Graphics Specialist

Position Information

Position Title

Graphics Specialist

Department

Communications/Marketing (Dept)

Primary Location

San Marcos Campus

Location Details

• Palomar College believes a healthy work-life balance can improve the physical, emotional, and mental health of our employees. In support of this belief, the District offers the opportunity to work remotely for certain positions, depending on the operational needs of the District and the provisions of the Remote Work Policy. Probationary employees are not eligible to work remotely unless approved by the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Human Resource Services. No employee is guaranteed the right to work remotely. No employee shall be authorized to work remotely 100% of the time unless approved by the Assistant Superintendent/Vice President, Human Resource Services.
• Palomar has multiple campus locations (San Marcos, Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and Fallbrook); training may occur at any of these locations and the work location is subject to change depending on future department needs.
• Potential future vacancies may include other District departments, locations, and/or work schedules (i.e. days, evenings or nights).

Full or Part Time

Part-time

Category

Classified

Hours per week

18

Number of Months

12 month

Work Schedule

• Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Occasional night and weekend hours may be required due to department needs.

Grade

24

Salary/Wage

• $2,455.04 [step 1] – $2,986.17 [step 5]. Step placement may be negotiable within this range dependent upon education and experience.
• If you are a current employee who applies via the external recruitment process and is selected for a promotion, step placement on the new grade will be in accordance with the applicable District agreement/handbook.

Salary/Wage Frequency

Monthly

Benefits

In addition to a competitive compensation structure , Palomar College also offers additional benefits.

• Paid leave benefits including vacation, sick leave and up to 25 paid holidays (pro-rated based on scheduled days to work and FTE/percentage indicated on the job posting)
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) – Confidential free counseling, financial, legal, personal and professional development resources for all members of your household
• Voluntary insurance benefit and investment options
• Enrollment in APPLE (Accumulation Program for Part Time and Limited-Service Employees), or CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) depending upon prior eligibility

Primary Function

Participates in the design and production of a wide variety of skilled graphic communications work for instructional, display, informational and promotional purposes that align with the graphic standards and branding guidelines of the College; prioritizes assigned work and estimates project costs as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, you must meet and provide evidence of the following minimum qualifications:

• Experience: Two years of professional graphic design experience.
• Note**:** For work experience, a “year” is defined as equivalent to 40 hours per week for 12 months.

AND

• Education: Equivalent to an associate’s degree in graphic arts, visual communications or a related field from an accredited college or university.

Transcripts must be included to receive credit for education and/or to substitute education in lieu of experience (i.e. Bachelor’s degree = 4 years of experience). Click here for Guidelines for Equivalency for Classified Positions.

Only coursework completed at, and degrees awarded by, accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be considered as satisfying the minimum qualifications. Coursework and degrees that are completed outside of the United States are required to have transcripts evaluated (evaluation to U.S. equivalency and a course by course analysis) by an appropriate U.S. credentials evaluation service. For a list of credentials evaluation agencies accepted by Palomar College, visit the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Services (NACES) website at https://naces.org/, or the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE) website at http://aice-eval.org/.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Antiracism (DEIAA) Statement

Palomar College serves over 30,000 students from a variety of backgrounds and we are proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our student body is rich in its diversity. Click here to see a quick overview of our student demographics on our recent Student Fact Sheet.

Palomar College is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and antiracism (DEIAA). We are dedicated to empowering students to succeed and are guided by our core values; some of which are the following:

• Access – We make education possible for everyone.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – We recognize and respect diversity, seek to foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, and strive to address inequities.

All positions require cultural competency which includes the sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Photography experience, preferably for use in collateral and digital promotional materials.
• Certification in Accessibility Design and/ or experience in accessible graphic design.

Licenses and/or Certificates

N/A

Supervision Received and Exercised

Supervision Received From: Director, Communications, Marketing and Public Affairs

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions: Essential responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develops and creates graphic designs, layouts and treatments for a wide variety of print and electronic materials to meet the needs and expectations of customers; prioritizes assigned work and project costs as needed; recommends the use of outside services as required; takes photographs for projects as needed; compiles final billing data on each job assigned.

• Designs and develops a variety of visual communication projects within budget and on time including District stationery and forms, promotional mailers and folders, special event flyers and invitations, performance programs, posters, proclamations, certificates, handbooks, newsletters, banners, temporary signage, campus maps, textile, graphics, and a wide range of other materials.

• Serves as a design consultant for District faculty and staff; plans aesthetic presentations for a variety of mediums for communication diversity; understands informational design techniques and visualizes informational structures.

• Creates original layouts as requested; enters copy and design information into computer system; assists in the overall production of specialized and original graphics; ensures maximum savings on each job through proper imposition, paper usage and other production factors.

• Keeps abreast of new developments in graphic design and print production including design and production software used in the print and web industry.

• Produces design projects, both electronic and print files for information and marketing needs and ensures Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility for all files placed online.

• Researches and recommends appropriate paper, brand, size, color, weight and finish that is best for the job; creates physical mock-ups and samples as needed.

• Prepares files for wide-format printing, mounting and installations for banners, signage and window coverings; ensures wide-format printers are in proper working order and are cleaned as necessary for optimal daily operations.

• Meets with outside vendors and performs press checks to ensure the accuracy, consistency and quality of jobs; checks in-house printer samples of jobs to ensure quality; gives final approval to print.

• Prepares files and instructions for printing on a variety of devices.

• Assists with student employee, short-term employee and intern training.

• Archives materials following established procedures.

Marginal Functions:

• Delivers jobs to clients.

• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Graphics communications expertise for various mediums and applications.

• Methods, practices and terminology of the printing and print production industry.

• Methods and uses of personal computers and graphics, drawing, presentation and other software for the design and preparation of printed and graphic materials.

• Theories and applications of color and form.

• Principles and techniques of creating digital graphics.

• File formats and their use in a variety of software programs.

• Various reprographics supplies, chemicals, inks and papers, including bond paper, custom printing stock and specialty fine papers.

• Health and safety policies, safe work practices, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other regulations applicable to the work.

• Modern office practices, procedures and equipment.

Skill in:

• Exercising artistic skill in conceptualizing, designing and laying out visually appealing graphics materials.

• Interpreting information and situations, creating artistic designs and making recommendations in accordance with sound design, layout and composition principles and applicable policies and guidelines.

• Applying graphic design and writing style and techniques appropriate for differing audiences and purposes.

• Organizing, setting priorities and exercising sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility.

• Completing large and small projects to meet customer needs and deadlines.

• Evaluating cost savings via paper, inks, quantities and formats; prioritizing work based on specifications and consultation with all parties including outside vendors.

• Working collaboratively with a wide variety of internal customers simultaneously.

• Operating a computer and advanced graphics, design, presentation and desktop publishing software.

• Communicating clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Understanding copyright law and privacy issues.

• Maintaining sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, age, cultural, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, nationality, race and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff.

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with vendors, contractors, consultants and others encountered in the course of work.

Working Conditions

Environmental Conditions: The incumbent works in an office environment using a computer where the noise level is usually quiet, and occasionally in a print shop environment around large, high-speed copiers, offset printing machines and related equipment where the noise level is generally loud when working near moving mechanical parts. The incumbent is occasionally exposed to fumes and airborne particles.

Physical Conditions: Essential and marginal functions may require physical fitness requirements necessary to perform the job functions with or without accommodation, such as the ability to stand, walk and sit; hear signal warnings and differentiate equipment operating sounds; both in person and by telephone; hear signal warnings and differentiate equipment operating sounds; use hands repetitively to operate computers; occasionally required to stoop, kneel, bend or crouch; and to lift, carry and move up to 50 pounds.

Terms of Employment

• The person selected for hire will be required to complete the following pre-employment requirements: live scan/fingerprinting, official transcript(s), and TB risk assessment. Other pre-employment requirements may be required depending on the position (i.e. certifications or licenses; see applicable job posting section for details). Successful completion of all pre-employment requirements is mandatory to be eligible for employment. These requirements are in accordance with the following Administrative Procedures and Board Policies: AP 7120, AP 7125, AP 7126, AP 7127, AP 7330, BP 7330, AP 7336, AP 7337, and BP 7335.
• Part-time, 18 hours per week, 12 months per year
• Please note, due to the working and physical conditions listed on this job posting, the person selected for hire will be required to complete a pre-employment physical, which includes a drug test. If selected, successful completion of all components of the physical is required to be eligible for employment.
• This position also carries a probationary period of six months from the date of hire.

Posting Detail Information

Open Date

10/26/2026

Close Date

11/10/2026

Open Until Filled

No

Posting Number

P1095P

Additional Application Information

• REQUIRED APPLICATION**MATERIALS:**Submit a digital copy of your portfolio by uploading it to the Supplemental Materials 1 link on the Documents Needed To Apply page of your application.
• The hiring committee will determine if interviews will be conducted in person at the College or via Zoom. Travel expenses are not reimbursed by the College. If a second-level interview is required, second-level travel reimbursement is only available for eligible candidates. HR will notify those who are eligible when second-level interviews are scheduled.