Job Description

Graphic Designer

Job Title:Graphic Designer

Accountable to: Head of Communications (currently the Acting Head)

About Snape Maltings

Snape Maltings is a place of energy and inspiration – one of the world’s leading centres of music and a visitor destination of outstanding natural beauty.

The organisation runs concerts and festivals throughout the year, from the flagship Aldeburgh Festival, one of Europe’s leading classical music events, to the folk, world and jazz of the Snape Proms.

In addition to public events, Snape Maltings is home to an international Creative Campus for music which hosts artist residencies, professional development programmes and courses for musicians of all ages and career stages, from under 18s to established professionals. It also runs inspirational learning and inclusion projects exploring music’s ability to improve lives involving young people, prison inmates and people living with dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

In all our work, we are guided by our founder Benjamin Britten’s pioneering vision for a place of international importance, rooted in its local community.

Snape Maltings receives more than 500,000 visits per year, with its draws including its location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and its collection of award-winning independent shops, galleries and eateries.

Context of the Role

The Graphic Designer is a key member of Snape Maltings’ Communications team, which works across destination, music and retail marketing in order to:

  • meet annual box office income targets
  • attract visitors to the site
  • attract artists to professional development programmes
  • effectively communicate the remarkable activity that takes place in the Creative Campus throughout the year
  • support the retail business
  • increase awareness of Snape Maltings’ work

Snape Maltings has recently developed a new, overarching brand to unify the site and replace the previously separate arts and retail organisations. Our new brand is a year old and we are in an important phase of embedding and implementing the brand. The Graphic Designer will play a key role in this implementation, working with our external design agency, Silk Pearce, which designed the new brand.

Our graphic design work is split between our external agency, Silk Pearce, and our in-house Graphic Designer.

It is important that the Graphic Designer develops a love for the Snape Maltings brand and becomes a key brand guardian and advocate, while also developing a good working relationship with our external design agency.

Works closely with:

Digital Manager, Marketing Assistant, Retail Marketing Manager, all Department Heads, external design agency, printers.

Key responsibilities:

  • With the Acting Head of Communications, agree the external / in-house split of graphic design work, ensuring that Snape Maltings continues to increase both the quality of its design work and the value for money it spends on design.
  • Take responsibility for the efficient scheduling, management and delivery of all in-house graphic design work.
  • Act as an effective primary point of contact for all departments to discuss their graphic design requirements.
  • Agree design briefs and requirements with relevant colleagues and partners, work within agreed budgets and timescales and ensure that final designs are signed off.
  • Work with the Acting Head of Communications to ensure that the high volume of graphic design tasks is managed and prioritised in the best way possible.
  • Act as a key guardian of the Snape Maltings brand, both through own graphic design work and by taking an active involvement in ensuring that colleagues use the correct channels to get graphic design work done.
  • Design printed and digital material adhering to Snape Maltings’brand guidelines – including, but not limited to:
  • Leaflets
  • Brochures
  • Programmes
  • Flyers
  • Ads
  • Internal communications
  • Web assets
  • Email assets
  • Social media assets
  • Liaise with printers to ensure material is produced to the best possible standard, on time and within budget. Resolve any print production issues promptly.
  • Assist with the generation of content through photography and videography.

Other tasks

  • In common with all members of the Communications team, manage events from the Communications perspective – involving attending events, welcoming journalists, driving journalists and guests between venues, photographing and video-ing events, etc. Some early morning, evening and weekend work will be required and time off in lieu will be offered. This is particularly relevant to the Aldeburgh Festival in June.
  • Undertake any additional duties as reasonably required by the Head of Communications.

Person Specification – Graphic Designer

CRITERION / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE
Qualifications /
  • A degree in Graphic Design or equivalent

Skills/Knowledge /
  • Excellent knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom).
  • Strong conceptual skills with a proven creative approach and a keen eye for typography.
  • Demonstrable ability to work creatively within the confines of brand guidelines.
  • Able to produce strong ideas quickly, take on feedback effectively and then take ideas through to high-quality completion.
  • Able to produce high-quality work for both print and digital media.
  • Ability to produce high-quality work of different kinds: photography-based, typography-based and illustration-based.
  • Able to manage multiple projects effectively, planning and prioritising in order to meet tight deadlines while producing high-quality work within budget.
  • Clear understanding of print and graphic production processes.
  • Keen eye for detail.
  • Awareness of trends in graphic design.
  • Social media – able to use effectively as marketing and communications channels.
/
  • Knowledge of coding for emails (HTML, CSS)
  • Photography skills using a DSLR
  • Video recording and editing skills
  • Audio recording and digital editing skills

Interest / commitment /
  • An interest and commitment to the work of Snape Maltings
/
  • Keen interest in non-mainstream music and the arts

Experience /
  • Experience of managing print production process from start to finish.
  • Experience of creating high-quality design ideas that meet the brief.
/
  • At least 1 year’s professional experience as a Graphic Designer.
  • Demonstrable experience of working with clients to create work which meets their design briefs/requirements.
  • Experience in an arts-based environment

Ability/aptitude / personal attributes /
  • Organised – able to manage and prioritise large workload to meet strict deadlines.
  • Highly motivated and able to use own initiative.
  • High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • Good communication skills, with the ability to be rational and logical as well as creative and innovative.
  • Able to work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels.
  • Able to understand the different perspectives of different departments and colleagues.
  • Able to effectively take on board ideas and feedback from colleagues.
  • ‘Can do’, positive approach.
  • Strong team player.
  • Calmness under pressure
  • Ability to act as an advocate and spokesperson for Snape Maltings, its work and its brand.
  • Ability to act as an advocate for the work of the Communications department within the organisation.
/
  • Aptitude to learn and take on additional responsibilities

Special requirements /
  • Available to work flexibly at peak periods eg: June Festival which may include working out of normal office hours.
  • Full driving licence – to be able to drive pool vehicles.

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