Freelance Sign Writer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

As the nation's premier private athletic club, the Washington Athletic Club is not simply a place to be, but a place to belong. The WAC provides jobs in a variety of departments, including administration; athletics; and hotel and food & beverage operations.

The WAC is seeking individuals who are dedicated to being the best and are willing to embrace the Club's five core values: Leadership, Excellence, Integrity, Service and Sensitivity.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Production Designer & Marketing Writer is a skilled, detail-oriented designer with strong production expertise and an interest in growing their creative and content capabilities within a collaborative marketing team. This role is responsible for executing high-quality visual and written marketing materials across print and digital channels while maintaining brand consistency and meeting deadlines.

Reporting to the Director of Communications, the Production Designer supports the execution of the WAC brand across multiple touchpoints, translating creative direction, concepts, and business needs into polished, effective design and content. This is an excellent opportunity for a designer who is early to mid-career, highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, and eager to deepen their skills across design, brand, and marketing communications. Great opportunity for an experienced newspaper designer looking to step into magazines and marketing as well as other great designers with writing chops.

This position sits within the WAC Marketing Team, which works collaboratively to support the Club's marketing goals through clear communication, adaptability, and creative problem-solving.

WAC COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS INCLUDE

Print: Quarterly WAC Magazine editorial and ads; marketing campaigns; signage; event collateral; posters; brochures; and more.

Digital: Digital newsletters and emails, digital signage, the WAC app, website, and social media.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Design & production

Design and produce marketing and communications materials across print and digital platforms, following established brand standards and creative direction.

Serve as a key production designer for WAC Magazine and other recurring print materials, with a strong focus on layout, typography, and consistency.

Execute layouts, resize assets, prepare files for print and digital output, and ensure production accuracy and quality control.

Support design projects from concept through completion, clearly articulating design decisions and incorporating feedback.

Take on frequent, smaller production-oriented projects and turn them around efficiently while maintaining a high level of polish.

Organize, archive, and manage design assets; edit, crop, and prepare images for various media formats.

Source photography and illustrations as needed, working within budget and brand guidelines.

Collaborate with photographers, freelancers, and vendors as directed to ensure final deliverables align with the WAC brand.

Writing & content support

Assist with basic writing and editing tasks, including headlines, short-form marketing copy, captions, blurbs, internal ads, email content, and light editorial support.

Support the Marketing team in updating and maintaining content across digital channels, including email and web.

Collaborate with the Director of Communications, Senior Editor, and Project Coordinator to ensure visual and written content work together cohesively.

Collaboration & Process

Work closely with the Director of Communications, Senior Editor, Project Coordinator, and colleagues across the WAC to understand project goals, timelines, and scope.

Participate in project kickoffs, reviews, and check-ins, incorporating feedback constructively and efficiently.

Help keep projects on schedule by communicating workload constraints or timing concerns early.

Serve as a collaborative creative partner to Marketing team members and internal stakeholders.

Look for opportunities to improve processes, templates, and workflows that support efficiency and brand consistency.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in graphic design, visual communication, journalism, marketing, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).

3-6 years of professional experience in design and production, preferably in an in-house marketing or communications environment.

Strong portfolio demonstrating print and digital design work; experience with multi-page layouts and editorial design is required.

Experience with publication and press requirements.

Advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator required.

Strong understanding of typography, layout, grid systems, image selection, and color.

Ability to design within established brand guidelines while contributing thoughtful, creative solutions.

Writing skills with attention to detail and accuracy.

Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven environment.

Comfortable receiving direction, feedback, and revisions, with a desire to learn and grow.

Clear communicator who asks questions, flags issues early, and collaborates effectively.

Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and WordPress. Basic HTML/CSS is a plus.

Photography experience, illustration skills, and basic hand skills preferred.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Curious, reliable, and motivated to develop professionally.

Detail-oriented with strong follow-through.

Flexible, positive, and team-oriented, with a sense of humor.

Comfortable working collaboratively and independently in a fast-paced environment.

Good with in-person communication, meetings, and feedback.

Flexible through change.