Graphic Designer (Fundraising and Marketing Focus)

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Graphic Designer (Fundraising and Marketing Focus)

🔹 Company: Royal Ontario Museum

🔹 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time

🔹 Category: Museum, Historical Sites, and Zoos

🔹 Date Posted: May 1, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: Mid-Senior level (2-5 years)

🔹 Remote Status: In-Person with flexible work arrangements (minimum 3 days in office)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Developing and executing impactful visual assets for fundraising, marketing, and communications initiatives
• Collaborating with fundraising teams and marketing colleagues to create materials that enhance donor engagement and align with brand guidelines
• Managing multiple design projects simultaneously, meeting tight deadlines while maintaining high quality
• Staying current with industry trends, tools, and best practices to continually bring fresh, innovative ideas to the team

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, organization, and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Design and develop visually compelling marketing materials, including (but not limited to) campaign materials, pitch decks, proposals, email templates, newsletters, invitations, and advertisements

✅ Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications teams to understand project objectives and deliver creative solutions that clearly convey key messages and resonate with target audiences

✅ Tailor design strategies in collaboration with Fundraising Relationship Managers to enhance engagement across philanthropic and corporate donor segments

✅ Ensure all creative outputs align with ROM Foundation and ROM brand guidelines, maintaining consistency across all channels and media types

✅ Adapt designs across print and digital media with strong attention to detail and production requirements

✅ Incorporate internal feedback from various departments and stakeholders to refine and finalize design outputs

✅ Support layout and visual presentation of internal documents, such as presentations and reports, as needed

✅ Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, meeting tight deadlines while maintaining high quality

✅ Stay current with industry trends, tools, and best practices to continually bring fresh, innovative ideas to the team

ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong communication skills, time management, and organizational skills to prioritize and meet deadlines.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual arts, or a related field

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of professional graphic design experience, preferably in a marketing, nonprofit, or agency environment

Required Skills:

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and Microsoft PowerPoint
• Strong portfolio demonstrating experience in marketing materials, branding, and digital content
• Skilled in working within established brand guidelines, with a strong eye for layout, colour, typography, and visual consistency
• Experience designing for both print and digital platforms, with knowledge of production specs and vendor liaison
• Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate across departments
• Excellent time management and organizational skills; ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
• Experience with email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp, Constant Contact, or similar tools
• Knowledge of accessibility standards in visual design is considered an asset

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with other relevant design tools
• Experience with accessibility standards in visual design

ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in fundraising or marketing within a museum or nonprofit setting may have an advantage.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: CAD 88,000 to CAD 106,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health and wellness plan
• Pension
• Professional development opportunities

Working Hours: 35 hours per week

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a mid-senior level graphic design role in Toronto, Ontario.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Museums, Historical Sites, and Zoos. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada’s most visited museum and preeminent field research institute, with a collection of more than 18 million objects.

Company Size: 201-500 employees. As a mid-sized organization, the ROM offers a balance between a large institution’s resources and a smaller organization’s personal touch.

Founded: 1914. The ROM has a rich history and a well-established reputation in the cultural sector.

Company Description:

• Opened in 1914, ROM showcases art, culture, and nature from around the world and across time
• ROM houses more than 18 million objects, from Egyptian mummies to contemporary sculpture, from meteorites to dinosaurs
• ROM is the country’s preeminent field research institute, with a diverse range of experts who help understand the past, make sense of the present, and shape a shared future

Company Specialties:

• Education
• World history
• Entertainment
• Tourism
• Natural history
• Science
• Dinosaurs
• Art
• Ancient civilizations
• Biodiversity
• Minerals and gems
• Meteorites
• Archaeology

Company Website: http://www.rom.on.ca/en

ASSUMPTION: The ROM is a well-established cultural institution with a diverse range of collections and expertise.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-Senior level. This role offers an opportunity for experienced graphic designers to apply their skills in a unique cultural setting and contribute to the museum’s fundraising and marketing efforts.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports to the Vice-President, Corporate, Marketing, and Signature Events.

Work Arrangement: In-Person with flexible work arrangements, requiring a minimum of 3 days in the office.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to grow within the Marketing and Communications department or explore other opportunities within the ROM
• Chance to work on a wide range of projects and gain exposure to various aspects of the museum’s operations
• Opportunity to contribute to the ROM’s mission and make a meaningful impact on its fundraising and marketing initiatives

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity for graphic designers to apply their skills in a cultural setting and contribute to the museum’s mission.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: The ROM’s headquarters is a striking combination of heritage architecture and the cutting-edge Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, marking the Museum as an iconic landmark and global cultural destination.

Office Location(s): 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6, Canada

Geographic Context:

• Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario and the most populous city in Canada
• The ROM is located in the heart of Toronto, near other major cultural institutions and attractions
• Toronto offers a diverse range of neighborhoods, cultural experiences, and recreational opportunities

Work Schedule: 35 hours per week, with a flexible work arrangement requiring a minimum of 3 days in the office.

ASSUMPTION: The ROM’s location in downtown Toronto offers easy access to public transportation, cultural attractions, and amenities.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening
• In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager
• Final interview with key stakeholders

Key Assessment Areas:

• Portfolio review and discussion
• Design challenge or test project
• Behavioral and situational interview questions

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Showcase your understanding of the ROM’s mission and values in your application materials
• Prepare examples of your work that demonstrate your ability to create visually compelling marketing materials and adapt designs across print and digital media
• Be ready to discuss your approach to project management, time management, and collaboration in a fast-paced environment

ATS Keywords: Graphic Design, Marketing Materials, Brand Guidelines, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft PowerPoint, Project Management, Time Management, Collaboration, Email Marketing, Accessibility Standards

ASSUMPTION: The ROM’s hiring process is designed to assess candidates’ skills, experience, and cultural fit for the role and the organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact)
• Accessibility tools and resources

ASSUMPTION: The ROM provides the necessary tools and resources for its graphic designers to perform their jobs effectively.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Excellence in all that we do
• Innovation and continuous learning
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Accountability and integrity
• Accessibility and inclusivity

Work Style:

• Creative and innovative
• Highly organized and efficient
• Receptive to feedback and committed to continuous improvement
• Strong attention to detail
• Able to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Driven by high standards of professionalism and excellence in all aspects of the role

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you balance creativity with precision and maintain high-quality standards in a fast-paced environment?
• How do you adapt your design strategies to enhance engagement across different donor segments?
• How do you prioritize and manage multiple design projects simultaneously to meet tight deadlines?

ASSUMPTION: The ROM values candidates who align with its mission, values, and work style, and who are committed to contributing to its success.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing competing priorities and tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Working within established brand guidelines while maintaining creativity and innovation
• Adapting designs across print and digital media with strong attention to detail and production requirements
• Navigating a large organization with diverse departments and stakeholders

ASSUMPTION: The ROM offers a dynamic and challenging work environment that requires strong organizational skills, adaptability, and attention to detail.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to graphic design roles in marketing agencies or corporate environments, this role offers the unique opportunity to work in a cultural institution and contribute to its mission
• Unlike roles in smaller organizations or startups, this role offers the stability and resources of a mid-sized institution with a rich history and established reputation
• Career path comparison: This role offers the potential for growth within the Marketing and Communications department or exploration of other opportunities within the ROM

ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique blend of stability, resources, and growth opportunities in a cultural setting.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing a pitch deck for a major fundraising campaign to secure significant donations from corporate sponsors
• Designing an email marketing campaign to engage and retain existing donors and attract new ones
• Creating visually compelling event invitations and promotional materials for ROM signature events and exhibitions

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range and scope of graphic design work required for this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does the ROM Foundation collaborate with the ROM’s various departments and stakeholders to create cohesive and impactful marketing materials?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
• How does the ROM support the professional development and growth of its graphic designers?
• What are the most rewarding aspects of working in a cultural institution like the ROM?
• How does the ROM balance innovation and creativity with maintaining brand consistency and adhering to accessibility standards?

ASSUMPTION: These key questions help applicants better understand the role, the organization, and the cultural fit for the position.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for this role, emphasizing your understanding of the ROM’s mission and values
• Prepare examples of your work that demonstrate your ability to create visually compelling marketing materials and adapt designs across print and digital media
• Be ready to discuss your approach to project management, time management, and collaboration in a fast-paced environment during your interview
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest in the role and confirm receipt of your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.