ROLE DESCRIPTION
At JLA, we help people engage with the decisions that shape their communities. We're looking for a highly organized and creative Graphic Designer and Communications Coordinator who can keep projects moving while bringing information to life through thoughtful visual storytelling. Working with teams across the company, this person will coordinate communications and engagement initiatives, create compelling print and digital materials, and help ensure our work is clear, accessible, and meaningful for the diverse communities we serve throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. In this role, your daily work activities and responsibilities will include:
Turning complex information into visual stories that help people understand projects, decisions, and community issues. You will create graphics, fact sheets, reports, presentations, maps, digital content, and other materials that communicate clearly, engage audiences, and are accessible to a wide range of people.
Solving problems creatively as you help clients and the JLA team figure out how to communicate more effectively with the communities we serve.
Coordinate project details across multiple initiatives. Support managers on a range of public projects by assisting with engagement plans, tracking project deadlines, scheduling meetings and events, coordinating materials, writing meeting summaries, and more.
Provide responsive, high-quality support to teammates, clients, and community members. Balance competing needs, ensure polished and accurate work products through quality review, and collaborate proactively by managing priorities, communicating clearly, and asking for help when needed.
Connect with people. Build trusted relationships with diverse community members and partners while supporting engagement, reporting, and documentation efforts.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they can meet every experience or skill listed in the job description. However, we know that each new JLA staffer brings unique skills (some that we haven't considered) to our collaborative team. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't feel like you have all the listed skills! If we sound like a good fit, we're interested to hear what you an bring to the role.
Required Experience/Skills
- Relevant work experience (1-4 years) and/or an associate's/bachelor's degree in communications, graphic design, public engagement, public relations, education, planning, or a related field. Experience creating professional print and digital communications.
- A portfolio that demonstrates thoughtful, visually compelling layouts and high-quality design work, across digital, print, social media, and multimedia platforms.
- A strong foundation in graphic design, including typography, layout, color, visual hierarchy, and composition.
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups of people both in-person and in virtual meetings.
- Comfort working with limited information, asking questions, and rewriting/explaining complex information so that the public can understand the issue.
- Strong customer service and collaboration skills, with the ability to build trust and positive relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.
- Experience applying accessibility standards and inclusive design practices to create communications that work for diverse audiences in both print and digital formats.
- Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud, especially InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
- Familiarity with developing content for social media, websites, and other digital communication channels.
Desired
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in graphic design, art, or related discipline.
- Working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to support web, email, and interactive design projects.
- Knowledge of Jotform, Squarespace and content management systems.
- Experience working with Esri ArcGIS StoryMaps and Experience Builder.
- Experience working with a project management software system, like Asana.
- Fluency in languages other than English.
COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
This position is part-time 20-30 hours/week, with strong potential for full-time employment. We understand that schedules can vary, so work hours may flex based on project needs, deadlines, and team priorities. We're looking for a dependable, collaborative professional who can make meaningful contributions to project teams while maintaining a predictable part-time schedule.
There is the option to work remotely or from home, though some work in JLA’s office will be required. This expectation may vary or change over time.
This role is primarily desk-based and involves a combination of sitting, standing, walking, and working on a computer. You'll regularly use standard office equipment and communicate with teammates, clients, and community members in person, by phone, and online. Occasional lifting and carrying materials up to 25 pounds may be required.
Pay Rate: $30-45 per hour depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits: For regular, part-time staff JLA Public Involvement
- pays 50% of the medical and dental insurance premiums for employees and 25% of the medical insurance premium for underage dependents. (JLA pays 90% of the medical and dental insurance premiums for employees working 30 hours or more.)
- provides sick time and paid holidays
- provides a retirement plan and matching contribution up to 3% of the employee’s salary, with access to a financial advisor through an EAP (employee assistance program).
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this position, please submit a one-page resume, your portfolio and a one-page cover letter telling us what interests you about the role and why you would be a good fit, through Indeed.
We love learning about people — so let’s start a conversation! If you have questions about this job posting, please reach out to Traci Galbraith, Managing Director, at [email protected] subject heading "Graphic Designer & Communications Coordinator Job Opportunity".
ABOUT JLA
Founded in 1988, JLA Public Involvement is a leading public involvement consulting firm in the Pacific Northwest. We help people communicate with and influence local, regional, and state government and non-profit projects that affect their everyday lives. We’re not advocates for an outcome, but rather champions for a fair and equitable process that empowers, educates, and involves the community in ways that help our clients meet their goals of serving the public good. We are “public process specialists,” dedicated to building constructive two-way communication between government agencies and the communities affected by their planning and decision-making efforts.
We communicate complex information to the public about a range of projects from transportation to wastewater treatment to parks development. We use a wide variety of engagement tools and tactics including video, websites, postcards, in-person interviews, going door-to-door to local businesses, public meetings, virtual meetings, surveys, and more.
Our mission is to create collaborative, meaningful and exceptionally effective public processes that lead to better, more inclusive outcomes.
We are a small, women-owned firm in Portland, but we work across Oregon and SW Washington. Here’s what it’s like to work with us:
- There’s always something new. We work for a variety of public clients, topic areas, and project types (construction, design, planning, policy), so there is always something new to learn.
- We believe in what we do. Our work helps create a better life for people living and working in the Pacific Northwest by supporting transportation, water, wastewater, park, and other beneficial projects.
- We want new ideas. We value and encourage collaboration and creative problem solving. We want to ask questions, to grow, and help provide new and better solutions to how we engage and communicate with communities.
- We want you to grow. You will have opportunities for continued education, training, promotion, and personal growth.
- We’re flexible. We support home/off-hours and are a family-friendly company. We take care of one another with clear communication, honesty, integrity, and a passion for pitching in for the team.
- We have some pretty fast paced days. JLA teammates work together to assess project needs and implement projects. This can mean quick decisions or changes to provide quality products and hold events for our clients and the community.
A FOCUS ON EQUITY
Engaging diverse communities in a meaningful way is the most pressing issue facing our profession. We are committed to continually learning, listening and improving practices to create effective, community-centered strategies. Our team engages in conversation and personal reflection around identity, bias, racism and equity, and what they mean to our team and our work.
COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY
Environmentally sustainable practices are at the core of our operations and our work for clients. We think of ourselves as part of an environmentally sustainable supply chain with our clients, partners and suppliers.
