Senior Graphic Designer & Project Coordinator - Biomedical

Aptive

Bethesda (MD)

On-site

USD 70,000 - 100,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Aptive is seeking a Senior Graphic Designer and Project Coordinator to join our on-site creative team supporting the NIH, Office of Research Services, Division of Medical Arts (DMA) in Bethesda, MD. You will manage design and production from concept to final delivery, balancing creative excellence with production discipline for posters, exhibits, and awards.

Within a mission-driven environment, you will collaborate with NIH stakeholders, coordinate with vendors, and maintain schedules while

Qualifications

5+ years of graphic design and production experience in an agency, in-house creative team, or production house.
End-to-end proficiency in the graphic design and print production process, from pre-production through final delivery and finishing.
Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and familiarity with print management software (e.g., EFI Fiery).
Demonstrated experience with large-format digital printing, including prepress file preparation, color management, and output quality control.
Hands-on experience with finishing techniques including trimming, matting, and framing of printed materials and award certificates.
Strong project management and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple concurrent projects against tight deadlines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience working directly with clients to gather requirements and manage expectations.
Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
Legal authorization to work in the United States.
Portfolio, reel, or design sample links required.

Responsibilities

Produce professional-quality visual and digital communication products including scientific posters, print collateral, campaigns, educational materials, publications, exhibits, environmental graphics, and signage.
Develop design concepts and final deliverables that meet project goals, audience needs, and NIH communication standards.
Operate Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), EFI Fiery Print Management Software, and related production tools to create and output print-ready and digital materials.
Execute large-format color scientific poster production, digital press operation, and finishing including trimming, matting, and framing of award certificates and length of service awards.
Perform prepress file review for resolution, color mode, bleed, margins, and output specifications; communicate file corrections to requestors promptly.
Consult directly with NIH clients and program stakeholders to define project purpose, scope, audience, schedule, budget, and technical requirements.
Set and manage client expectations for cost estimates, delivery timelines, and proofing and approval processes.
Manage multiple concurrent projects from intake through final delivery, maintaining schedules, tracking deliverables, and meeting DMA productivity requirements.
Create, maintain, and update project management documentation including roadmaps, timelines, status reports, and workload tracking records.
Process urgent and rush requests efficiently and keep appropriate staff and clients informed of project status throughout the lifecycle.
Track project hours, material usage, and job records in accordance with DMA division procedures.
Collaborate with project managers, subject matter experts, and NIH program staff to establish project direction and technical requirements.
Serve as a liaison among DMA program staff, support teams, and stakeholders to facilitate project execution and resolve issues proactively.
Analyze tradeoffs among design quality, usability, technical constraints, and performance requirements to recommend optimal solutions.
Coordinate with outside vendors to support production of visual communication materials; obtain cost estimates and provide detailed technical specifications.
Monitor and maintain inventory of paper, ink, substrates, framing materials, and consumables; notify appropriate personnel when supplies are low and assist with reordering.
Support procurement actions related to vendor services in accordance with NIH procedures.
Monitor project progress and provide status updates to project owners, CORs, and designated government staff.
Review and analyze organizational web, marketing, and production workflows to identify and recommend opportunities for improvement.
Evaluate the effectiveness of programs, processes, and operations against DMA goals and objectives on a qualitative and quantitative basis.
Plan and conduct operational studies related to workflow efficiency and management improvement.