Graphic Designer I

About Awana

Awana is dedicated to equipping leaders, reaching children, and transforming lives through biblical discipleship. With over 75 years of experience, the organization supports local churches globally, impacting more than 10 million children across 140 countries through about 91,000 clubs and churches, led by over 500,000 trained volunteers. Awana's mission focuses on guiding children to know, love, and serve Jesus throughout their lives.

Role Overview

The Graphic Designer I will contribute significantly to this mission by developing engaging visual content in line with Awana's brand identity. Working primarily remotely, the designer will use up-to-date design concepts and tools to produce graphics for digital and print media, collaborating with freelancers, vendors, and internal teams. Occasional travel to the St. Charles, IL, or Nashville, TN offices for meetings, conferences, and photoshoots may be required.

Key Responsibilities

• Create layouts, icons, digital and photo assets for diverse projects based on set templates and style guides.
• Edit images and prepare files correctly for print and digital distribution.
• Support campaign concept development across multiple platforms in coordination with various departments.
• Ensure design files meet brand standards and are production-ready, including PDFs for printing.
• Maintain organized design assets such as fonts, images, logos, and working files.
• Communicate potential design or production challenges to senior staff and participate in creative discussions to promote innovation.
• Apply feedback constructively and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to support ministry goals.
• Adhere to Awana’s cultural values in all work and interactions.

Qualifications and Skills

• At least two years of professional experience in graphic design or visual communications.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom).
• Good grasp of design fundamentals including typography, color theory, layout, and composition.
• Experience with image editing, formatting, and preparing production-ready files for various media.
• Ability to work from templates and style guides with room for creative input.
• Exposure to vendor and printing processes, with aptitude in file preparation for production.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills for managing assets and collaborating.
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or related fields preferred but not mandatory.
• Knowledge of printing technologies and processes is advantageous.
• Familiarity with Christian ministry and the Bible is desirable.
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship.
• Submission of a portfolio or examples of prior work is required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary ranging from $45,000 to $49,000.
• Remote-first flexible work environment with options to work from home or company offices.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid family leave, ample vacation, and holiday time.
• Retirement plans with employer matching (401[k] and Roth 401[k]).
• Additional perks like adoption assistance, college scholarship programs, and wellness resources.
• Professional development opportunities within a mission-driven organization.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Awana is committed to fostering an inclusive workforce reflecting diversity in race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and other protected categories. Every applicant will be fairly considered regardless of background, ensuring a diverse and effective team to further the organization's impact.