The Junior Designer (Part-Time Temporary) is a half-time role that supports Cokesbury Kids and related Teaching & Learning products by carrying assigned design and production work from initial concept and layout through final production files. The role provides consistent design capacity for Big Faith and assists with Worship with All God's Children, Everyday Faith, cover production, and development of new products while maintaining UMPH quality, brand, and production standards.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT & AREAS OF IMPACT
Reporting Relationship & Peers Reports to the Associate Publisher / Managing Editor, as do: Associate Editor Associate Editor / Project Coordinator Cokesbury Kids Director Cokesbury Kids Team Lead Editorial Assistant Lead Editor Media Editor Production & Design Manager Production Manager Areas of Impact (as applicable)
OTHER:
Schedule & Product Portfolio Approximately 20 hours per week 6-month temporary assignment Assigned Cokesbury Kids and related Teaching & Learning products
RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE
Essential Job Functions PRIMARY (approximately 75% of workload) Owns assigned Big Faith design work from start to finish, with primary responsibility for products: One Room Sunday School Leader Guide and Leader Guide and Activity Sheets for one age-level; as capacity allows, supports related components such as class packs, stickers, and media assets. Creates and maintains interior layouts, templates, graphics, illustrations, and production assets that meet product goals, established brand standards, technical specifications, and usability needs. Prepares, reviews, organizes, and delivers accurate production files; follows UMPH file-naming and asset-management standards and helps ensure assigned products move smoothly through the production process. Collaborates with editorial, production, marketing, and other project team members, participates in regular team meetings, communicates project status and risks, and meets established schedules and quality expectations. Manages the art procurement process with outside vendors for assigned products that includes working within a budget, creating and sending art requests and managing the approval process. Supports cover production and concept development, including brainstorming and ideation for new products and future curriculum.
SECONDARY
(approximately 25% of workload) Assists with design and production needs for Worship with All God's Children, Art+Liturgy, Everyday Faith, and other children and family initiatives as assigned. Supports production, bibliographic, administrative, and meeting-related tasks that contribute to accurate and timely project completion. Contributes to development, research, brainstorming, and ideation for new products and future curriculum, while maintaining awareness of current design, publishing, software, and market trends. These essential job functions are not intended to cover all work details or the occasional performance of other tasks as assigned by the supervisor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. Common or Complex Problem-Solving Challenges Maintaining visual and technical consistency across ongoing, multi-component curriculum products from early design through final production Balancing a steady core workload with overlapping deadlines and additional design requests without compromising accuracy or quality Translating editorial and product goals into designs that are attractive, age-appropriate, usable, and consistent with UMPH and product-brand standards Anticipating and resolving production or file-preparation issues that could delay schedules or create rework Working collaboratively when project stakeholders have different creative preferences, priorities, or levels of technical knowledge Authority & Accountability Authority to execute assigned design and production work within approved product concepts, templates, brand standards, and project direction Authority to recommend design, layout, file-preparation, and workflow solutions that improve quality, consistency, or efficiency Authority to collaborate directly with editorial, production, marketing, and other project stakeholders on assigned design needs Accountability for the accuracy, technical readiness, visual quality, and timely completion of assigned design and production files Accountability for maintaining organized files and following UMPH naming, version-control, and digital asset-management practices Accountability for communicating schedule risks, capacity constraints, or production roadblocks promptly to the supervisor and project team Regular Contacts & Stakeholders
INTERNAL
Cokesbury Kids and Teaching & Learning editorial and production teams Marketing and Communications Digital Production Services/prepress Other UMPH product and project teams as assigned
EXTERNAL
Freelance designers, illustrators, photographers, printers, and other production vendors as needed for assigned projects
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education, Experience, & Certifications
REQUIRED
Degree, certificate, or equivalent training in graphic design, graphic arts, visual communication, or a related field; equivalent experience and a strong portfolio may be considered Portfolio demonstrating sound typography, layout, and polished print and/or digital design work Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines in a collaborative environment
PREFERRED
Experience with publishing, curriculum, educational materials, or other multi-component products Experience in an in-house creative, publishing, or production environment Experience preparing files for print production and digital distribution Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
REQUIRED
Proficiency with Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat; strong knowledge of typography, color, page layout, image preparation, and graphic production Strong organization and time-management skills; ability to prioritize overlapping assignments and maintain consistent file organization Good interpersonal and communication skills; ability to collaborate with editorial, production, marketing, and creative colleagues both internal and external Ability to apply brand and design standards while solving design and production problems creatively and accurately Working knowledge of print and digital production, including prepress, file packaging, fonts, image resolution, quality control, and Mac-based workflows
PREFERRED
Knowledge of digital asset/document management and standardized naming and version-control practices Knowledge of children's publishing, Christian education, curriculum, or UMPH markets Experience with Microsoft 365 and adapting assets for presentations, web, email, video, or social media AI-Enabled Workplace The United Methodist Publishing House is committed to maximizing the impact of artificial intelligence by adopting and integrating AI tools across our work. These technologies are vital to enhancing productivity, fostering creativity, and strengthening decision-making. All staff members are expected to engage thoughtfully and responsibly with AI as part of their professional responsibilities.
Core expectations include:
Responsible AI Integration - Leverage AI tools strategically to streamline workflows, generate actionable insights, and deliver exceptional outcomes that advance our mission. Critical Evaluation & Oversight - Apply professional judgment and critical thinking when reviewing, refining, and validating all AI-generated content and recommendations to ensure accuracy and alignment with our standards. Continuous Learning & Innovation - Maintain curiosity and adaptability toward emerging AI technologies, actively contributing to innovative practices within your area of expertise while supporting organizational growth. Ethical & Secure Practice - Uphold UMPH's commitment to ethical, transparent, and secure AI usage, ensuring all applications align with our mission, values, and community standards. Equal Employment Opportunity UMPH is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
