Designer

Protect Democracy seeks an experienced, multidisciplinary Graphic Designer to join our communications team. Under the supervision of the Design Strategist, you’ll work with our impact teams to produce engaging, strategy-driven designs for use across print, digital, and social media platforms. Your contributions will play a key role in advancing our anti-authoritarian mission, ensuring that our publications and other visual products are consistent and compelling.

This is an excellent opportunity for an eager collaborator and versatile designer with a deep understanding of visual systems, typography, and grid-based layouts. Your portfolio should display not only impeccable design skills, but also strategic communications thinking and the ability to innovate within the constraints of an established brand system. Prior experience working with political or nonprofit organizations is a plus. A commitment to our mission and cross-ideological strategy for defending our democracy is essential. For this role, you can work remotely from any location in the United States; some travel is required.

Designer responsibilities include:

• Collaborate with project leads, researchers, writers, and other members of the communications team to understand each project’s goals and develop design solutions that support our mission and theories of change;
• Create print and digital materials for project teams across the organization that reflect our visual brand identity, including reports and white papers, explainers, slide decks, informational and social media graphics, websites, and illustration;
• Design and innovate within our established visual identity system;
• Source and edit photos into conceptual collage illustrations;
• Balance multiple projects and priorities, including managing deadlines, anticipating challenges, and communicating proactively to keep processes on-track;
• Effectively communicate design concepts and strategies to non-designers;
• Format and prepare files in keeping with technical production standards for print and digital media;
• Support the Design Strategist in maintaining and strengthening our visual brand identity, including by developing new templates, tools, and assets;
• Explore and propose new creative ideas or approaches for advancing our mission.

The ideal candidate brings:

• Minimum 5-7 years experience designing print and digital products as part of an in-house or agency team;
• Bachelor’s degree in design, communications or a related field or equivalent professional experience;
• Expertise using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop; Figma; Google Docs and MS Word; Google Slides, PowerPoint, and Keynote;
• Exceptional visual design, typography, and document layout skills, with a demonstrated ability to make complex material engaging and accessible and to work creatively within the constraints of established brand guidelines;
• Conceptual thinking skills and a deep understanding of how language and visuals work together in designed materials and campaigns;
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills with the highest attention to detail;
• Strong track record of taking projects from concept to completion with minimal oversight and managing multiple simultaneous projects and deadlines;
• Understanding of the nuanced connotations of photography, color, and other symbols within a political context;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment and to adapt quickly to shifting priorities;
• Curiosity and empathy for understanding the experiences, needs, and desires of our audiences;
• A passionate commitment to the preservation of democratic norms and institutions, and an understanding that our democracy has never fully represented communities of color.

Pluses, but not required:

• Photography, illustration, or data visualization skills, UX/UI skills, or experience designing motion graphics, animation, or video;
• Copywriting and editing skills;
• Experience using AfterEffects, FinalCut, or other video editing software;
• Experience setting up design workflows using Adobe Bridge, InCopy, or other tools;
• Familiarity with WordPress, HTML, CSS, or other front-end design languages;
• Master’s or other advanced degree in design, communications, or a related field;
• Professional experience with political and/or nonprofit organizations.

Compensation: The starting salary range for this role is $84,256-$99,125, commensurate with the candidate’s degree of experience, capabilities and skills, and in alignment with internal equity.

Additional information:

• Contact hiring@protectdemocracy.org if you require accommodations at any point in the application process.
• Please keep an eye on your promotions/spam folders to avoid missed communication.
• We are unable to provide status updates for each application we receive; if you reach out and do not hear back, please know it is not for lack of appreciation or interest, but simply for lack of staff capacity to respond to individual inquiries.
• Thank you for your commitment to protecting our democracy!

About Protect Democracy:

• Flexible location. You can work from any location in the United States as long as your location allows you to complete the demands of the position and mission. All staff are required to travel at least two times per year to internal team retreats. (Accommodations to this requirement will be made only in exceptional circumstances.) We currently have staff in Washington, DC, New York, Massachusetts, California, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Utah, Kentucky, Washington, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Colorado, Maryland, Wisconsin, Ohio, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Texas. We offer shared workspaces in many of these locations for staff members who enjoy working in an office environment.
• Commitment to a diverse workplace. Protect Democracy is an equal opportunity employer by choice. Our culture principles emphasize that there is strength in diversity as we believe diverse teams are more innovative, creative, and productive. Protect Democracy encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
• Phenomenal benefits. Our benefits package includes unlimited sick leave and a flexible vacation policy where we encourage team members to take 4-5 weeks every year, along with 12 paid holidays, 4 weeks of paid family medical leave, and 18 weeks of paid parental leave. We also offer a 401(k) plan with up to 6% employer match that vests immediately, full coverage for an excellent health care plan that includes both dental and vision insurance, long-term disability and life insurance for all employees, a home office stipend, and as budget allows, discretionary bonuses.
• Ample opportunities for personal & professional development. Candidates who do not meet all listed criteria should still apply, as our organizational structure focuses on providing mentorship and opportunities for professional growth.