About the Opportunity

Job Summary:

Northeastern University’s Experiential Digital Global Education Division (EDGE) is seeking a Graphic Designer/Animator  to create innovative educational media content in support of teaching and learning goals of our digital learning products. This position is based in Boston, with the possibility of remote work. On-campus attendance will be required periodically for quarterly meetings.

The ideal candidate will excel at creating clear, engaging typographic visuals and illustrations to simplify complex concepts. They will design a variety of digital assets, including graphics, layouts, and animations, to effectively engage global audiences. Success in this role relies on strong teamwork, cross-functional collaboration, and excellent communication skills.

The Graphic Designer/Animator will work closely with learning experience designers, video producers, and faculty to conceptualize, design and develop engaging educational content including digital graphics, interactives, motion graphics, and animation. The person in this role will build for scalability, by anticipating the reuse of effects, animations, and styles. In addition to having strong typographic and visualization skills, the person in this role will need to apply project management skills to manage medium to large scale content development projects.

Ideal candidates will have broad multimedia development experience across multiple modalities and formats, with a strong background in graphic design and animation expertise, as well as be excited to discover new applications. The candidate should be a creative problem solver and be willing to work in a fast paced environment and be a team player.

This role will be responsible for:                                                                                                                   

• Media Vision & Scoping: Support development of media scope.

• Media Development: Conduct all phases of educational media creation, from thumbnailing, storyboarding to production of media such as interactives, graphics, and animation.

• Collaboration: Work closely with creative team members reporting to the Assistant Creative Director to identify and design the right modality for our learning products. Act as a team player and pitch in wherever help is needed across learning products, including supporting management of media production, communication across teams, and mentoring others as needed.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

1) Media Vision and Scoping

• Work closely with the Digital Media Production team and Learning Design team to identify the product’s media development vision and strategy, scope within timeline, and expectations of quality after identifying the media scope.

• Collaborate with the learning design team and faculty to suggest and identify media asset types, features, and development strategies that achieve product quality, time and budget expectations.

• Consult with the Assistant Creative Director for creative and logistical support as needed.

2) Media Development                                                                                     

• Identify, develop, and produce compelling educational media assets that support teaching and learning.

• Build media assets and components to be reused, scaled, and optimized across different learning management systems and distribution channels. 

3) Team Collaboration

• Contribute to positive team culture and collaborate effectively with design teams and when relevant, external vendors, to produce large scale digital media projects.

• Ability to take feedback from team members and clients and find the best ways to address concerns and provide new solutions.  

• Act as a team player and pitch in wherever help is needed across learning products, including supporting management of media production, communication across teams, and mentoring others as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, ideally in Graphic Design, Digital Media/Visual Communications, or related field.

• 3-5 years of professional design experience creating successful multimedia, from concept to production.

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite with an emphasis on After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, and experience with other applications such as Premiere Pro and Microsoft PowerPoint.

• Ability to create visuals and interactive graphics that translate instructional concepts.

• Strong commitment to user-centered design principles, inclusive-design, and experience designing for ADA compliance.

• Ability to generate, storyboard, and present clear ideas that meet project objectives and comply with brand and product guidelines, upholding Northeastern University’s values of inclusive excellence

• Ability to take feedback from team members and clients and find the best ways to address concerns and provide new solutions.

• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability to take on new projects and assignments on short notice

• Strong attention to detail and decision-making skills.

• Strong organizational skills while working on multiple projects and completing high-quality work against strict and conflicting deadlines.

• Proven ability to work effectively with vendors, when relevant, and collaborate with team members.

• Ability to maintain focus on priorities while multi-tasking and thrive in an agile environment.

• Positive and professional attitude; interest in learning new skills.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to interact with faculty and staff in a sensitive manner, maintaining positive relationships and building consensus.

• Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.

• Committed to creating a professional collaborative work environment by demonstrating a respect for colleagues and their expertise; cultivating open communication & feedback; and inspiring a unified commitment to elevating the standard of quality of the deliverables.

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.