Visual Communications Project Coordinator

Job Description

MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Technical Communications group is seeking a passionate graphic design professional to join our growing team as a Visual Communications Project Coordinator, supporting Laboratory events, conferences and technical workshops. Our group provides a broad range of design and communications services to the Laboratory’s research staff supporting projects focused on National Security. We work in a fun, fast-paced and agile environment where flexibility and adaptation are key.

The Visual Communications Project Coordinator provides design direction and project oversight for a variety of visual communications services in support of the Laboratory’s technical research and operational initiatives. Design services include but are not limited to static and interactive technical presentation materials, technical illustrations, large format displays, brand/identity design and communications campaigns. In this role the Visual Communications Project Coordinator meets with event leads and other internal clients to discuss project goals, gather requirements and conceptualize creative solutions that distill but highlight the scientific research or message being conveyed. The primary responsibility is to generate creative concepts as well as monitor the production and delivery of high-quality services from design roughs through finished product. Reporting to the Manager of Creative Services, the Visual Communications Project Coordinator resolves conflicting agendas and inconsistencies between the various stakeholders, manages client expectations, and ensures that project deadlines are maintained.
 

Client Liaison and Communications Design Coordination

-    Meet with clients to review project requirements and develop a production schedule to meet deadlines
-    Review client-supplied supporting materials to interpret complex technical concepts and translate them into visual designs that target unique audiences
-    Design and deliver visual communication components to support sponsor reviews, technical initiatives, scientific workshops, conferences and special events
-    Develop creative solutions and effectively collaborate with production teams which include illustrators, designers, printers, photographers, videographers, editors, and writers to ensure the design concepts and materials support the client’s message, strategies, and objectives
-    Partner with internal service departments to design, develop, and deliver communications campaigns for Laboratory-wide initiatives

Art Direction and Design Execution

-    Define desired intent of communication piece and translate into a visually compelling representation of the scientific research or operational initiative
-    Identify layout challenges, providing creative solutions prior to execution and assure clarity, consistency, legibility, color treatment, and proper format of final output.
-    Reinforce visual communication best practices and Laboratory design and production standards to customers and design partners throughout the Lab

Quality Assurance and Customer Service

-    Take initiative to maintain accurate job documentation and quality control by understanding general design and editorial guidelines
-    Manage internal customer relationships and facilitate escalations, troubleshooting, and design related inquires.
-    Enforce the Laboratory's design standards and ensure designers within Lincoln Laboratory are aware of the formal requirements of logo use, Laboratory identity, communication templates, security markings, and release review notations
-    Acquire and apply knowledge of DoD classification levels with an awareness of Laboratory mission and R&D requirements
Internal Process Development
-    Participate as a member of the core artistic direction team in the design of workflows and standardization initiatives to streamline logistical operations while maintaining high-quality deliverables.
-    Research and gain knowledge of design and technology trends, industry best practices and new approaches to delivering creative services

Qualifications

Required 

-    BA/BFA in Communication Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Marketing or related field or equivalent experience.
-    Solid working knowledge of information design and hierarchy, composition, color theory, and type as a design element.
-    Expert use of standard graphic design software (i.e., Adobe Creative Suite) and business management tools (i.e., MS Office) in both a Macintosh and Windows environment.
-    1-3 years’ experience as a graphic artist
-    1-3 years working in a creative environment in a customer facing role
-    A portfolio of sample work is required at time of interview.

Preferred

-    Experience coordinating small conferences and/or projects; familiar with collaboration/asset management tools and workflows
-    Experience in a print production environment