Entry Level Graduate Graphic Designer Jobs in Atlanta, GA

About Us
Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower over 50,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia . We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision . Come Take Flight at KSU!
Location
(Primary Location for Job Responsibilities) Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.
Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.
Department Information
DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Creates marketing and communication materials that support fundraising, donor engagement, events, and organizational goals
2. Designs and produces print, digital, social media, and multimedia content that promotes the organization's mission and impact
3. Maintains a consistent brand identity and ensures all communications meet quality and accessibility standards
4. Develops engaging digital and social media content to increase awareness, donor support, and community engagement
5. Manages creative projects from planning through completion, ensuring timely and high-quality deliverables
6. Collaborates with staff, donors, volunteers, and community partners to share impactful stories and support fundraising efforts
7. Provides guidance and support to interns, volunteers, or other creative contributors while fostering a collaborative team environment

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of higher education branding, advancement communications, nonprofit marketing, audience-focused storytelling, and accessibility best practices
• Knowledge of developing integrated creative campaigns across print, digital, social, and multimedia platforms
• Advanced understanding of visual design principles, brand strategy, emerging digital engagement practices, and creative production workflows
• Able to translate institutional priorities, advancement initiatives, and philanthropic goals into compelling visual communications that demonstrate impact and engage audiences
• Strong collaboration, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to partner with leadership, campus stakeholders, and vendors while managing multiple priorities and deadlines

Job Summary
Leads efforts to conceptualize and produce graphic elements for all forms of communication and marketing produced in the college. Holds primary responsibility for the creative development, design, production management, and administration of graphics for print and digital media, including animation and video editing when appropriate, for use in promotional, event, and advertising initiatives that elevate faculty, student, and staff programs and successes that support marketing campaigns. Develops, implements, and analyzes effectiveness of social media campaigns released on all social platforms. Primary point of contact for the college in liaising with KSU's Office of Strategic Communication to ensure all graphic products meet the University's visual identity and brand standards across multiple platforms including, web, print, digital, and collateral materials such as promotional items, trade show banners, etc.
Responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Develops creative design concepts and direction for marketing campaigns, social media graphics, event and conference materials, and digital, interactive, and print brochures
2. Develops concepts, creates campaigns, designs visuals, disseminates through all social media platforms and studies analytics to determine effectiveness of social media activities
3. Designs creative graphic approach to establish consistent identity for marketing materials for multiple, ongoing programs and initiatives launched by the Dean's office
4. Ensures all graphic elements align with the University's visual identify and brand standards, through close coordination with the Office of Strategic Communication
5. Conceptualizes and creates video content and animation to support communication and marketing initiatives
6. Identifies and integrates new technologies and approaches to support client and project goals
7. Photographs events and individuals when necessary to build and maintain digital asset library of assigned events and faculty and staff activities for the college or department's use in marketing and communication initiatives
8. Directs print and promotional materials production from design and file setup to pre-press and pre-production approvals, color print and production, finishing, ordering, and delivery
9. May oversee students or other staff members working on graphic design elements
10. Coordinates with department team members to ensure collaborative approach and addresses project scope gaps or overlaps
11. Addresses challenges to project success with recommendations for solutions in a timely manner
Required Qualifications
Educational Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent
Required Experience
Five (5) years of related work experience
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Educational Qualifications
An undergraduate or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a related field
Preferred Experience

• Experience in higher education, advancement, fundraising, nonprofit, or mission-driven communications
• Portfolio demonstrating expertise in integrated campaigns, digital and print communications, publication design, branding, and multimedia storytelling
• Experience managing creative projects, mentoring designers, and collaborating with stakeholders in a brand-driven environment

Proposed Salary
The budgeted salary range is $56,720 to $68,000 per year. Offers are based on relevant experience.
Comprehensive benefits to include Medical, Dental, Vision, 13 paid holidays, vacation, generous retirement plans, tuition waiver, wellness options, and much more! Visit hr.kennesaw.edu/benefits.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
ABILITIES
Able to compromise as well as advocate for own ideas
Able to follow up on tasks and to shepherd projects through to completion on schedule
Able to balance original creative design concepts with KSU brand standards and guidelines
Able to create engaging headlines, taglines, and titles to support graphic campaigns that are creative without being cliché
Able to effectively prioritize responsibilities
Able to adjust communication styles to best meet the needs of internal and external clients (e.g., faculty, staff, students, donors, etc.)
Adept at presenting multiple design options and explaining design decisions to senior staff for review and feedback
Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one time meeting assigned deadlines without negatively impacting quality of results or deadlines
Able to visually communicate intended messages to a range of audiences through a variety of media including print and digital ad campaigns such as e-books, e-newsletters, printed materials including but not limited to posters, one-page fliers, and magazines
KNOWLEDGE
Thorough knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications including but not limited to Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Premiere Pro, Premiere Rush, After Effects
Thorough knowledge of social media platforms including but not exclusive to Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn and associated platforms such as Buffer, Hootsuite, etc.
Extensive knowledge of graphic design principles
SKILLS
Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management and presentation skills
Excellent attention to detail, outstanding proofreading, and follow up skills
Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite)
Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct .
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653 .
Equal Employment Opportunity
Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.
For additional information on this policy, or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, eeo@kennesaw.edu.
Other Information
This is not a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time
Background Check

• Standard Enhanced
• Education

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility
All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.
https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf