📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Brand Graphic Designer
🔹 Company: The Baltimore Banner
🔹 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid
🔹 Category: Design
🔹 Date Posted: April 30, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site with hybrid work options
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Creating compelling visuals that reflect the brand's personality, values, and mission
- Maintaining and enforcing brand identity guidelines for visual consistency
- Collaborating with multiple departments to develop creative assets for digital and print platforms
- Designing logos, icons, and other brand elements that resonate with the target audience
- Staying informed about design trends and applying innovative approaches to branding efforts
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills to work effectively with various teams.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Maintain and enforce brand identity guidelines to ensure visual consistency across all materials
✅ Create compelling visual designs for marketing materials, packaging, and digital assets
✅ Collaborate with internal teams to understand project requirements and translate them into high-quality designs
✅ Design logos, icons, and other brand elements that resonate with the target audience
✅ Stay informed about design trends and apply innovative approaches to branding efforts
✅ Review and refine designs based on feedback to align brand objectives
✅ Ensure brand cohesiveness across all creative outputs
ASSUMPTION: This role may require working on tight deadlines and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field is a plus
Experience: At least 5 years of experience working in digital marketing and graphic design
Required Skills:
- Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or other programs
- Ability to collaborate with all stakeholders across departments to create a unified visual product
- Detail-oriented, deadline-focused, and excellent time management, organizational, and prioritization skills
- Exhibits willingness to try new things, adapts well to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands, and can deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events
- Experience in developing and maintaining brand identity guidelines to ensure consistency across all materials
- Track record of creating compelling visual designs for marketing materials, packaging, and digital assets
Preferred Skills:
- Portfolio showcasing a diverse range of brand design projects
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong portfolio demonstrating their graphic design skills and experience in brand identity management will be prioritized.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000 USD per year
Benefits:
- Flexible Paid Time Off
- Retirement savings - 401K plan offered through Human Interest, with a company match
- Student Loan Debt Repayment Assistance for qualified employees
- Full health benefits - medical, dental, vision, prescription, FSA/HSA., and coverage for family/dependents
- Sick Leave eligible for rollover
- Commuter Benefits
- 11 Paid National Holidays
- Employee Assistance Program
- Generous Parental Leave
- Company paid access to a wellness platform to support mental, financial, and physical wellbeing
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, with hybrid work options available
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a graphic designer with 5-10 years of experience in the Baltimore area.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: The Baltimore Banner is a nonprofit newsroom focused on local journalism, covering a broad range of topics from local government to culture and the arts.
Company Size: The Baltimore Banner has 51-200 employees, providing a medium-sized work environment where applicants can expect a balance between a close-knit team and opportunities for growth.
Founded: The Baltimore Banner was founded in 2022, making it a relatively new organization with a strong focus on innovation and reimagining local news.
Company Description:
- The Baltimore Banner is dedicated to bringing high-quality local journalism to the Baltimore metro area, with a mission to reimagine the future of local news.
- Using a multi-platform news operation, they cover a broad range of topics, aiming to connect neighbors, hold government institutions accountable, and make sense of the world.
- Their work is grounded in truth, and they believe they can contribute to a more vibrant and informed Baltimore, surrounding counties, and the state of Maryland.
Company Specialties:
- Journalism
- Baltimore
- Maryland
- Public Service Journalism
- Nonprofit news
- Housing
- Real Estate
- Public Health
- Restaurants and food
- The Ravens
- The Orioles
- Johns Hopkins University
- Education
- Politics
- Arts and culture
Company Website: https://thebaltimorebanner.com/
ASSUMPTION: The Baltimore Banner's focus on local journalism and community engagement creates an environment where applicants can have a significant impact on the organization's success.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is suitable for an experienced graphic designer looking to apply their skills in a dynamic, mission-driven organization.
Reporting Structure: The Brand Graphic Designer will report to the Director of Brand Strategy and collaborate with the Managing Editor of Visuals.
Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, with on-site work required in Baltimore, Maryland, and remote work options available.
Growth Opportunities:
- As the organization grows, there may be opportunities for the Brand Graphic Designer to take on additional responsibilities or mentor junior designers.
- The Baltimore Banner's focus on innovation may present opportunities for the Brand Graphic Designer to explore new design techniques and tools.
- Working closely with various departments may provide the Brand Graphic Designer with a well-rounded understanding of the organization's operations and potential career paths.
ASSUMPTION: The Brand Graphic Designer's role may evolve over time as the organization grows and its branding needs change.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: The Baltimore Banner's office is located in Baltimore, Maryland, with a hybrid work arrangement available.
Office Location(s): 501 N Calvert St, Baltimore, MD 21202, United States
Geographic Context:
- Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland, with a diverse population and a rich history in arts, culture, and politics.
- The city is home to several prominent institutions, including Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore Ravens NFL team.
- Baltimore's location on the Chesapeake Bay provides easy access to waterfront activities and outdoor recreation.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with a hybrid work arrangement available, allowing for some remote work.
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement may provide the Brand Graphic Designer with a better work-life balance while still allowing for in-person collaboration and team-building opportunities.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening with the HR department
- Design challenge or portfolio review
- In-person or video interview with the hiring manager and team members
- Final decision and offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Portfolio and design skills
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with the organization's mission
- Problem-solving and adaptability
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your graphic design skills, brand identity management experience, and any relevant industry-specific experience.
- Prepare a diverse portfolio showcasing your brand design projects, including logos, marketing materials, and digital assets.
- Research the organization and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with their mission and values.
ATS Keywords: graphic design, brand identity, cross-functional collaboration, design software proficiency, detail-oriented, deadline-focused, time management, organizational skills, prioritization skills, innovative approaches, visual consistency, feedback review, logo design, icon design, marketing materials design, digital assets design
ASSUMPTION: The Baltimore Banner's application process may prioritize candidates who demonstrate a strong understanding of the organization's mission and a passion for local journalism.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
- Canva
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira)
ASSUMPTION: The Brand Graphic Designer may be required to learn and use new tools and technologies as the organization's needs evolve.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Do what’s right. Honesty, morality, respect, and the mission guide our actions and decisions. By doing the right thing, we inspire others to believe.
- Work together. We collaborate to create something special. Together we challenge assumptions, trust each other, take risks, and foster transparent and direct communication.
- Listen to be heard. Our stories are trustworthy. They are inspired by and created for our readers. Their story is our story. Communities are at the center of our journalism, and everything we do.
- Deliver impactful results. Acting as one accountable team and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, we deliver bold and innovative results. We act fast, execute and learn. We celebrate great outcomes.
- Be inclusive. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and act by curating a culture that leverages diverse perspectives as the key to fulfilling our mission. The Banner is for all of us.
Work Style:
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Fast-paced and deadline-driven
- Adaptable and open to change
- Committed to the organization's mission and values
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do your personal values align with The Baltimore Banner's core values?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in a project or work environment, and how did you handle it?
- How do you approach feedback and criticism, and can you give an example of a time when you used feedback to improve your work?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong alignment with The Baltimore Banner's core values and a commitment to the organization's mission will be prioritized.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously may require strong time management and organizational skills.
- Working with various departments may necessitate strong communication and collaboration skills to ensure brand consistency across all materials.
- The hybrid work arrangement may present challenges in maintaining consistent communication and collaboration with on-site team members.
- Baltimore's urban environment may present unique challenges related to commuting, parking, and work-life balance.
ASSUMPTION: The Brand Graphic Designer's ability to adapt to change, manage competing demands, and maintain a strong work ethic will be crucial in overcoming these potential challenges.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other graphic design roles, this position places a strong emphasis on brand identity management and cross-functional collaboration.
- In the local journalism industry, The Baltimore Banner's focus on high-quality, mission-driven journalism sets it apart from other organizations.
- Career paths in local journalism may include opportunities to specialize in specific areas, such as politics, arts and culture, or investigative journalism, providing the Brand Graphic Designer with potential growth opportunities.
ASSUMPTION: The Brand Graphic Designer's role may evolve over time as the organization grows and its branding needs change, presenting unique career growth opportunities.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive brand style guide for a new product launch, including logo design, color schemes, and typography
- Creating a series of marketing materials for a fundraising campaign, including social media graphics, email newsletters, and print brochures
- Designing a user-friendly and visually appealing website for a local non-profit organization, incorporating the organization's brand identity and ensuring accessibility
ASSUMPTION: The Brand Graphic Designer's portfolio should demonstrate a diverse range of brand design projects, showcasing their ability to adapt to different industries, audiences, and design challenges.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics within the Brand and Marketing departments?
- How does The Baltimore Banner approach collaboration and communication between different departments?
- What are the most significant challenges facing The Baltimore Banner in the coming years, and how can the Brand Graphic Designer contribute to addressing them?
- How does The Baltimore Banner support the professional growth and development of its employees?
- What are the key priorities for the Brand Graphic Designer role in the first 90 days?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful, well-researched questions demonstrates the candidate's interest in the role and commitment to the organization's success.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your graphic design skills, brand identity management experience, and any relevant industry-specific experience.
- Prepare a diverse portfolio showcasing your brand design projects, including logos, marketing materials, and digital assets.
- Research the organization and be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with their mission and values.
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your continued interest in the role.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
