Employer: Stanford University
Location: United States
Category: Communications
Job function: Graphic Designer
Workplace type: Remote
Contract type: Regular
Grade: I
Posted: 2026-10-26
Main Work Location: Historic Stanford Campus
Schedule: Open to Remote
Budgeted Salary Range: The expected pay range for this position is $72,500 to $142,700 per annum. This role is open to candidates anywhere in the United States. The compensation for this position will be based on the location of the successful candidate.
This opportunity is a fixed-term position for two years.
The Office of Development (OOD) advances Stanford’s mission by raising philanthropic support from alumni, parents, families, friends, and institutional funders. Working in concert with volunteers and academic leaders, OOD staff members strive to accelerate Stanford’s purposeful impact in the world. Stanford is committed to a donor-centric approach to development. Every member of the Office of Development staff plays a role in providing the university’s donors with the service and attention that ensures an exceptionally positive and fulfilling philanthropic experience.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Creative Director, the Senior Graphic Designer will serve as a key creative force on the central Design and Brand team—the team responsible for leading creative work spanning the Office of Development. This role is responsible for brand stewardship and design execution across a wide range of mediums and initiatives. From digital platforms and print to events and environmental graphics. You'll partner closely with leadership, development colleagues, and communications colleagues across the university, translating strategic fundraising priorities into compelling visual work.
This is an opportunity to take on high-visibility, high-impact work with real creative ownership. The ideal candidate pairs deep technical and creative expertise with strong initiative, is comfortable navigating ambiguous or fast-moving projects, and is driven to produce exceptional work.
Helpful additional experience
- Contributing to evolving brand guidelines and design systems. Developing and maintaining templates, brand collateral systems, style guides, or asset libraries for partners and other creatives to use.
- Experience with deck building and creating brand collateral systems
- Building relationships with creative vendors and production partners
- Illustration, photo editing, or art direction experience
Core Duties
- Independently develop and manage complex, highly creative projects involving abstract or technical content requiring extensive subject matter/client knowledge.
- Play an active role in planning and advising clients to produce highly creative work within the time and cost constraints of client.
- Provide creative vision, direction and design for complex projects. Determine overall themes for multi-faceted projects as well as individual design concepts.
- Coordinate production process; develop and write printing and/or other production specification, and select appropriate production media and materials.
- Perform complex design across a variety of platforms using job-required software applications and in-depth knowledge of principles and practices of visual communications.
- Partner with and influence clients and key contacts outside own area of expertise.
- Serve as project leader, may train or provide guidance to less experienced designers.
- Maintain knowledge of industry standards, trends and state-of-the-art technology to provide and enhance services.
Minimum Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in related field and five years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex, highly creative projects or content requiring extensive subject matter/client knowledge.
- Ability to present portfolio that reflects extensive creative work and project leadership.
- Advanced knowledge of job-required software applications.
- Excellent organizational skills and ability to effectively resolve complex problems.
- Ability to manage changing priorities, deadlines, and customer needs.
- Able to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to perform detailed work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated experience leading and training other design staff.
- In-depth understanding and knowledge of industry standards, trends, and technical knowledge.
- Ability to work effectively with others as part of a team.