• Job Description

  Req#: JUNIO004314

  Imagine sidewalks brimming with life. Protected bike lanes. Plentiful commute options. Decision-making that prioritizes equity. Buses that come often, to stops that are easy to access. This is the world Nelson\Nygaard is working to create.

  We know transportation can be a powerful force for good. But we aren’t the ones who enact the policies or pour the concrete. Our clients do.

  That’s why telling the transportation story, visually, is central to our work. Maybe it’s a slide deck that helps a city council rethink parking minimums. Or a swoon-worthy executive summary that turns NIMBYs into YIMBYs. Or a transit map so gorgeous and functional that riders instantly know they are valued.

  This is where you come in. As a Junior Graphic Designer at Nelson\Nygaard, you bring a strong understanding of transportation planning and a passion for bringing sustainable mobility to life in the form of slide decks, reports, infographics, maps, and more. You’ll use every side of your brain to tackle visual communications challenges with our clients across North America: transit providers, cities, counties, MPOs, campuses, you name it.

  About Nelson\Nygaard

  For over 35 years, Nelson\Nygaard has led the transportation planning field with our values and innovation. We’ve always been guided by the principle of putting people first—designing transportation systems for people, not just cars. This principle also extends to how we operate as a firm. We were founded by two women who believed in the benefits of a more egalitarian workplace, where leadership and creativity can blossom at all levels and where diversity is a core strength.

  Today, we are 150 talented and dedicated people in 13 offices across the country who continue to live by those values. What unites us at Nelson\Nygaard is the belief that transportation can change the world and our steadfast commitment to make the world more just, more sustainable, more connected, and more beautiful.

  Responsibilities

  Depending on your skills and our project needs, tasks will include:

  • Creating materials that make planning concepts resonate with non-technical audiences. This involves both graphics development and layout.
  • Developing maps, graphics, and other visualizations.
  • Laying out reports, with opportunities for written content creation.
  • Setting up presentations and preparing slide decks.
  • Designing materials for community engagement, like boards, posters, surveys, and social media graphics.
  • Developing project-specific branding including logo design, color selection, and font selection.

  You will also help elevate the functional and aesthetic quality of our firmwide visual communications; steward the Nelson\Nygaard brand; and learn, improve, and share design skills.

  Requirements

  • You have a very strong eye for design and examples to back it up. You can get key messages across to non-technical audiences. You have excellent attention to detail.
  • You’re a clear writer. You get to the point.
  • You have demonstrated experience using Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.
  • You can format content in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (or equivalents).
  • You have some familiarity with spreadsheets and GIS.
  • You’re resourceful, curious, communicative, and enthusiastic. You suggest solutions when identifying problems. You take initiative. You seek opportunities to learn and improve. You bring energy to teams.
  • You’re passionate about how sustainable transportation can make the world a better place. You understand the connection between transportation and equity. You’re committed to incorporating equity, diversity, and inclusion into your work.
  • You have a postsecondary education in urban planning, geography, engineering, public health, design, or a related field. We are open to candidates with alternative educational backgrounds who have demonstrated understanding of sustainable transportation.
  • You have 2 or more years of experience involving design, preferably related to urban or transportation planning.

  Nice-to-Haves

  The following skills are not necessary but experience with any of them would be considered a bonus: R, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WordPress, Unity, UX design, rendering, SketchUp, wayfinding, Photoshop, After Effects, Animate, photography, video capture, video editing, or Section 508 compliance.

  Salary and Benefits

  The annual salary range for this position depends on qualifications and years of experience:

  • Associate Designer I: $61,880 - $80,080
  • Associate Designer II: $72,072 - $88,088
  • Associate Designer III: $79,560 - $97,240

  Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, pre-tax transit and bicycling benefit, a 401k program, life insurance, and paid time off. Additionally, we offer flexibility for work from home up to 3 days per week.

  Applying for the Position

  To apply, please click on the “Apply Online” link. Qualified and interested candidates must submit the following items:

  • Resume
  • Work samples that highlight your skills (not to exceed 6 MB)
  • Cover letter

  In your application, please note your preferred Nelson\Nygaard office location, and whether you would like to be considered for the Senior Designer role or the Senior Transportation Planner role. The Senior Designer role would involve uniquely visual communications work, whereas the Senior Transportation Planner would involve a mix of planning and visual communications work.

  You may submit your cover letter in the form of a letter OR a slide deck. A traditional cover letter helps us understand your writing style, career goals, and why you think you’d be a good fit for the position. A slide deck gives you the opportunity to showcase your overall design style as well.

  If you’re submitting your cover letter as a slide deck:

  • Use any software you wish.
  • There is no slide minimum or maximum.
  • You are welcome to use pre-existing graphics or templates—after all, efficiency is important in consulting! Just make sure to note where you’ve done so.
  • Include full sentences, because (1) the deck needs to stand on its own without a presenter, and (2) we want to get a sense of your writing style. This means it’s okay for slides to have more text than you would otherwise include in a presentation deck.

  Please keep in mind:

  • We do not consider applications without a cover letter.
  • Remember that this is a visual communications position: we are judging your resume formatting.
  • If any materials exceed the file size limit, please provide a link, e.g., via Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or a similar service.

  At Nelson\Nygaard we believe that inclusion spurs creativity, and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people and ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status, we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve. We’re committed to maximizing the diversity of our team and want to hear from anyone who is passionate about our work.

  #LI-MC2

  Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

  The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

• About the company

  Mobility | Accessibility | Sustainability

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