Graphics Manager

Salary : $100,767.68 – $120,920.80 Annually

Location : Issaquah, WA

Job Type: Full-Time Exempt

Job Number: 2023-00165

Department: Communications and Marketing

Division: Graphics & Printing

Opening Date: 09/14/2023

Closing Date: 9/21/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Union Represented: Yes

General Position Summary

General Position Summary:

Job number: 2023-00165

King County Library System (KCLS) is seeking a detail oriented, strategic, and collaborative individual to serve as the Graphics Manager in our Communication & Marketing Department.

The ideal candidate will be able to provide strategic direction and management for the organization’s graphics and printing operations, support Intellectual Freedom, and work with diverse populations in a service role.

About the Opportunity:

This opportunity as Graphics Manager calls for an experienced leader in graphic design and printing operations. You’ll have the chance to shape the organization’s visual identity, ensuring that it remains cohesive and aligned with brand standards across various marketing channels.

This role combines creative expertise with strategic direction, making it ideal for a candidate who thrives on managing projects, mentoring teams, and driving excellence in graphic content.

About King County Library System (KCLS):

KCLS has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1.5 million diverse patrons.

Approximately 1,000 engaged and passionate staff provide service in 50 library locations and in community engagement using direct outreach and virtual assistance. Our service area includes the cities, towns, tribal lands, and unincorporated districts of King County, with the exception of the city of Seattle.

From a 2021-2022 comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Demographics and Language Report, of the more than 1.5 million residents who live within the KCLS service area, almost half identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Moreover, roughly one-third of the KCLS community speaks a language other than English as their first language.

The King County Library System is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. KCLS values diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures. KCLS encourages BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply. As part of this commitment, KCLS provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position.

To request accommodation please call 425-369-3224.

Examples of Duties

Essential Duties:

Any of the following duties may be performed. These examples are not necessarily performed by all incumbents, however, and do not include all specific tasks an incumbent may be expected to perform.

1. Manage division workflow for organization and customer service delivery within production deadlines and quality standards.
2. Establish visual brand standards and ensure all visual content and design aligns with guidelines, maintaining consistency and promoting a cohesive brand identity across different platforms.
3. Design and produce full-color original illustrations and print materials for all branded and system-wide promotional programs.
4. Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, completing them on time and within budget.
5. Oversee the production process to maintain high-quality standards for all graphics, reviewing designs for accuracy, creativity, and adherence to project objectives.
6. Serve as a direct contact and liaison for vendors regarding technical information to ensure quality control.
7. Design and conduct training sessions and workshops for team members involved in content creation, marketing, and communications. Provide guidance and mentorship to improve their graphic design skills and knowledge.
8. Select, train, supervise, and schedule graphics and printing staff in compliance with all KCLS policies, procedures, systems, and applicable safety regulations.
9. Provide instruction and assistance to KCLS staff to ensure understanding of brand management and KCLS standards for promotional materials.
10. Develop and manage graphics and printing budget. Forecast technology replacement needs.
11. Maintain current knowledge of the latest graphic design trends, tools, and technologies, and recommend their integration into KCLS design processes.
12. Conduct performance evaluations of direct reports, write formal evaluations and reviews, clarify performance expectations, and initiate appropriate actions as required including coaching and development.

Secondary Duties:

1. Serves on employee committees as assigned.
2. Provides back up to related positions.
3. Performs other related duties as required or as assigned.

Core Competencies:

Valuing Diversity

Manages relationships with all kinds and classes of people inclusively and equitably; respects, values, and encourages the unique dimension each employee adds to the organization and each member of the community brings to the whole. Seeks opportunities to learn about differences.

Customer Focus

Primarily focused on customer needs, able to deliver high-quality, value-added services. Constantly strives to find new ways to increase customer satisfaction and understanding, foster equitable services, and forge meaningful connections.

Ethics, Values and Judgement

Exercises best judgment, trustworthiness, and professional standards of conduct; consistently demonstrates organization’s values, moral principles, and accountability through behavior, character, and action. Defends intellectual freedom and confidentiality.

Professional and Technical Knowledge

Demonstrates proficiency in professional and technical skills and/or knowledge in position-related areas; purposely keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise, in order to better foster personal success and connections for others.

Coaching and Counseling

Facilitates the development of other’s knowledge, abilities, and skills to fulfill job and role responsibilities more effectively. Provides timely feedback, guidance, and encouragement to help others achieve better performance and goals; builds confidence of others.

Managerial Courage

Tactfully provides direct and actionable feedback in a timely manner, is open and direct but not intimidating; deals head-on with people and problems even in the most difficult situations.

Communicates Effectively

Conveys ideas/information in a way that is clear, engaging, and suitable to the audience. Main point of their message is apparent. Listens more than they speak, responds appropriately. Seeks influence.

Organizing and Planning

Establishes courses of action for self, can influence others to ensure that work is efficient, appropriately sensitive to real restraints on time and resources. Willing to take a risk.

Vision and Strategic Thinking

Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization’s vision, mission, and values; holds big picture view while setting priorities, often uses breakthrough strategies to find the way forward.

Desired Minimum Qualification

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic arts, computer graphics, communications, or a related field.
• Two to four years of graphic arts experience.

Special Requirements:

None.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is constantly using fingers in conjunction with handling and frequent keyboarding, this computer work may be repetitive up to frequently. Constantly sits and occasionally stands and walks. Will frequently reach up to chest level with hands and arms. Neck rotation may be up to frequent to use multiple monitors. The employee will occasionally lift to 10 pounds and seldom up to 20 pounds and seldom push/pull carts using light force.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office environment. Involves some exposure to noise from the print press.

General Benefits Summary

Paid Time off
It is the policy of KCLS to grant to all part-time and full-time employees:

• Annual Leave (Vacation).
• Sick Leave
• Holidays – KCLS celebrates eleven (11) holidays each year and one (1) floating holiday. Part-time employees are eligible for holiday pay if they are scheduled to work on the day the holiday falls on.

Medical/Dental Insurance Benefits
Our health insurance plans with Kaiser/Premera/Delta Dental are offered at low premium rates to all employees working 20 or more hours per week. Employees may also purchase benefits for dependents and domestic partners.

Retirement – Public Employee Retirement System (PERS)
Employees working 20 hours per week or more are automatically enrolled in the Washington State Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) program. Both KCLS and the employee contribute toward PERS retirement benefits.

Flexible and Dependent Care Spending Accounts and Health Saving Account
Employees working 20 hours per week or more can set aside a portion of their salary on a pre-tax basis to pay for family medical and dependent care needs. KCLS provides an annual employer contribution to Health Saving Account when the employee is enrolled in a high deductible health plan.

Life and Accidental Death & Disability, Long Term Disability Insurance
All the employees working 20 hours per week or more qualify for the group term life and AD& D insurance benefits equal to one times their annual salary. Employees working 40 hours per week receive long-term disability insurance.

Optional/Voluntary Benefits
Employees working 20 hours per week or more are eligible to participate in the following voluntary benefits:

• Supplemental Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Allstate Identity Theft Protection
• Student Loan Refinance

Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan (available to all KCLS Employees)

• 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan – You can supplement any other retirement benefits you may have by setting aside pre-tax dollars in this retirement savings account.

Other Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – This employer-sponsored program is a confidential service that can provide referrals to counseling, financial, legal, child care/elder care services.
• Ride-Wise – KCLS encourages you to “leave the car at home” and seek other ways to commute to work. All employees are eligible for reimbursement of 50% of your tax-free ORCA transit pass and van pool. The Guaranteed Ride Home program is also available for staff.
• Tuition Assistance – KCLS encourages employees to pursue college, associate and graduate degrees and certificate programs where such education and knowledge bring value to KCLS. Tuition assistance, as funding permits, is available to all employees.
• Language Class Funding – The program covers classes that teach language identified in the KCLS world languages collection, American Sign Language, and English as an Additional Language (ESL). You don’t need a work-related reason to study a language.

01

Please fill out both the application and this questionnaire completely. Any false or incompleteanswers (such as “see resume” or “see application”) may result in your not having an opportunity to interview. Do you agree to answer each of these questions truthfully, and do you understandthat your answers will be compared to the information on your application?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current KCLS staff member still in your probationary period?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a valid Washington State Driver’s License?

• Yes
• No

04

If you responded “No” to the question above, would you be able to obtain a Washington StateDriver’s License within 30 days of hire, if selected?

• Yes
• No

05

Please indicate your highest level of completed education:

• High School Diploma or G.E.D.
• Some college and/or certifications
• Associate’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Master’s Degree
• Doctorate Degree

06

Please indicate how many completed years of experience you have leading or managing a team in a communications environment.

• No experience
• Less than 3 years
• 3 – 5 years
• 5+ years

07

Can you share your experience leading a graphics team, including the duration and key responsibilities?

08

Which software and tools do you employ for graphic design, and how do you mentor and develop your team members to enhance their skills and progress in their roles?

09

How do you incorporate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your digital or visual narratives?

10

The King County Library System works to offer library materials that represent a wide range of community interests. This is one of the foundations of our policy of intellectual freedom, the idea that each and every patron has the right to choose the materials that interest them. Given this policy of Intellectual Freedom would you both allow and support the fact that patrons have the right to choose what they wish to see, to hear, or to read at the library?

• Yes
• No

11

Can you (with or without reasonable accommodation) perform the physical requirements of this position as described in the job posting?

• Yes
• No

12

As indicated in the posting, applicants are asked to attach a cover letter and current resume detailing your relevant work experience, education, and training as it relates to the position. Have you done this?

• Yes – I have attached my resume and cover letter.
• No – I understand my application is considered incomplete without the required materials.

13

Where did you hear about this job opportunity? Please select all that apply.

• KCLS Social Media (Facebook or Twitter)
• American Library Association (ALA)
• Washington Library Association (WLA)
• Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA)
• Seattle Public Libraries (SPL)
• Sno-Isle Libraries
• Pierce County Libraries
• LinkedIn
• Indeed.com
• WorkSource
• Government Jobs (public sector job site)
• Referral from KCLS Staff Member
• Job Interest Email Notification
• Other

Required Question