WHO WE ARE

Gate 39 Media is a financial marketing and technology agency based in Chicago, IL. Businesses nationwide approach us to help them establish brand identity, position themselves strategically in the financial marketplace, and conduct ongoing marketing campaigns. In addition to marketing, website design and hosting, we offer an array of proprietary technology solutions such as custom apps and portals. We are fast-paced, results-driven, and constantly-evolving to meet our clients’ needs as they connect with their audiences.

WHO YOU ARE

A 100% creative graphic and website designer with killer design skills and talent for designing great user experiences -- and you have the portfolio to prove it.

A results-driven Chicago-area professional with at least 5 years' experience willing to be a driver of growth in our downtown loft office -- this is not a remote role.

Reporting to Executive Management, this senior role will work closely with Marketing, Project Managers, and our WordPress Development Team – and often with clients directly – on a variety of creative digital graphic and website design, app design, collateral, and other branding projects. With opportunity for growth, this role will also help lead design direction for Gate 39 Media.

Through superior organization, attention to detail and communication skills, the ideal candidate is a proactive and process-oriented individual with well-developed critical thinking skills who can efficiently solve problems. The ideal candidate will seamlessly pivot from project to project in a fast-paced multiple-deadline agency environment to create and manage deliverables for a range of financial industry clients as well as Gate 39 Media as an agency..

The ideal candidate will be able to quickly adapt design themes for more conservative financial industry clients, ensure the delivery of an exceptional product and agency experience to the client, while incorporating their own unique flair to add value and differentiation in our agency’s design.

SENIOR GRAPHIC WEBSITE DESIGNER KEY ROLE:

• Communicate and facilitate the art direction, creation, and management of new design deliverables in both print and digital formats for a wide range of financial industry, futures and agricultural hedging clients as well as efficiently and creatively iterate, edit, and update existing client creative assets as needed

• Guide and advise team members in both the creative process and client management to foster stronger working relationships and solutions (junior designer, interns, etc.)
• Collaborate internally as well as with clients to conceptualize and execute creative solutions that can be translated across various media platforms
• Stay informed on design and UI/UX trends and best practices in commercial website design
• Work closely with the Project Manager to assess accurate time estimates and breakdowns on the creation of assets while delivering solutions within budget

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead and manage the conception-to-completion design and planning process for time-sensitive creative deliverables: Website design (90%) and print design (10%) – from single projects to ongoing retainer client needs
• Design an array of marketing communication pieces: websites, apps, brand guides, logos, pitchbooks, collateral and overall themes, individual piece designs, assist with UI/UX design challenges, etc.
• Efficiently and thoroughly slice and prepare approved design files to be handed off to WordPress Development teams and communicate detailed specs through design-to-development hand-off meetings
• Must conduct pre- and post-production design quality checks on all website design and UI/UX specs implemented by development team and be able to clearly communicate updates and edits required
• Continue to sharpen industry knowledge by learning about trends and new design products
• Work efficiently with Gate 39 Media vendors on the development of needed client materials

EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS:

• Must have a 4-year degree (Design or related) and a minimum of 5 years design experience
• Expert working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, XD, etc.)
• Expert knowledge in graphic production process, including mobile responsive designs, apps, user interface dashboards, etc.
• Experience with HTML and WordPress a major plus
• Acute attention to detail and solid UI/UX design skills as well as an understanding of inbound marketing methods and processes that tie into effective design
• Strong creative, organizational, problem-solving and time-management skills; Able to take projects from start to finish with minimal supervision
• Must possess strong conceptual skills, high level sense of design, layout and typography, a broad thinker who can offer a variety of design solutions
• Familiarity with CMS platforms like WordPress, Sitefinity, etc. and social media such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
• Work well with multiple, moving, and tight deadlines; Ability to pivot from project-to-project
• Adaptable and quick learner. Must be able to apply style guides creatively while upholding brand identity for Gate 39 Media, as well as our multiple clients
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to mentor and lead. Set standard and work with junior, part-time, and freelance designers. Must be a team-player. Big egos need not apply

BONUS SKILLS:

• Experience working in an in-house creative department, agency or design firm preferred
• Experience with motion graphics and design skills around data visualization
• Knowledge of HTML 5, CSS, Bootstrap, JQuery or other web development languages a plus
• Financial industry experience desired

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Gate 39 Media offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience plus benefits, opportunity to grow within an expanding agency environment, free Wednesday lunches, and a bright historic loft office location set in downtown Chicago, near all public transportation.

$65K - $70K annual salary + benefits