Senior Graphic Designer (3-Month Contract)

The Senior Graphic Designer is responsible for leading the creative direction, development, and execution of visual communication materials and marketing campaigns for Sharjah Education Academy (SEA). Working closely with the Marketing and Communications team, the role oversees the development of creative concepts, key visuals, and design materials for academic programme launches, institutional events, digital campaigns, publications, and promotional activities. The Senior Graphic Designer ensures that all creative outputs reflect the Academy's professional and institutional positioning while maintaining consistency with its established brand identity across Arabic and English communications. The position requires a combination of creative leadership, hands-on design expertise, and effective collaboration with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to deliver high-quality visual materials within established timelines.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the creative direction and execution of visual communication projects from initial concept through to final delivery.
• Develop creative concepts, key visuals, campaign identities, and design systems for digital, print, and event applications.
• Ensure consistent implementation of the Academy's visual identity, brand guidelines, and institutional standards across all creative materials.
• Design and oversee the production of bilingual Arabic and English materials, ensuring appropriate typography, layout, and visual hierarchy.
• Translate marketing and communication briefs into effective visual concepts that support the Academy's strategic objectives.
• Collaborate closely with content writers, marketing specialists, and communications team members to ensure alignment between visual and written content.
• Develop and oversee creative materials for academic programme launches, institutional campaigns, conferences, exhibitions, and official events.
• Guide internal designers and external creative suppliers, providing clear direction, feedback, and quality assurance.
• Present creative concepts and design proposals to internal stakeholders in both Arabic and English, incorporating feedback and managing revisions.
• Manage multiple creative projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to approved specifications.
• Oversee the preparation of final artwork and production-ready files for digital platforms, publications, signage, and other print applications.
• Review and approve design outputs to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with established brand standards.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the Academy's visual communications through innovative yet institutionally appropriate creative approaches.
• Stay informed of developments in graphic design, typography, digital media, and creative production practices.
• These duties and responsibilities are subject to change, and additional tasks may be assigned as required by the line manager or the Academy.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Multimedia Design, Fine Arts, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in art direction, senior graphic design, or creative design leadership.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing visual identities, marketing campaigns, and creative materials for corporate, government, or institutional organisations.
• Strong professional portfolio showcasing creative direction, branding, bilingual design, and integrated marketing materials.
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English is mandatory.
• Proven experience working within established brand guidelines and managing creative projects involving multiple stakeholders and approval processes.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Experience with event branding, digital campaigns, and print production.
• Previous experience in the UAE or GCC is preferred.
• Experience working with educational institutions, universities, or government entities is an advantage.

Required Competencies:

Skills

• Advanced expertise in art direction, visual communication, graphic design, and creative concept development.
• Strong understanding of corporate and institutional branding, with the ability to balance creativity and formal visual representation.
• Excellent Arabic and English typography, layout composition, and bilingual design capabilities.
• Ability to translate complex communication objectives into clear, engaging, and visually consistent creative materials.
• Proficiency in developing campaign identities, key visuals, and adaptable design systems across multiple platforms.
• Advanced knowledge of digital design, print production, artwork preparation, and technical specifications.
• Strong presentation skills, with the ability to communicate creative concepts and design decisions effectively in Arabic and English.
• Ability to provide creative guidance, constructive feedback, and quality control throughout the design process.
• Familiarity with motion graphics, social media content formats, and multimedia design requirements.
• Ability to manage creative workflows, coordinate with external suppliers, and ensure consistent delivery against project requirements.

Behavioural Competencies

• Strong creative judgment and attention to detail, with a commitment to maintaining high professional and institutional standards.
• Ability to balance creative innovation with established brand guidelines and organisational expectations.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.
• Capacity to work independently, take ownership of deliverables, and maintain consistent quality under pressure.
• Effective collaboration and communication skills when working with multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
• Flexibility and adaptability in responding to changing priorities, feedback, and project requirements.
• Professionalism and sound judgment when managing sensitive or high-profile institutional materials.
• Ability to receive and incorporate stakeholder feedback while maintaining the integrity of creative concepts.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving and identifying opportunities to improve creative processes and outputs.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and keeping up to date with emerging design trends, technologies, and industry practices.

Contract and Work Requirements:

• This is a three-month, fixed-term contract.
• The position is based exclusively on-site at Sharjah Education Academy, Sharjah, UAE. Remote and hybrid working arrangements are not available.
• Professional proficiency in both Arabic and English, written and spoken, is essential.
• Candidates must be able to join within a short timeframe.