Graphic Designer at National Defense Industrial Association - (NDIA)

Position Summary

Describe the primary function of the job. List who this position reports and any direct reports this position is responsible for.

The Graphic Designer reports to the Creative Director and works closely with the Marketing Director, who assigns and routes projects to the creative team. This role supports the creative vision set by the Creative Director and Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications by effectively implementing and executing high-quality design solutions across print, digital, and event-related materials.

The Graphic Designer is responsible for managing their own projects and is expected to be highly attentive to deadlines, meeting timelines without requiring close oversight. The role collaborates with internal stakeholders and creative team members to ensure that all deliverables align with NDIA’s brand standards and project objectives.

While the position does not include formal supervisory responsibilities, the Graphic Designer may provide informal guidance and mentorship to other MarCom team members involved in graphic production and meeting planners, sharing expertise in design tools, processes, and best practices. The role contributes to a positive, efficient, and innovative creative environment through collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Essential functions are those tasks, duties, and responsibilities that comprise the means of accomplishing the job’s purpose and objectives. Essential functions are critical or fundamental to the performance of the job. They are the major functions for which the person in the job is held accountable.

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Brand Management & Design Standards

• Create event branding based on creative brief calls with division leaders, using tools such as Photoshop and AI-generated imagery to produce visually compelling graphics that reflect the requested themes and messaging.
• Support the layout and follow through on the production timelines for event programs, long reports and white papers, including the creation of custom charts, infographics, and complex visual elements.
• Design engaging on-site graphics, including event programs and signage for both on- and off-site use. Projects range from small-scale items (table tent cards) to large-scale custom branding, including stage graphics (static printed and digital motion), column wraps, window clings, promotional stacked cube displays, and unique event-specific items like commemorative coins.
• Develop compelling visual content for social media and websites, including infographics, digital and social media advertisements, and promotional graphics.
• Design print advertising and marketing materials, including magazine ads, postcards, and one-pagers for membership, sponsorship, and advertising initiatives.
• Contribute to the visual identity of email newsletter campaigns, including Defense Watch, Policy Regulatory Digest, and the ETI Spotlight.
• Support the creation and maintenance of internal branded documents (e.g., letterhead, forms, one-pagers, presentation decks, and marketing templates), while the primary responsibility lies with other team members.
• Support in creating branding for key initiatives, contributing design expertise to ensure consistency and cohesion across materials.
• Maintain and apply corporate and affiliate branding (ETI, NTSA, and WID) across all campaigns and associated assets.
  
  

Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate on design efforts across the marketing team, internal departments, and external stakeholders, contributing creative solutions that align with project goals.
• Conceptualize and develop design concepts based on discussions with division leaders, strategic objectives, and project requirements.
• Work with team members and divisions to refine concepts and event branding with a clear understanding of audience interests and messaging priorities.
• Receive and incorporate feedback with a problem-solving mindset and a positive, can-do attitude under tight deadlines.
• Partner closely with the marketing team on daily activities, collaborating with the copy editor, social media team, and marketing email team to ensure cohesive messaging and branding across all platforms.
• Provide hands-on support and guidance to colleagues using design software, helping troubleshoot challenges and offering tips or techniques
  
  

Qualifications

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities)

List relevant job experience, education, knowledge, skills, and abilities required/desired for the job.

Experience

• Proven experience in graphic design, with a focus on marketing and advertising projects in a corporate setting.
• Experience creating print, digital, and event-related materials, including layouts for reports, white papers, and infographics.
• Strong portfolio highlighting experience in the above areas
  
  

Skills

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Strong page layout and editorial design expertise.
• Expertise in photo compositing and AI-generated imagery, using tools such as MidJourney or Firefly to blend multiple images and create visually compelling, cohesive graphics that align with project briefs.
• Familiarity with Monday.com, WordsFlow, and Datylon is a plus.
• Ability to create visually compelling graphics that reflect project briefs and branding guidelines.
  
  

Abilities

• Ability to execute design projects from concept to completion, ensuring brand consistency.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with and advise cross-functional teams.
• Provide guidance to colleagues on design tools and processes, supporting skill development (without formal supervisory responsibility).
• Detail-oriented and capable of meeting tight deadlines while producing high-quality work.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment with proven creative and problem-solving skills.
  
  

Internal Relationships

Reporting to the Creative Director, the Senior Graphic Designer collaborates closely with the entire Marketing & Communications team, including the Information Production team and Marketing team. This role also maintains regular interaction with other departments, including Meetings & Events, Divisions, Exhibits & Sponsorships, Advertising, Strategy & Policy, Membership & Chapters, the Business Institute, and affiliate organizations NTSA, ETI, and WID.

Additionally, the Senior Graphic Designer provides design support for projects across the organization, including the Executives, Human Resources and Information Technology, as needed, ensuring visual materials align with NDIA’s brand standards and project objectives.

External Relationships

• Division volunteer leadership
• Printers and signage vendors (e.g., GES, CSI, Wendell’s for coins, Beacon Design for Christmas Ornament)
• Contract vendors for video editing
• Contract or freelance support
  
  

ADA SPECIFICATIONS (Physical demands that must be met to successfully complete the essential functions of the job list items such as unusual work schedule, occupational risk, travel required, physical effort, environment and demands that must be met to perform the essential functions of the job.)

This position is primarily sedentary in the Arlington, Virginia office with occasional overnight travel and may require some bending and lifting.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.