Senior Graphics Designer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

• Health/Rx
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA)
• Supplemental life insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Paid sick time
• Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD)
• Employee stock ownership (ESOP)
• Holiday pay for company designated holidays

At KeHE, we’re obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others – and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we’re committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you’ll be embarking on a career that’s moving forward. When you join KeHE, you’re becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

The Sr. Graphic Design Manager provides creative leadership and strategic direction to a team of designers, overseeing the development of high-impact visual solutions that elevate and protect the KeHE brand. This role leads the creation of KeHE publications and a wide range of creative projects, including social communications, advertising initiatives, and trade show signage. Unleashing collaboration & the potential with the Advertising, Communications, and Event Marketing teams, this leader ensures brand consistency, innovation, and excellence across every touchpoint. As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, Values, and Civility Code.

DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain, evolve, and implement KeHE’s brand strategy across all channels of the organization.

• Partner with Advertising, Marketing, and Event teams to ensure all creative outputs reinforce the organization’s brand positioning and voice.
• Lead and mentor a team of graphic designers and freelancers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Lead the strategic planning and overseeing the development of high-impact visual projects across digital (website, social, email), print, and experiential channels—including trade shows and events—ensuring alignment with enterprise brand strategy, business objectives, and measurable performance outcomes.
• Oversee and manage the creation of all the publications both digital and printed to ensure they are on time and accurate.
• Assist KeHE leaders with creating dynamic PowerPoint presentations.
• Create structured project plans for the Creative team that reflect all defined requirements and approved project specifications.
• Ensure all printed projects are within the expense budgets.
• Partners in the strategic planning and development of an in-house agency model; establishing scalable processes, service tiers, and creative solutions to support supplier and retailer advertising initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with the Advertising team to conceptualize and deliver revenue-driving creative solutions for external clients, ensuring strategic alignment with their brand standards, marketing goals, and business objectives.
• Provide strategic thought leadership in the development of external customer advertising proposals and RFP responses.
• Collaborate with the Advertising team to develop, pilot, and implement a Retail Media Network.
• Oversee and continuously optimize the end-to-end creative workflow for advertising initiatives, establishing scalable processes, governance standards, and resource allocation strategies to ensure timelines, budgets, quality benchmarks, and business objectives are consistently achieved.
• Strategically delegate responsibilities across the Creative team, overseeing project strategy, concept development, and quality assurance to ensure all deliverables are executed with excellence and completed on schedule.
• Leverage AI-powered tools and emerging technologies to streamline creative workflows, enhance design innovation, accelerate production timelines, and improve overall team efficiency.
• Assist Creative Director and the Creative team with various tasks as necessary.
• Direct video production strategy across brand and advertising initiatives, aligning creative execution with objectives, performance metrics, and brand standards while ensuring fiscal responsibility and production excellence.
• Meet with key stakeholders to conceptualize, scope, and develop project deliverables and timelines.
• Proactively identify and recommend innovative approaches to elevate the quality of design work and address project-related challenges with strategic, solution-oriented thinking.
• Assist the Marketing team with various Excel and Word formatting projects.
• Assist in providing strategy on incorporating the strategic plan within marketing/graphics.
• Other duties and projects assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of Adobe programs including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office programs including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, able to influence at all organizational levels.
• Strong track record of successfully designing and implementing innovative strategic projects and tools throughout a large organization.
• Strong project management and time management skills.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic creative project plans that drive results.

• Ability to effectively manage a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and often with time conflicting pressures.

• Ability to develop highly effective relationships at all levels both internally and externally.
• Strong track record of leading a team of creative professionals.

• Demonstrated ability to work productively and effectively as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work flexible hours, including some weekends.

• Exhibits a growth mindset; open to coaching and feedback; continuously learns.
• Unleashes the potential of the creative employees that drives innovation by providing mentorship and meaningful opportunities for professional growth.

• Ability to manage a team in providing feedback, guidance, and leadership following with KeHE’s Mission, Vision, Values, and Civility Code.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in visual communications or related field of study.
• 8+ years of related experience in graphic design or marketing.
• 5+ years of management experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in visual communications or related field of study.
• 8+ years of related experience in graphic design or marketing.
• 5+ years of management experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.