Designer and Production Manager

The George Eastman Museum offers a collaborative, informal, and supportive work environment where teams across marketing, development, curatorial, and exhibitions work closely to advance institutional goals. Projects move with momentum and variety, and the culture emphasizes collegiality, professional judgment, and clear communication. Within this setting, the Graphic Designer / Production Manager supports exhibitions and public-facing initiatives by translating ideas and scholarship into clear, well-crafted visual materials. The role involves independently planning and managing workflow, prioritizing multiple concurrent
projects, and exercising discretion in design and production decisions, while working in coordination with a supervisor and cross-functional partners. This position is well-suited to a mid-career professional who values brand consistency, is comfortable managing complexity, and is motivated by contributing meaningfully to the museum’s intellectual and creative work.

Design Leadership and Creative Problem Solving
Serves as lead designer for assigned projects by developing original visual concepts, design systems, and templates, and by applying established design standards as appropriate. Translates project goals into effective visual solutions across a range of platforms and formats, adapting designs to meet technical, production, and communication requirements.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
Works collaboratively with internal teams and the supervisor to identify project goals, define scope and deliverables, and establish production schedules. Communicates clearly and professionally with colleagues, vendors, and project partners throughout the design and production process.

Brand Stewardship and Quality Control
Ensures consistent application of the museum’s graphic identity and brand standards across all materials. Represents the museum’s interests in high-quality design and production through careful review of proofs, attendance at press checks when necessary, and attention to detail from concept through final delivery.

Production Management and Technical Proficiency
Manages production workflows, including file preparation, version control, proofing, vendor coordination, printing, and distribution. Demonstrates technical proficiency with design software, print production processes, and in-house printing equipment, and adjusts designs as needed to address production constraints.

Organizational Skills and Documentation
Tracks and secures versions of design files throughout the exploration and review process, maintains organized digital archives and project files, tracks project information using established logs and documentation systems, and contributes to efficient internal workflows and communication.

Professional Communication and Responsiveness
Participates in planning and production meetings, provides updates on project status, and responds effectively to feedback and direction from the supervisor and project teams. Demonstrates flexibility and professionalism in a dynamic, project-driven environment.

To be considered for this position, applications must include a cover letter, resume, high-quality professional design portfolio emphasizing print work that reflects the above experience, and three professional references. 

Required Education, Skills, and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Design or related field
• Minimum of eight years of experience in a position that aligns with the above responsibilities and goals, with at least four years acting in a production role.
• High-quality professional design portfolio emphasizing print work.

Skills and Competency Requirements

• Experience ensuring consistent application of brand standards and contributing to brand oversight institutional-wide.
• Extensive knowledge of, and experience working with, vector format graphics files
• Extensive knowledge of, and experience in, typesetting
• Knowledge of, and experience, with image reproduction, color correction, in print and large-scale exhibition graphics
• Ability to independently manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Project management
• Time management
• Excellent written and visual communication skills
• Excellent attention to detail 
• Strong ability to implement quality control standards
• Complex problem solving
• Good judgment and decision-making
• Customer focus

Physical Demands:

Some weekend and evening work may be required.  Local travel to printing and production firms will be required.  This position requires sitting, standing, crouching, bending, stooping, kneeling, walking, lifting, seeing, and reading. 

To be considered for this position, applications must include a cover letter, resume, high-quality professional design portfolio emphasizing print work that reflects the above experience (pdf or link to website), and three professional references. Please send your documents to [email protected].