Freelance Data Visualization Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Job Description
We are seeking a highly experienced, concept-driven Creative Director/Senior Graphic Designer to lead the evolution and execution of the firm's visual brand across all client-facing and internal communications. This role sits at the intersection of design, marketing, and investment communications, translating complex financial concepts into clear, compelling, and visually sophisticated design.
The ideal candidate brings both hands-on design experience and strategic creative leadership, with the ability to elevate brand expression while supporting a high-performing, detail-oriented marketing organization. This role is critical to ensuring that the firm's visual identity reflects its institutional credibility, intellectual rigor, and high-quality orientation.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Leadership & Brand Stewardship

• Serve as the steward of the firm's visual identity, ensuring consistency, quality, and differentiation across all touchpoints.
• Refine and maintain the brand system (typography, color, imagery, and layout) to support a sophisticated, institutional and UHNW audience.
• Establish and enforce design standards, templates, and guidelines across digital and print channels.

Design Execution & Content Development

• Lead the design of high-impact materials, including:
  
  • Investment commentaries, white papers, and thought leadership
  • Client presentations, pitchbooks, and quarterly reports
  • Website, email campaigns, and digital experiences
  • Event and video assets
• Translate complex investment concepts, data, and narratives into visually clear, engaging, and analytically sound designs.
• Develop and oversee data visualization approaches (charts, infographics) that balance precision with clarity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Marketing, Investments, Sales, and Compliance teams to ensure content is both visually compelling and contextually accurate.
• Collaborate with content strategists and subject matter experts to shape visual storytelling from concept through delivery.
• Provide creative direction and feedback to internal stakeholders and external partners (agencies, freelancers, production vendors).

Operational Excellence & Production Management

• Manage end-to-end creative workflows aligned with quarterly production cycles and campaign timelines.
• Support the development and maintenance of scalable design templates and systems (e.g., for presentations, fact sheets, reports).
• Ensure all deliverables meet the firm's standards for accuracy, timeliness, and production quality.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Stay current on leading design practices, tools, and trends, with a focus on applicability within investment and professional services contexts.
• Introduce enhancements to elevate the firm's visual storytelling, including motion, interactive, and digital-first capabilities.

Qualifications
Experience & Education

• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in graphic design, with a portfolio demonstrating both conceptual strength and technical rigor.
• Prior experience in investment management, wealth advisory, or professional services strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Technical & Design Expertise

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop).
• Strong command of PowerPoint and presentation design within a corporate or client-facing environment.
• Experience with platforms such as Seismic, EventCreate, and familiarity with digital design tools (e.g., Canva, Figma).
• Deep expertise in typography, layout systems, color theory, and brand systems.

Core Capabilities

• Exceptional ability to translate complex, data-driven content into clear and compelling visual narratives.
• Strong understanding of data visualization principles, with attention to accuracy and clarity.
• Highly refined aesthetic judgment with a disciplined, editorial mindset.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment with precision and attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale to both creative and non-creative stakeholders.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with motion graphics, animation, and video editing.
• Familiarity with website design and digital user experience principles.
• Experience building scalable design systems and templates within a marketing organization.

The starting base salary is $90,000 - $115,000 plus applicable bonuses and incentives. The starting salary offer will vary based on the applicant's education, experience, skills, abilities, geographic location, internal equity, and alignment with market data.
We offer a flexible hybrid work environment designed to promote collaboration and work-life balance, with employees working in the office three days per week and remotely two days per week.
At KAR, we take great pride in offering our valued team members an extensive and highly competitive benefits package. Below, you will find a brief benefits overview:

• Competitive Pay
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (starting day 1)
• Life and Disability Insurance
• Health Savings Account with a Company Match
• Flexible Spending Accounts including Dependent Care
• Wellness Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 24-Hour Employee Assistance Program
• Adoption Assistance
• Paid Family Care Time
• Paid Volunteer days

Company Background
Kayne Anderson Rudnick (KAR) was founded in 1984 to oversee the family capital of John Anderson. Over time, the firm expanded its services from managing capital for a single family to including family members, friends, and eventually a broader clientele comprising high net-worth individuals, public entities, corporations, endowments, and foundations. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Kayne Anderson Rudnick is a distinguished asset and wealth management firm with around $50 billion in assets under management and a national team of 135 employees. The firm is an affiliate of Virtus Investment Partners, located in Hartford, Connecticut.
We employ a long-term oriented, quality investment strategy across all of our investment disciplines. To KAR, quality means that a company has competitive strengths that will allow it to grow and remain successful over time, both in investment management and wealth management business lines.
Team Approach
The most important asset KAR has is the people. The culture is collaborative and respectful. The team is passionate about setting high standards for themselves and are proud to be part of this organization. They create the client experience as a team, and as a team, strive to make the best decisions for their clients.
Culture and Awards

• Awarded Best Firm Culture at the 2022 PAM Awards, KAR maintains a team-oriented culture of accessibility, open communication, and respect.
• Ranked #3 on Barron's top 100 investment advisors.
• Ranked #7 of RIA firms by Forbes in 2024
• Wealth for Good Awards - Best Corporate Social Responsibility program

KAR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
For additional information on Kayne Anderson Rudnick, please access the firm's web site at www.kayne.com
This position requires U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency (Green Card holder) as a condition of employment. We are unable to sponsor work visas or provide support for OPT/CPT programs for this role.