art procurement with outside vendors within budget and approvals.
• Support cover production and development of new products and curricula.

Skills

Typography

Layout

Communication

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or related field

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Acrobat

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: CORP - NASHVILLE, TN, Position Type: Part Time, Education Level: 4 Year Degree, Salary Range: $20.75 - $25.00Hourly, Travel Percentage: None, Job Category: Design,

JOB SUMMARY

The Junior Designer (Part-Time Temporary) is a half-time role that supports Cokesbury Kids and related Teaching & Learning products by carrying assigned design and production work from initial concept and layout through final production files. The role provides consistent design capacity for Big Faith and assists with Worship with All God’s Children, Everyday Faith, cover production, and development of new products while maintaining UMPH quality, brand, and production standards.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT & AREAS OF IMPACT

Reporting Relationship & Peers

Reports to the Associate Publisher / Managing Editor, as do:

• Associate Editor
• Associate Editor / Project Coordinator
• Cokesbury Kids Director
• Cokesbury Kids Team Lead
• Editorial Assistant
• Lead Editor
• Media Editor
• Production & Design Manager
• Production Manager

Areas of Impact (as applicable)

OTHER: Schedule & Product Portfolio

• Approximately 20 hours per week
• 6-month temporary assignment
• Assigned Cokesbury Kids and related Teaching & Learning products

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

Essential Job Functions

PRIMARY (approximately 75% of workload)

• Owns assigned Big Faith design work from start to finish, with primary responsibility for products: One Room Sunday School Leader Guide and Leader Guide and Activity Sheets for one age-level; as capacity allows, supports related components such as class packs, stickers, and media assets.
• Creates and maintains interior layouts, templates, graphics, illustrations, and production assets that meet product goals, established brand standards, technical specifications, and usability needs.
• Prepares, reviews, organizes, and delivers accurate production files; follows UMPH file-naming and asset-management standards and helps ensure assigned products move smoothly through the production process.
• Collaborates with editorial, production, marketing, and other project team members, participates in regular team meetings, communicates project status and risks, and meets established schedules and quality expectations.
• Manages the art procurement process with outside vendors for assigned products that includes working within a budget, creating and sending art requests and managing the approval process.
• Supports cover production and concept development, including brainstorming and ideation for new products and future curriculum.

SECONDARY (approximately 25% of workload)

• Assists with design and production needs for Worship with All God’s Children, Art+Liturgy, Everyday Faith, and other children and family initiatives as assigned.
• Supports production, bibliographic, administrative, and meeting-related tasks that contribute to accurate and timely project completion.
• Contributes to development, research, brainstorming, and ideation for new products and future curriculum, while maintaining awareness of current design, publishing, software, and market trends.

These essential job functions are not intended to cover all work details or the occasional performance of other tasks as assigned by the supervisor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Common or Complex Problem-Solving Challenges

• Maintaining visual and technical consistency across ongoing, multi-component curriculum products from early design through final production
• Balancing a steady core workload with overlapping deadlines and additional design requests without compromising accuracy or quality
• Translating editorial and product goals into designs that are attractive, age-appropriate, usable, and consistent with UMPH and product-brand standards
• Anticipating and resolving production or file-preparation issues that could delay schedules or create rework
• Working collaboratively when project stakeholders have different creative preferences, priorities, or levels of technical knowledge

Authority & Accountability

• Authority to execute assigned design and production work within approved product concepts, templates, brand standards, and project direction
• Authority to recommend design, layout, file-preparation, and workflow solutions that improve quality, consistency, or efficiency
• Authority to collaborate directly with editorial, production, marketing, and other project stakeholders on assigned design needs
• Accountability for the accuracy, technical readiness, visual quality, and timely completion of assigned design and production files
• Accountability for maintaining organized files and following UMPH naming, version-control, and digital asset-management practices
• Accountability for communicating schedule risks, capacity constraints, or production roadblocks promptly to the supervisor and project team

Regular Contacts & Stakeholders

INTERNAL

• Cokesbury Kids and Teaching & Learning editorial and production teams
• Marketing and Communications
• Digital Production Services/prepress
• Other UMPH product and project teams as assigned

EXTERNAL

• Freelance designers, illustrators, photographers, printers, and other production vendors as needed for assigned projects

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education, Experience, & Certifications

REQUIRED

• Degree, certificate, or equivalent training in graphic design, graphic arts, visual communication, or a related field; equivalent experience and a strong portfolio may be considered
• Portfolio demonstrating sound typography, layout, and polished print and/or digital design work
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines in a collaborative environment

PREFERRED

• Experience with publishing, curriculum, educational materials, or other multi-component products
• Experience in an in-house creative, publishing, or production environment
• Experience preparing files for print production and digital distribution

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

REQUIRED

• Proficiency with Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat; strong knowledge of typography, color, page layout, image preparation, and graphic production
• Strong organization and time-management skills; ability to prioritize overlapping assignments and maintain consistent file organization
• Good interpersonal and communication skills; ability to collaborate with editorial, production, marketing, and creative colleagues both internal and external
• Ability to apply brand and design standards while solving design and production problems creatively and accurately
• Working knowledge of print and digital production, including prepress, file packaging, fonts, image resolution, quality control, and Mac-based workflows

PREFERRED

• Knowledge of digital asset/document management and standardized naming and version-control practices
• Knowledge of children’s publishing, Christian education, curriculum, or UMPH markets
• Experience with Microsoft 365 and adapting assets for presentations, web, email, video, or social media

AI-Enabled Workplace

The United Methodist Publishing House is committed to maximizing the impact of artificial intelligence by adopting and integrating AI tools across our work. These technologies are vital to enhancing productivity, fostering creativity, and strengthening decision-making. All staff members are expected to engage thoughtfully and responsibly with AI as part of their professional responsibilities. Core expectations include:

• Responsible AI Integration – Leverage AI tools strategically to streamline workflows, generate actionable insights, and deliver exceptional outcomes that advance our mission.
• Critical Evaluation & Oversight – Apply professional judgment and critical thinking when reviewing, refining, and validating all AI-generated content and recommendations to ensure accuracy and alignment with our standards.
• Continuous Learning & Innovation – Maintain curiosity and adaptability toward emerging AI technologies, actively contributing to innovative practices within your area of expertise while supporting organizational growth.
• Ethical & Secure Practice – Uphold UMPH’s commitment to ethical, transparent, and secure AI usage, ensuring all applications align with our mission, values, and community standards.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UMPH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.