Freelance Dolphin Jobs (NOW HIRING)

• Design and develop children's books and products.
• Create compelling cover and interior designs aligned with project goals and brand standards.
• Create physical and/or digital mock-ups to support concept development and presentations.
• Oversee illustrators and communicate effectively with agents to source and manage artwork.
• Collaborate closely with editorial, production, and design teams throughout all stages of development.
• Participate in brainstorming and format development, contributing creative ideas and solutions.
• Identify design challenges and proactively implement improvements independently or through collaboration.
• Maintain ownership of multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines and schedules are met.
• Follow established processes for book development, including schedule adherence, routing passes, and reviewing key project information with a high degree of organization.
• Be comfortable presenting titles, concepts, and updates clearly in meetings.
• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate within a larger creative team while also working independently.
• Prepare detailed design specifications and communicate clearly with production teams, illustrators, freelancers, and agents.
• Track schedules and maintain awareness of budgets across assigned projects.
• Research and source illustrators and visual references for both branded and non-branded titles.
• Stay current on market trends, illustration styles, and children's publishing formats.
• Prepare press-ready files, including preflighting and final production deliverables.
• Route materials through appropriate review channels and incorporate feedback efficiently.
• Anticipate, troubleshoot, and resolve design or production issues as they arise.
• Support additional projects and tasks as assigned.
• Monitor market trends, competitor products, and emerging brands.
• Continue developing knowledge of book production and materials.
• Other duties may be assigned, directed, or requested.

What You Will Need:

• High school diploma or general educational development (GED) diploma or certificate is required.
• Bachelor's degree in Design or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) to four (4) years of experience in children's book publishing or a related field is preferred.
• Experience with licensed publishing is preferred.
• Proficient knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat) is required.
• Strong to advanced experience in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook is required.
• Strong understanding of book design and publishing processes.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a very fast-paced environment.
• Passion for children's books and awareness of current market trends.
• Strong interpersonal skills; collaborative and personable.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to speak with all levels of the organization and outside partners.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across teams and remain open to feedback.
• Clear and effective verbal communication in a variety of settings.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• A methodical and organized approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely and effective manner.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and timelines simultaneously.
• The work performed is in an office environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate at low decibels.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced, team environment.