1248 Graphic Designer, West Plains

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Graphic Designer, West Plains

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1248

GRADE 42

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director of University Communications

MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Chancellor

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Graphic Designer, West Plains works with a variety of campus clients to design printed and electronic material on a wide range of topics for the West Plains campus. These projects include brochures, posters, newsletters, banners, ads and other publications. The Graphic Designer, West Plains uses invention, imagination, originality, and talent to take projects from concept to delivery, participates in project interviews, develops concepts and designs, assists in directing photo shoots and illustrations, presents design layouts to departmental staff, makes presentations to clients, prepares camera-ready art through desktop publishing, assists with web graphic design services and arranges for the printing of publications with off-campus printers.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience: A Bachelor’s degree with a major in Art or a related field and either one year work experience in graphic design or a minimum of three semesters experience as a part-time student designer in a professional setting or an associate’s degree in graphic design or related field and two years work experience in graphic design. Experience taking publications from concept to delivery is required. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in graphic design is preferred.  Experience designing on a Macintosh computer using software packages such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Publisher and QuarkXpress is required. Experience using an Epson Stylus Pro 9800 Professional Edition wide format printer is a plus. Experience in a college or university setting is preferred; experience as a photographer is preferred.

Skills: Must demonstrate talents as a designer, including the ability to combine function and visual appearance to achieve successful communication. Strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as good organizational and planning skills are required. 

Effort: The scope of the position occasionally requires working additional hours to meet deadlines. The position requires an extensive amount of time working at a computer work station.  This position occasionally transports media equipment and supplies unassisted.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Produces effective publications, from concept to delivery, by participating in project interviews, developing concepts and designs, assisting with or directing photo shoots and illustrations, making presentations to clients, developing printing specifications, producing proofs, preparing camera-ready artwork through desktop publishing and arranging for the printing of publications.

2. Meets the client's or department's communication objectives through a thorough knowledge of type and design in order to develop concepts, sketches, comprehensives or camera-ready art and advising them of appropriate options to achieve their communication objectives.

3. Operates within budgets and deadlines established for various publications by following an established production schedule, preparing specifications for print vendors, preparing cost estimates, overseeing the print vendor bidding process, reviewing printer’s proofs, ordering mailing labels as needed, following USPS regulations, verifying that the assigned project is completed and ready to deliver and archiving the work electronically and in hard copy. 

4. Ensures that printed publications meet the quality expectations of the client by monitoring the printing process, reviewing printers proofs, attending press checks as needed, and verifying that the assigned project is completed and ready to deliver.

5. Creates printed and electronic material by utilizing available desktop publishing software and becoming proficient in new software programs and versions.

6. Assists with developing copy for publications, as needed.

7. Provides quality photographs for Missouri State University – West Plains publications by maintaining a photo library by taking campus photographs and working closely with the Director of Visual Media or an outside vendor in coordinating specific photo shoots.

8. Facilitates the operation of the Office of University Communications by helping to train and supervise student employees and editing and approving the work of student staff.

9. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, maintaining a current knowledge of desktop publishing, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Director of University Communications.

10. Contributes to the overall success of the department by assisting with the editing of print and electronic materials and performing other essential duties and responsibilities as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Graphic Designer, West Plains is supervised by the Director of University Communications, accepts input from client departments, and assists in supervising student employees.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JANUARY 2025

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 2.0 - 900 Points: Entry-level professional knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, and methods of non-technical administrative and managerial functions. Knowledge permits the employee to carry out basic recurring tasks and routine portions of assignments or to carry out less demanding professional elements of assignments in areas including communications, social sciences, art and design, education, and related functions while gaining in familiarity with the University's policies and goals, business practices and/or accounting systems. This level of knowledge permits the employee to schedule and carry out the steps of a limited operation or project to complete stages of a multi-phase project. Knowledge at this level is typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience that includes a requirement for a college degree in an unspecified field or a specific background in a non-technical area. Knowledge requirements may also include a limited amount of related work experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 1.0 - 50 Points: Typically, little, if any, supervision of others is required. The job may require irregular but occasional responsibility to direct the work of student workers and/or temporary or part-time workers. The nature of supervision is largely confined to assigning tasks to others and does not include a full range of supervisory responsibilities. The amount of time spent on directing the work of others is normally a small portion of total work time.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 3.0 - 250 Points: The purpose of interactions is to advise or counsel others to solve recurring and structured problems, and/or to plan or coordinate work efforts with other employees who are working toward common goals in situations where relationships are generally cooperative. Interactions are moderately structured and routine and may involve employees in different functions, students, and/or the general public. These types of interactions require normal interpersonal skills.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 2.0 - 250 Points: The employee carries out a group of procedures using the general methods and desired results indicated by the supervisor. Typically, standard operating procedures, handbooks, and/or reference manuals exist for most procedures, but the employee must select from the most appropriate of several guidelines and make minor adjustments to methods. Unforeseen situations are normally referred to others for resolution. Assignments are related in function and objective, but processes, procedures, or software varies from one assignment to another. Based on the assignment, the employee uses diverse, but conventional, methods, techniques, or approaches. Employees in jobs at this level may perform work that is moderately complex, but normally performed within a fairly narrow and specific functional area.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 3.0 - 850 Points: Work involves providing significant support services to others both within and outside of the department that substantially influences decision-making processes. Work activities are complex and others rely on the accuracy and reliability of the information, analysis, or advice to make decisions. Work activities have a direct, but shared, impact on further processes or services, affect the overall efficiency and image of the department, and may have material impact on costs or service quality within the cost center. Incumbents may be responsible for identifying areas of need and for developing proposals that request funding to fulfill those needs.