Rice University - Temporary Creative Designer

Graphic Designer is needed in Houston, United States.

Client: Rice University

Location: Houston, TX

Contract: Part-time

Job Description

The Office of Public Affairs at Rice University is seeking an agile and highly creative Temporary Creative Designer to support our Creative Services team. This position requires a “full-lifecycle” creative thinker—someone who can brainstorm a fresh concept on the fly, pitch it to a client, and manage it all the way through to final production and vendor delivery.

The ideal candidate thrives on variety, loves fast-paced problem-solving, and wants to own projects from inception to completion while maintaining the integrity of the Rice University brand.

Workplace Requirements:
This position is an on-campus role, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at [insert location and schedule]. Work arrangements may be subject to change, and the position is expected to be 20-25 hours per week (approximately 2 or 3 days a week). It is a part-time, project-based role, with an expected duration of 6 months.

Hiring Range: $35–$40 per hour based on experience. Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• Portfolio: A strong portfolio demonstrating both conceptual “big idea” thinking and polished, production-ready execution.
• Technical Expertise:
• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• High proficiency in Canva for rapid template creation and agile design needs.
• The “X-Factor”:
• Exceptional communication skills—comfortable presenting ideas to clients and negotiating specs with vendors.
• A proactive, “hungry” attitude; you don’t wait to be told what to do, you look for solutions.
• Ability to pivot quickly and handle tight turnarounds with a positive attitude.

Preferences:

• Experience with Asana (or similar workflow/project management tools).
• Proficient in Google Workspace for collaboration and presentations.
• Experience with simple animation creation.
• Deep knowledge of the print production process, including file preparation (bleeds, die-lines, color profiles) and a strong understanding of different printing types (digital, offset, large format, etc.).

Essential Functions

• Inception to Production: Own the day-to-day creative process from start to finish. Reporting directly to the Creative Director, you will take raw briefs, brainstorm concepts on the fly, design the assets, and prep them flawlessly for final production.
• Client & Vendor Collaboration: Act as a main point of contact for project execution. Communicate directly with clients to refine ideas and work closely with print/digital vendors to ensure final deliverables meet quality standards.
• Agile Content Creation: Develop a wide range of creative assets (digital, print, social, presentations) quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality.
• Brand Guardianship: Ensure all work aligns beautifully with clients’ established brand identities and guidelines.

Additional Information

Special Instructions to Applicants:
All interested applicants should attach a resume, cover letter, and a link to a digital portfolio in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues. Portfolios should demonstrate both conceptual “big idea” thinking and polished, production-ready execution.