Community Relations Jobs in Highlands Ranch, CO (NOW HIRING)

The University Relations division at the University of Denver speaks with a unified, authentic and resonant voice to strategically advance the university's brand with four goals in mind:

1. To promote and protect DUs reputation

2. To inspire students to enroll and engage

3. To increase inclusion

4. To strengthen the University

The University Relations team aims to strengthen DU's strategic position locally, regionally and nationally through data-driven and authentic storytelling across multiple channels with focused support on the university's value drivers: academics and research; enrollment and admissions, athletics and advancement. Whether through public or media relations, digital strategies, social media, print, podcast, issues or crisis management, community relations or thought leadership and training, University Relations drives results through narratives that involve words, pictures and design. With a true understanding of and connection with our diverse audiences, we aim to foster collaborative problem solving, creativity and innovation.

Position Summary

With guidance from creative leadership, the graphic designer will use their creativity, technical skills, and design expertise to craft and execute design concepts in support of university marketing and communications goals. Their work will span a variety of channels, including print, digital, and multimedia - often under tight deadlines.

The graphic designer will play a key role in evolving the university's brand expression and brand kit, including creating design templates, branded assets, and other visual tools. They will serve as a key brand advocate for the entire DU campus.   

As part of a highly collaborative marketing team, the graphic designer will work closely with division leadership, other creatives, marketing and communications colleagues on a daily basis. This role is best suited for a designer who prefers to work as part of an integrated creative team. The graphic designer will be expected to engage in proactive planning and provide recommendations to team leadership to keep projects running smoothly.

Essential Functions

• Execute design concepts through images, layouts, motion, and other design elements across a variety of media, including digital, print, photo and video, including making revisions and optimizations based on performance. 
• Generate and present design concepts under the supervision of creative leadership. 
• Serve as a brand steward, consultant and advocate, holding established visual standards while continuing to work with division leadership to maintain and optimize the brand. 
• Use division-wide project management system for all projects, related files, and time tracking, including providing timely status updates. 
• Create and maintain brand kit assets in support of the entire DU campus, including design templates, branded assets, and training/documentation. 
• Stay updated on industry trends and integrate innovative ideas into projects. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work in various media, including digital, print, photo, and video.
• Excellent design skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to generate creative ideas and lead execution of these ideas.
• Competency in industry standard design software, including Adobe Creative Cloud design programs, Figma, and Canva.
• Competency with Microsoft Office products, including Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Ability to take feedback constructively and iterate on designs and ideas from multiple stakeholders with differing opinions.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced collaborative environment, juggling multiple deadlines at once.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues across different levels of the organization.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated design success, with a supporting design portfolio that highlights both conceptual thinking and strong execution.
• 2-4 years' experience in graphic and visual design, both in print and digital platforms.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education, experience, and/or military training in graphic design, digital design, or related field. Candidates with an associate degree and relevant professional experience are encouraged to apply.
• Proficiency with photo editing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience creating design templates, ideally in Canva, for use by a wide range of skill levels across a complex organization.
• Experience in motion graphics and video editing.
• Experience in photo capture.

Job Classification Criteria

• Communication skills: Level 3 - Skilled Communication
• Budgetary Responsibility: Level 1 - No Budgetary Responsibility
• Complexity, Judgement, and Problem Solving: Level 3 - Moderate Complexity
• Level of Supervisory Responsibility: None
• Physical/Safety/Environmental: Office environment / no specific or unusual physical or environmental demand

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

In accordance with the University's flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for a hybrid work schedule, typically with 3 days per week in office and 2 days per week remotely. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 13, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 9.
Salary Rate:
The salary rate for this position is $62,500.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate's sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. Link to portfolio

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's NonDiscriminationStatement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.

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