Graphic Designer/Senior Graphic Designer

THE AGENCY

The General Services Agency (GSA) is made up of Fleet Services, Facilities, Procurement, Special Services, Security, Business Support, and the Parks Department and is responsible for a broad spectrum of services to all the County departments and agencies. It requires a very diverse workforce to accomplish the GSA mission of contributing to the quality of life in Ventura County by partnering with their customers to provide expertise and cost-effective service delivery.

THE POSITION

Under general direction, designs and produces visual communication materials for County departments across print, digital, web, and social media platforms. Works within established branding, accessibility, and communication standards to deliver accurate, timely, and high-quality design solutions. Collaborates with internal clients, Public Information Officers, and vendors to support departmental and County communication objectives.

Graphic Designers perform professional graphic design work involving the execution of assigned projects within established creative, branding, and accessibility frameworks. The work focuses on applying standard tools, processes, and guidelines.

Senior Graphic Designers are assigned advanced, highly complex work requiring independent judgment, strategic design consultation, and responsibility for County-wide or multi-department initiatives.

What We Offer

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• Merit Increases: New employees are eligible for an initial 5% merit increase within the pay range upon completion of at least 1,040 hours (approximately 6 months). Subsequent merit increases within the pay range will be upon completion of each additional 2,080 hours (approximately one year) from the initial merit increase.
• Educational Incentive: An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree
• Vacation Accrual: New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the irst 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year.
• Annual Leave Redemption: After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash-in" or edeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Sick Leave: Full-time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Deferred Compensation: Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans: Full-time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $27,898 annually to offset the purchase of medical, dental and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.
• Employee only: $519 per biweekly pay period
• Employee plus one dependent: $835 per biweekly pay period
• Employee plus family: $1073 per biweekly pay period
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.
• Pension Plan: Participation in the County's defined pension plan, which has reciprocity with CaLPERS.
• Holidays: 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits: Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

DEPARTMENT/AGENCY

General Services Agency - Document Publishing Department

PAYROLL TITLES AND ANNUAL SALARIES

Graphic Designer: $59,772.38 - $83,681.33

Senior Graphic Designer: $65,749.62 - $92,049.46

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department. Graphic Designer and Senior Graphic Designer are represented by the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 501 (IUOE) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Conceptualizes and produces visual assets that enhance public engagement and strengthen branding for multiple County agencies, by utilizing computer publishing application software (i.e. Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat), Canva) to design materials for print, digital, and social media platforms.
• Creates and prepares documents for review and final production while ensuring alignment with County branding and communication objectives.
• Formats and prepares files for print and digital distribution, ensuring accuracy in color management, typography, and layout; conducts quality assurance checks to maintain brand integrity and prevent production errors.
• Oversees and manages multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring effective prioritization and timely delivery; utilizes project management tools such as VC Print, Asana, and Harvest to monitor progress, streamline workflows, and optimize efficiency.
• Collaborates and communicates with County agencies to understand project objectives and deliver strategic design solutions; recommends process improvements, leverages automation and AI tools, and ensures compliance with branding standards.
• Develops visual strategies for urgent projects and crisis communications; offers creative input for departmental initiatives and contributes to process enhancements that improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Operates a vehicle to travel to County facilities and events, and to meet with offsite vendors.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

In addition to the duties above, the Senior Graphic Designer:

• Directs and executes complex design initiatives across print, digital, video, and large format media.
• Provides art direction and ensures creative solutions align with strategic objectives and County branding standards.
• Plans storyboards, scripts, films, and edits videos for County departments.
• Incorporates sound mixing, music production, and motion graphics for multiple platforms, including social media and standard formats.
• Serves as a primary creative advisor to executive leadership, Public Information Officers, and department heads.
• Recommends and coordinates innovative design strategies and emerging technologies to enhance communication and outreach, while coordinating efforts across teams to ensure consistency and alignment.
• Sources and manages promotional items and event materials, including tents, banners, brochures, and branded merchandise; oversees development and maintenance of an online County swag store.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

Education, Training, And Experience

Graphic Designer: An associate’s degree in graphic design, visual communications, fine arts, or closely related

A ND

Three (3) years of professional graphic design experience creating print and digital communication materials, including one (1) year using industry-standard design and multimedia software, tools, and equipment. Experience should include designing and producing visual materials, file preparation and quality control, working within branding standards, and coordinating with clients and production staff.

Education Substitution : Qualifying experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis; in addition to the required qualifying experience.

Senior Graphic Designer: An associate’s degree in graphic design, visual communications, fine arts, or closely related

AND

Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in graphic design, including advanced multimedia production, project management, and advisory or lead-level responsibilities of which three (3) years must include experience using industry-standard graphic design and multimedia software, tools, and equipment. Experience should include designing and producing visual materials, file preparation and quality control, working within branding standards, and coordinating with clients and production staff.

Education Substitution : Qualifying experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis; in addition to the required qualifying experience.

Necessary Special Requirements

• 2 years full-time experience working with Adobe Creative Cloud apps, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat.
• Experience with current printing processes including digital color, offset, and wide format.
• Pre-production experience in file set-up for printing and preflight quality control.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge Of

• Principles and techniques of graphic design and visual communication, including typography, color theory, layout, and composition; multimedia design and production methods for print, digital, web, and social media platforms.
• Industry-standard graphic design and multimedia software (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat and Canva), as well as related tools and equipment.
• Established branding standards, accessibility requirements, and inclusive design practices (applicable to public sector communications-Sr. Level), including providing technical guidance; project management software (e.g., VC Print, Asana, Harvest).
• Principles related to creative and multimedia projects, including monitoring progress, scheduling, coordinating tasks, tracking workflows, streamlining processes, and optimizing efficiency.
• Merging design technologies and tools, including AI-assisted design applications, as permitted by organizational policy.
• Customer service principles related to consultation and needs assessment.

Skill in

• Designing and producing visual communication materials that meet established branding, accessibility, and communication standards.
• Providing graphic design services and art direction for County-wide communication initiatives.
• Developing and implementing clear and accurate visual design solutions for high-profile or specialized communications.
• Managing multiple design projects concurrently and meeting established deadlines, including setting priorities independently.
• Preparing files for print, digital, and online production and performing quality control checks.
• Communicating design concepts and project status effectively, orally and in writing.

Additional skills for Senior Graphic Designer

• Overseeing design workflows and ensuring quality, consistency, and compliance with established standards.
• Coordinating work with departments, leadership, and external vendors and providing expert design consultation.
• Skill in fostering collaboration and maintaining clear, professional communication with diverse stakeholders to align project objectives and delivers strategic outcomes.

Ability to

• Perform professional graphic design work with general (limited-Sr. level) supervision and within established guidelines.
• Follow oral and written direction.
• Apply standard tools, processes, and procedures.
• Plan and organize work to meet project timelines and production requirements;
• Evaluate design work for quality, effectiveness, and compliance with established standards.
• Adapt to changing priorities and evolving technologies while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Incorporate feedback and revise designs to meet communication objectives.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Safely and lawfully operate a vehicle.

Additional Abilities for Senior Graphic Designer

• Perform highly complex graphic design and multimedia work with a high degree of independence and professional judgment.
• Serve in a technical lead or advisory capacity on design standards, and best practices.
• Analyze complex communication needs and recommend appropriate design approaches.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE

This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time. Apply as soon as possible if you are interested. Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.venturacounty.go v /jobs . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

Note to Applicants: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying

All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam AT THE TIME OF FILING. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION — qualifying

All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and selection process.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%

A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an oral exam will not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies for this position within the Document Publishing/General Services Agency.

There is currently one (1) Senior Graphic Designer Regular full-time vacancy and one (1) intermittent Graphic Designer vacancy.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

Applicants may be subjected to a thorough background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information and driving record.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information regarding this recruitment, please contact Chinna Nahabedian by email to ***email_hidden*** or phone (805) 654-2458.