Graphic Design Manager

• Graphic Design Manager
• £31,900 pending cost of living rise in August 2025. Grade 8.2
• Hours per week – Full-time, 35 hours
• 23 days’ annual leave (full-time equivalent)

Thank you for your interest in the position of Graphic Design Manager. Working in the Marketing and Communications team at Kent Students’ Union means being part of a fast-paced, student-focused environment where creativity, clarity, and purpose come together to make a real impact. We’re driven by insight and care deeply about connecting with students in authentic, inclusive, and engaging ways, whether that’s through brand storytelling, meaningful events, or amplifying student voice. We place a strong emphasis on collaboration, attention to detail, and producing work that not only looks good but feels right for the audience. We value fresh ideas, data-informed decisions, and creating experiences that are welcoming, empowering, and memorable. Our team is a place where strategy meets heart, and where every project aims to help students feel seen, heard, and part of something bigger.

The Graphic Design Manager Role is an exciting opportunity to join the vibrant Digital Marketing and Communications team here at Kent Students’ Union at a pivotal time as we launch our new brand this summer.

The successful post-holder will be instrumental in the implementation and success of the new organisational brand for Kent Students’ Union.

Day-to-day operations for this role will look like working with teams across the organisation to deliver diverse projects and campaigns across a range of channels for both print and digital assets. The Graphic Design Manager will be responsible for creating design work that engages our student population, represents our values and culture and elevates the overall creative output of our department.

The successful post-holder will be designing assets for a student nightclub, bar, coffee shop, clothing store and nursery, as well as our student-facing support services like student voice, advice and well-being. They will also be designing and involved in the creative direction for larger projects like Varsity, our leadership elections, and Summer Ball.

We are an agile department, which means we often work to short deadlines and need to be reactive based off many external factors that impact our activity. The successful post-holder should be used to working under pressure, but also as an integral member of a lean, tight-knit team, who support each other and are highly collaborative, working as creative leaders within the students’ union industry.

The successful post-holder will be responsible for managing the design and print budget, as well as relationships with internal and external service providers, support teams and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

Operational Duties

• Leading graphic design and motion graphics functions within the Digital Marketing and Communications team.
• Leading our design projects from concept through to completion across all physical and digital marketing channels.
• Oversee and contribute to the creation of promotional materials for all of Kent Students’ Union’s commercial and non-commercial services.
• Work alongside the Head of Marketing and Communications to contribute to and support the delivery of strong marketing campaigns and oversee activity from other members of the department when required.
• Develop and manage key relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Prioritisation of design requests and marketing activity in line with the priorities of Kent Students’ Union’s strategy and operating plans.
• To implement and develop Kent Students’ Union’s brands, ensuring supporting guidelines and training is delivered to staff across the organisation.
• Investigate and maintain awareness of marketing trends and technologies, particularly those related to the 18-25 youth and student market.
• Ensure we are constantly identifying and evaluating opportunities to improve our design materials and marketing activity.
• To work alongside commercial and non-commercial departments to evaluate the look and feel of our outlets and facilities.
• To manage and maintain our physical and digital signage.
• Ensure compliance with legal and legislative requirements within marketing and communications, including GDPR and copyright.
• To help in the planning and implementation of key events, including Welcome Week and Summer Ball.
• To ensure proper management and organisation of digital and print design assets.
• Carry out other duties and activities as reasonably required to support colleagues in achieving Kent Students’ Union strategy and operating plans.
• To coordinate the work of external agencies or freelancers.
• To line manage any graphic design student staff.
• To encourage open feedback and debate from team members across all departments and external clients.
• Provide support and training to members of the team, and wider organisation, in using design software and systems as required.
• Ensure design related expenditure is controlled and monitored in line with agreed budgets.
• Ensuring that all Kent Student’s Union financial reporting procedures are followed.
• Support the Head of Marketing and Communications in annual budget setting and reforecasts.
• To ensure value for money is obtained in the purchase and deployment of all design and print.
• Ensure departmental and organisational assets and resources are kept secure and maintained.
• Where possible, ensure we are re-using print materials, rather than single-use items to reduce unnecessary spending and environmental impact.
• To attend training sessions, and appropriate meetings, as and when required by Kent Student’s Union.
• To contribute to the positive image of Kent Students’ Union with students, the University of Kent, the local community and stakeholders.
• To demonstrate understanding of the organisation’s democratic structures.
• To ensure adherence to all systems design to reduce Kent Students’ Union’s impact on the environment.
• To act as an ambassador for Kent Students’ Union and show loyalty to the organisation, abiding by the Union’s constitutions, policies and procedures at all times.
• To undertake other tasks and responsibilities compatible with the level and nature of the post as required by your manager from time to time.

People Responsibilities (if any)

• To coordinate the work of external agencies or freelancers.
• To line manage any graphic design student staff.
• To encourage open feedback and debate from team members across all departments and external clients.
• Provide support and training to members of the team, and wider organisation, in using design software and systems as required.

Financial Responsibilities

• Ensure design related expenditure is controlled and monitored in line with agreed budgets.
• Ensuring that all Kent Student’s Union financial reporting procedures are followed.
• Support the Head of Marketing and Communications in annual budget setting and reforecasts.
• To ensure value for money is obtained in the purchase and deployment of all design and print.
• Ensure departmental and organisational assets and resources are kept secure and maintained.
• Where possible, ensure we are re-using print materials, rather than single-use items to reduce unnecessary spending and environmental impact.

Expected Behaviours

• To attend training sessions, and appropriate meetings, as and when required by Kent Student’s Union.
• To contribute to the positive image of Kent Students’ Union with students, the University of Kent, the local community and stakeholders.
• To demonstrate understanding of the organisation’s democratic structures.
• To ensure adherence to all systems design to reduce Kent Students’ Union’s impact on the environment.
• To act as an ambassador for Kent Students’ Union and show loyalty to the organisation, abiding by the Union’s constitutions, policies and procedures at all times.
• To undertake other tasks and responsibilities compatible with the level and nature of the post as required by your manager from time to time.

This job description does not form part of the contract of employment. Please see our website for full job spec, person spec and to submit your application.

About the role

• This is a full-time position.
• The contracted hours are 35 hours per week
• This post will be based at The University of Kent, Canterbury Campus.

Work-Life Balance

Kent Students’ Union is committed to facilitating a healthy work-life balance and has cutting edge flexible working policies.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

We have recently implemented our new EDI strategy 2023-28 the Strategy is here to ensure equity and inclusion are a priority for Kent Students’ Union. Please see the full document here Link

Annually we review racial diversity within our workforce and it is a key priority for us to improve racial and ethnic diversity amongst our workforce, and as such we particularly welcome applications from Racially and Ethnically Marginalised People (REMP) and have introduced a REMP Priority Interview Scheme.

Pre-employment checks

All job offers are conditional on the receipt of two satisfactory references.

We are also obliged to check your identity and obtain proof of your right to work in the UK, which you will be asked to provide at interview if you are successfully shortlisted.

Induction and training

All new staff benefit from an induction from the HR Team and their own team, as well as ongoing support and personal development.

How to apply

To apply: Please submit your application on our recruitment portal at ksu.co.uk/careers, to include a copy of your CV. We are not accepting CV's on their own for this position.

Please ensure that you pay particular attention in your application to detailing how your experience meets the requirements of the person specification and why you are interested in the position. If you have any questions about using the recruitment portal, please email kentunionrecruitment@ksu.co.uk.

Further Information

If you require further information, please contact:

Sarah Stewart

Head of Marketing and Communications

01227 824200

S.L.Stewart@kent.ac.uk