The Coordinator of Graphic Design for Central Michigan University Football is responsible for developing and executing high-quality, polished graphic design and visual materials to support the football program’s recruiting, alumni engagement, and facilities initiatives. This position plays a key role in creating professional, brand-consistent design assets that strengthen the program’s image with prospective student-athletes, their families, alumni, donors, and the broader university community. The coordinator will report to the General Manager and work closely with coaching staff, recruiting personnel, sports information, marketing, development, and university marketing and communication staff to produce sophisticated print and digital collateral that enhances recruiting efforts and donor relations. This role focuses on delivering visually compelling materials that reflect the excellence and tradition of the Central Michigan football program.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, visual communications, marketing, digital media, or a related field or a combination of education and experience that equates to four years.
Two years of experience in professional graphic design, preferably in a sports, higher education, or recruiting environment.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat) and other design software.
Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in print design, branding, layout, and digital presentations.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain consistent brand standards across all materials.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting strict deadlines.
Understanding of football culture and the unique visual needs of collegiate athletics recruiting and donor relations.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree.
Three or more years of experience in graphic design, preferably within a Division I FBS athletic program.
Experience designing recruiting materials, alumni publications, or facilities marketing collateral.
Knowledge of motion graphics and basic video editing is a plus.
Experience working with university development and alumni relations teams.
Duties & Responsibilities
Develops and produces high-quality graphic design materials (print and digital) to support football recruiting, alumni engagement, and facilities promotion.
Designs recruiting packets, personalized prospect materials, visit itineraries, commitment graphics, and high-end digital presentations for prospective student-athletes and their families.
Creates alumni newsletters, donor impact reports, event invitations, signage, and recognition materials that strengthen relationships with former players and supporters.
Develops visually compelling facilities marketing collateral, including renderings, virtual tour graphics, stadium upgrade materials, and large-format promotional pieces.
Assists with university communications by ensuring all design materials adhere to brand guidelines and university standards/policies, and collaborates on maintaining visual consistency across the department.
Maintains and evolves the football program’s visual brand identity across all design assets, ensuring consistency with university and athletic department standards.
Collaborates with coaching staff, recruiting personnel, and development officers to create tailored, professional materials that effectively communicate the program’s vision and resources.
Works closely with sports information, marketing, and creative teams to align design projects with overall department goals and messaging.
Manages project timelines, prepares files for print production, and oversees quality control of final deliverables.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervision Exercised
None.
Message to Applicants
Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards.
You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.
Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.
This job is a one‑year appointment starting on the hire date. The department may choose to extend the appointment at their discretion.
Employee Group
Professional & Administrative -Salary
Pay Range
$40,000 - $45,000
Department
Athletics - Football
Position Status
Provisional
Position End Date
08/01/2027
Employment Status
Full-Time
Weekly Work Schedule
Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed
Location
Mount Pleasant, MI
About CMU
Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.
We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.
CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.
Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.
CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.
Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.
CMU Leadership Standards
Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.
We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.
Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.
