High Country News (HCN) is seeking a contract Graphic Designer & Project Coordinator to design promotional, marketing and fund-raising assets and campaigns, and project-manage them from inception to completion, for both print and digital. This is a remote-working position, requiring an average of 20 hours per week.

The Graphic Designer & Project Coordinator will have excellent print and digital design skills and be able to produce a broad range of materials that adhere to the HCN brand and are consistent with the print magazine and website. The position holder will pitch creative approaches for campaigns and projects that will help maintain current audiences while appealing to broader and more diverse audiences.  We’re looking for someone with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, pro-actively collaborating with stakeholders and meeting deadlines and budgets. Applicants must live in and/or love the West, and be able to demonstrate an understanding of and passion for High Country News’ mission to create unblinking journalism for diverse audiences that deepens readers’ understanding of the West’s natural and human communities.

Working under the general direction of the Art Director, the Graphic Designer & Project Coordinator will collaborate closely with the product/marketing and development teams.  Assignments and projects will include:

• pitch creative approaches for campaigns and projects that will help maintain current audiences while appealing to broader and more diverse audiences

• create marketing and outreach assets across all channels, including brochures, reports, direct mail packages, ads, magazine pages, digital banner ads, landing pages and forms; social media posts and email templates

• ensure all marketing/outreach materials adhere to HCN brand and design guidelines, and are reflective of the magazine and website in tone, content and design

• manage implementation of website special projects

The contract position holder will possess strong organizational and communications skills, excellent design skills and an eye for color, visual composition and typography and have impeccable attention to detail. They will be an idea-generator, responsive to feedback, and demonstrable experience of working well with photographers, artists, printers and mail-houses. Experience in a nonprofit or media organization is a strong advantage.

Applicants must be expert at Adobe Suites, tracking platforms such as Asana, office communications platforms such as Slack, and be nimble in working in online design platforms.

High Country News is part of a growing number of newsrooms addressing a historic lack of representation, inclusion and equity in journalism with effective solutions. We welcome applicants from all life experiences and encourage members of traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people.

General terms:

This is a six-month independent contract position (with potential for renewal) from November 2021 to April 2022.  $45/hr with an expected time commitment averaging 20 hours a week. Some flexibility will be required for attending meetings by video conference and to meet deadlines. This position is remote and open to freelance workers authorized to conduct business in the United States; proof of independent contractor status is required.  This is not a full-time position and does not include employee benefits such as healthcare, paid sick leave, vacation or employer contributions to taxes and insurances.  Freelance contractors must provide their own equipment and insurance as most of the work will be done in their own home/studio.  

To apply, please send a business résumé and cover letter including links to work samples to careers@openmediafoundation.org with “HCN Graphic Designer & Project Coordinator” in the subject line. The closing date for applications is October 25^th, 2021.

Background: 

High Country News is the nation’s leading independent source of thoughtful, in-depth reporting on the Western United States.  Established in 1970, HCN produces an award-winning monthly magazine and a popular website, along with email newsletters, special reports, books and events.  From Alaska and the Northern Rockies to the Desert Southwest, from the Great Plains to the West Coast, HCN is a beloved and essential resource for those who care about this region.  HCN is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to inform and inspire people to act on behalf of the West’s diverse natural and human communities.

This job was posted on behalf of High Country News by the Open Media Foundation