Senior Graphic Designer

University of Maine at Presque Isle; Presque Isle (ME); Remote; USD 49,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Tuition benefits

Professional development

Wellness programs

Job summary

The University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) is seeking a Senior Graphic Designer to lead creative work for the Marketing and Communications team, shaping the university’s visual brand across print, digital, web, social, and advertising channels to recruit students, support fundraising, and advance institutional priorities.

This role mentors junior designers and student workers, directs projects from concept through final production, and collaborates with photographers, videographers, writers,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or certificate in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 5–7 years of professional graphic design experience, ideally in agency, corporate, or higher education marketing.
• Familiarity with the UMPI brand and strong design portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative direction and mentorship for junior designers and student workers.
• Conceptualize, design, and produce on-brand visuals across print, digital, web, social, and advertising channels.
• Collaborate with photographers, videographers, copywriters, and campus partners to translate strategy into visuals.

Skills

Creative direction

Brand stewardship

Project management

Mentorship

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in graphic design/visual communication

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

The University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) is seeking a Senior Graphic Designer to serve as a creative leader and visual brand steward within a dynamic Marketing and Communications team.

Reporting to the Director of Creative Services, the Senior Graphic Designer conceptualizes, designs, and produces high-quality, on-brand visual content across print, digital, web, social, and advertising channels that advances the University's brand and supports enrollment, advancement, and institutional priorities. This role provides creative direction and mentorship to junior designers and student workers, and works closely with storytellers, copywriters, photographers, videographers, and colleagues across campus to translate strategic goals into compelling visual solutions.

This position requires an experienced, self-directed designer with a strong portfolio, expert command of Adobe Creative Suite, and a thorough understanding of typography, layout, color theory, print production, and vendor coordination. The successful candidate brings original ideas to the table, leads projects from concept through final production with minimal supervision, and serves as a resource to faculty, staff, and campus partners on visual identity and design best practices.

The work schedule and location for this position is fully remote with standard working hours of 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM EST (schedule flexibility may occur around project and campaign deadlines, occasionally including evenings or weekends). Training, campus events, and photo/video shoots may require occasional travel to the UMPI campus.

For a complete list of responsibilities and qualifications, review the complete Senior Graphic Designer job description.

The salary for this full-time position is $54,000.00. The University will take into consideration the salary of current UMS employees for transfer/promotion, depending on skills and experience.

The University of Maine System offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, tuition benefits for employees and eligible dependents, professional development opportunities, and wellness programs. Learn more about University of Maine System employee benefits.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or certificate in graphic design, visual communication, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of five to seven years of professional graphic design experience, ideally including work in an agency, corporate, or higher education marketing setting, supported by a strong portfolio.
• Familiarity with the UMPI brand.
• Knowledge and Skills:
• Thorough understanding of design principles, typography, layout, color theory, and print production.
• Expert-level proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and familiarity with digital and print content development tools.
• Demonstrated ability to generate original concepts, provide art direction, and lead design projects from concept through completion with minimal oversight.
• Experience developing and maintaining visual identity guidelines and ensuring consistent brand application across a wide range of materials.
• Strong organizational skills, high attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively with copywriters, photographers, videographers, and cross-departmental colleagues, and to be receptive to creative direction and constructive feedback.
• Flexibility to work both independently and as part of a team, with willingness to pursue additional training needed to meet the requirements of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing for enrollment or recruitment marketing in a higher education setting.
• Experience with motion graphics, video editing, or web/UX design.
• Experience overseeing external vendors, printers, or freelance creative talent.

Technology Requirements for Remote Work

• Proof of a stable, reliable internet connection of not less than 25 Mbps is required. Hotspots are not acceptable for this position.
• A dedicated workspace that is free from distractions, allows for private phone and video conversations, and maintains respect for confidentiality according to policy and FERPA regulations. This space must accommodate a full workstation that includes 2 monitors, docking stations, and other necessary equipment.
• Annual completion of a Remote Work Agreement Form.

About the University

For more than a century, the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) has helped students build successful professional careers. UMPI offers life-changing opportunities in a caring, small-university environment for 3,000 traditional and non-traditional students from Maine, across the United States, and around the world.

To learn more, visit the University of Maine at Presque Isle website.

Situated on 150 acres amidst the rolling hills and potato fields of northern Maine, UMPI strives to be the region’s premier learning institution while helping to stimulate cultural and economic development throughout Aroostook County and the State of Maine. Serving as an educational and cultural center for the area, university facilities host lectures, academic programs, concerts, dance performances, art exhibits, and plays that benefit the entire region. You can also explore community resources and regional attractions by reading more about what Aroostook County has to offer.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires Title IV institutions such as the University to prepare, publish, and distribute an Annual Security Report (ASR) and provide notice of its availability to all prospective employees. The report includes crime statistics for the past three calendar years and disclosures regarding current campus security policies.