Graphic Designer

ABOUT THE JOB

New York, New York, United States;
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Graphic Designer in the Communications & Marketing Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Washington D.C. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The ACLU Communications & Marketing Department creates, maintains, and expands message narratives to engage our supporters and other target audiences, to help protect and expand civil liberties and civil rights, and to illustrate the value and impact of the ACLU’s work. Through our messaging, engagement with news makers, our written and social content, branding, and visual identity, we encourage support for the ACLU and help to create a more perfect union.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

Reporting to the Design Director
, the Graphic Designer will be responsible for supporting the creative development and execution of design projects that translate campaign strategies into clear, compelling, and engaging visual assets. This role contributes to the creation of bold, mission-driven design work that resonates with a wide range of audiences and advances organizational goals across digital platforms, campaigns, and select print materials.

The Graphic Designer works collaboratively within the Brand Studio and across departments to deliver high-quality, on-brand design solutions, contributing to visual identities, campaign assets, and rapid-response materials. With a strong foundation in design craft and brand application, the Graphic Designer manages assigned projects with a degree of independence, incorporates feedback thoughtfully, and supports efficient workflows and processes. Through close partnership with the design director & senior designers, creative leadership, and cross-functional teams, this role plays a key part in ensuring design excellence, consistency, and impact across the organization.

We are looking for a Graphic Designer who brings strong design craft, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. This role requires a balance of creative execution, clear communication, and thoughtful project management in service of impactful advocacy and campaign work. The following is an overview of key responsibilities for this role.

Design Execution & Production

• Contribute to the development of visual identities for campaigns by understanding project goals, conducting research as needed, generating and refining design concepts, incorporating feedback, and executing final assets in alignment with brand guidelines.
• Participate in rapid-response design efforts, producing timely and effective visuals in response to urgent organizational or advocacy needs.
• Design and produce graphics for ACLU websites, social media channels, and email communications in accordance with established design standards, project objectives, and branding guidelines.
• Assist with the layout and design of digital and print publications, including reports, white papers, and informational materials; support the creation of data visualizations such as charts, tables, and infographics.
• Create promotional materials for digital and print advertising, ACLU-branded merchandise, and website special features.
• Produce a range of additional design assets as needed, including presentations, internal communications templates, video text cards, and informational graphics; assist with basic photo retouching for documentary, portrait, and marketing imagery.
• Create and submit mood boards and be comfortable presenting and pitching creative ideas to internal teams
• Serve as a creative thought partner across the Brand Studio & Communications & Marketing teams

Project Management

• Support project planning and coordination by tracking timelines, deliverables, and approvals across creative projects
• Assist with day-to-day project management tasks, including scheduling, status updates, and organizing assets and documentation
• Help ensure projects move smoothly by communicating updates, flagging risks, and supporting cross-team coordination
• Collaborate with colleagues across Marketing & Communications, Policy, Legal, Affiliate Support, and Development to support the creation of design assets that align with organizational goals.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with project stakeholders, incorporating feedback and updates to support smooth collaboration and timely delivery of work.

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts