Job Opening for Graphic Designer & Marketing Coordinator in YMCA (99 Morris Ave, Summit, NJ 07901)

The Graphic Designer & Marketing Coordinator produces captivating, engaging, and high-quality marketing materials and creative projects to support the Summit Area YMCA’s initiatives related to advancing the Y’s mission and cause, increase brand awareness, revenue, member acquisition, engagement, and retention, special events, and the likes. The main focus of this role is designing for print and digital media, facility signage, website, social media, email communications, ads, and digital displays, press and copy writing, photography, videography, and production, as well as managing the marketing request process and communication between the marketing team and association stakeholders. They must be able to independently produce material that is innovative and impactful for its designated audience, in accordance with YMCA branded voice, messaging, and design guidelines. The secondary focus of this role is creating and coordinating a variety of marketing efforts to reach the overall strategic goals of our association. They should be detail oriented, able to work proficiently, manage priorities independently, understand the bigger picture and complete projects quickly with minimal direction.

It’s a creative jack of all trades dream come true. However, the Y is not a hip, new startup with cold brew on tap, and our ideal candidate is certainly not your average graphic designer. We are looking for someone to use their creative powers and harness their design skills and marketing experience for good to help one of our area’s largest nonprofits (that’s us!) inform, engage, and uplift members, program participants, donors, partners, and connect our community with all the things that make the Summit Area YMCA so great.

Does that have you all like #yasss #careergoals #marketingforgood #blessed #wheredoisignup?

You might be the right candidate if:

You are an experienced designer and understand visual and communication strategies for creating assets that captivate and compel.
You are innovative, resourceful and understand how to develop content that tells a story, aligns with the brand, and connects with audiences.
You understand the bigger picture and can translate an idea into a finished product with minimal direction.
You may not be a professional photographer or video editing pro, but you have a basic foundation of camera knowledge and editing skills (in which you are ready and eager to build on), a good eye and are comfortable engaging with people to produce amazing pictures in order to promote our brand appropriately.
You love social media, and have experience being a business page administrator.
You understand marketing is about strategy, engagement and connecting the right content to the right people at the right time.
You are a creative, inquisitive, and strategic thinker with the desire to innovate and the ability to assist in elevating our future vision for serving our community’s needs and keeping content fresh.
You are an energetic, outgoing, self-starter who works well both autonomously and in a team environment.
You like to stay current in marketing trends and news e.g. Adobe updates and changes in social media algorithms.
You play nice with others and IRL you are an eager team player who can communicate and work with a diverse array of individuals and groups.
You understand the importance of representing a people-centric, family-friendly brand and can incorporate that through your work.

At the Summit Area YMCA, we are committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. Our main purpose is to strengthen community. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone can reach their full potential and we strive to live our cause with purpose every day. No matter who you are or where you’re from, we believe that we’re stronger when we come together.
Qualifications
A minimum of an associate degree in graphic design, interactive media or related field, or formal graphic design training or equivalent years of professional experience in graphic design for print and digital.
A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in graphic design for print and digital. Agency experience a plus.
Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver)
Please submit a link to your portfolio to be considered.
Experience in copywriting highly preferred.
Highly organized with the ability to self-direct, work independently on assigned tasks, multi-task and manage several projects at once.
Can translate ideas into finished products with minimal direction.
Detail-oriented with strong communication and storytelling skills.
Photography/videography and video editing skills.
Tech-savvy and learns new software/applications quickly.
Proficient Microsoft Office and Google Suite application skills.
Able to independently travel between the Summit Area YMCA branches.
Essential Functions
Collaborates with team members, understands the strategy behind a project/task, is open to the ideas of others and translates ideas into finished products with minimal direction.
Produces high quality, modern, visually appealing, and original marketing assets, including but not limited to usage in print and digital mediums for facility signage, mail, website, social media, email communications, ads, and digital displays.
Creates materials that are innovative and impactful for its designated audience, includes pertinent information, and is in accordance with YMCA branded voice, messaging, and design guidelines.
Ensures assets are error-free and delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner by obtaining and providing pricing estimates, approving final creative, printing proofs, and selection of appropriate mediums that are best suited to achieve the output of a quality final product and project goal.
Manages priorities independently and completes projects quickly.
Communicates constructively with key constituents (marketing team, Y staff, vendors, members, community members and volunteers) to facilitate the completion and delivery of marketing materials on schedule and within budget.
Provides collaborative support to the marketing team and other stakeholders or Y staff to brainstorm, conceptualize, create, and fulfill needs that help advance the Y’s mission, increase brand awareness, revenue, and member acquisition.
As the point person for the marketing team, you will manage the marketing request process by maintaining up-to-date project logs and details for reporting, communicating with stakeholders for accuracy of information, estimating anticipated turnaround time, setting the pace for the team and project priorities, asset fulfillment, and delivery.
Proofreads materials produced, reviews final layouts and takes initiative to make and/or improvements, as needed.
Press and copywriting including but not limited to usage on website, local media outlets, member, and staff communications.
Can independently travel between the (5) Summit Area YMCA branches and its program locations to meet with staff, attend events, deliver marketing materials, take pictures, etc.
Takes photos and videos of Y programs, people and events as needed for use in marketing materials.
Edits photos and produces meaningful testimonials and impact story videos from Y members and program participants for use in our website, digital channels, emails, advertisements, special events, fundraising, etc.
Maintains and organizes marketing project folders, graphic files, vendor files and photo/video library.
Contributes marketing efforts and brand strategy recommendations to assist with long-term objectives that align with the SAY’s overall strategic goals for growth, sustainability, innovation, and success.
Assists the Digital Marketing Specialist in updating the Y’s websites which includes but is not limited to, content accuracy, adding new content, updating CRM data, improving search methods, enhancing user experience, redirects, navigation menus, SEO, images and aesthetics.
Assists the Digital Marketing Specialist in managing content and engagement on our social media channels and digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Google My Business, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.
As an Ambassador for the Y, communicates to members, volunteers, and the public that the Y is the nation’s leading non-profit committed to strengthening the community through Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility and that diversity and inclusion is the core of the Summit Area YMCA’s mission. The SAY is open and inclusive of all people regardless of their ability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and socio-economic background and we must all strive courageously against any discriminatory behavior and will always abide by the Summit Area YMCA’s Diversity & Inclusion policy as explained in the Employee Handbook.
Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies
Change Leadership: Facilitates, co-creates, and implements equitable change for the good of the organization and/or community.

Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause.

Inclusion: Values all people for their unique talents and takes an active role in promoting practices that support diversity, inclusion, and global work, as well as cultural competence.

Critical Thinking and Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, and sound judgement

Innovation: Creates and implements new and relevant approaches and activities that improve and expand the Y’s work and impact in the community.

Functional Expertise: Executes superior technical skills for the role.

Developing Self & Others: Develops self and supports others, both formally and informally, to achieve their highest potential.

Emotional Maturity: Demonstrates ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations.
Required Certifications
Salary & Benefits: The Graphic Designer & Marketing Coordinator reports to the Director of Marketing & Digital Operations. Salary range for this role starts at $24/hour, based on experience . This position is full-time (40 hours a week), on-site in Summit, NJ with potential remote flex options for the right candidate. The Summit Area YMCA offers generous employee benefits including subsidized medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, paid vacation, sick and holiday time, a free YMCA family membership, discounts on Y programs and services including child care, continued professional development training, and 12% salary contribution to your retirement plan upon eligibility.