Graphic Designer & Illustrator in Colchester

To support and assist the Business Development and Marketing team to achieve the marketing strategy and to help to work towards Colchester Zoological Society’s conservation mission whilst providing a first-class experience for all its visitors.

The right person for this job will have 3 – 5 years industry experience and must enjoy working harmoniously as part of a small, but busy team. You’ll be helping to develop unique and original artwork for animal habitat interpretation, visitor information signage, layouts for print publications and large format signage, retail designs and digital design work. You will be vitally important in developing and implementing CZS branding, which includes illustration, on all material.

They will need to be able to work efficiently under pressure using exceptional creativity in your designs so that CZS is able to help raise awareness and funds for its conservation work as well as enhance the visitor’s experience. They will need to be able to work independently using their own initiative as well as part of a small team.

• To assist the Graphic Design team with achieving the workload including artwork for various communications and marketing but primarily the print design workload for various signage, interpretation and literature which includes illustration.
• To work alongside the marketing colleagues within the team to create visitor information signage and marketing material as required.
• Liaise with the Education team to produce effective and engaging information boards (interpretation) for animal habitats.
• Creating signs for all areas of the Zoo, both public and staff-facing, including temporary signage for events, new developments, catering outlets and retail.
• Designing and setting up for print of larger-format work, such as signage, banners and vinyls.
• Generating internal forms to support business processes.
• Creating adverts and advertorials for external publications.
• Producing realistic and scale-appropriate mock-ups of new signage and installations.
• Working to exact dimensions and taking accurate measurements of existing spaces in readiness to create signage and interpretation.
• Share ideas to create theming and design throughout the park and ensure that all existing interpretation and signage is maintained.
• Helping with stock checks to ensure necessary quantities are readily available of publications and print.
• Liaise with external companies for print quotes and samples.
• Management of incoming orders from external companies.
• Creating attractive and impressionable marketing publications.
• Copy checking marketing materials and publications.
• Research for various products and print formats for new and future items.
• Answering telephone and email enquiries regarding artwork internally and externally.
• Assisting with marketing communications.
• Helping to maintain the photo and video library for fresh imagery.
• Graphic design administration and general filing and organisation.

• A qualification and experience in graphic design and illustration with at least 3-5 years industry experience.
• Experience of Adobe Suite including Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop is required.
• Experience of working in an office environment.
• Work effectively and efficiently to deadlines.
• Good knowledge of Adobe Suite design software.
• Creative and able to use their own initiative.
• Open to new and different ways of working.
• Happy to work more hours if required to do so.
• Able to work as part of a team as well as individually.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Organised and able to multi-task.
• Passionate about their work.
• Experienced in creating layouts for printed and digital design.
• Experienced with large-format projects, including signage.
• Hard-working and committed.
• Practical and methodical.
• Flexible and able to swap between tasks effectively and efficiently to meet deadlines.
• Happy to work with constructive criticism and further develop design ideas.
• Great attention to detail.
• Interested in conservation and the tourism and hospitality sector.
• Experience in photography.

This is a full-time position offering 40 hours per week. As CZS is open 7 days a week, although it will not be a requirement to work every weekend, the successful candidate will be required to be flexible to be available to work during school holidays, public holidays, weekends and occasional evenings.

Black smart office wear with black trousers and shoes.

For the first five months of employment, the jobholder will be asked to complete a one month, three month and five month self-assessment. This will gauge their feelings of the job and assess their progress towards meeting targets.

CZS is a non-smoking environment and smoking is not permitted by members of staff whilst on the premises. CZS is an equal opportunities employer.

• FREE Zoo visits
• FREE onsite parking
• Staff events
• Discounts on Animal Adoptions, Zoo Passes and Animal Experiences
• Discounts in the Outpost Gift Shop
• Discounts in food outlets
• 28 days annual leave (incl. Bank Holidays)
• Competitive hourly rate
• Regular training