Posted On: September 24, 2014
Media-Related Job
Media Organization: The Commonwealth Fund
Company Description
The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for two groups of people: High-need and high-cost individuals – the sickest 5 percent of Americans who account for 50 percent of health care costs, and America’s most vulnerable, including low-income people, the uninsured, ethnic and racial minorities, and the elderly. The Fund carries out this mandate by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. In so doing, the Fund has become a national leader in investigation and policy development related to tracking the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, reforming the health care delivery system, international health policy and practice, cost control and Medicare. The Fund has an endowment of $700 million, and an annual budget of $32 million, of which approximately 60 percent is spent extramurally on grants and 40 percent intramurally on developing programs, conducting research, and communicating results to influential audiences.
ROLE OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Fund’s communications strategy is designed to position the foundation as a widely recognized leader in generating timely, authoritative information for health care industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and the news media, to stimulate action to expand health care access and coverage and improve the quality of health care services. The Fund places a high priority on developing a public presence as an independent and nonpartisan information resource on health policy and health care issues.
The Communications unit has three operational areas: 1) publishing reports that harvest
the results of grant-sponsored or Fund staff work; 2) disseminating reports, and highlighting examples of high performance in the health system through the foundation’s Web site and other online activities; and 3) assisting Fund executives in developing working relationships with key journalists and drawing media attention to the Fund’s work. The Fund’s total annual Communications budget is approximately $3 million.
Over a typical 12-month period the Fund produces well over a hundred publications, from reports and issue briefs to blogs and newsletters, on a range of health policy topics. Visitors to the Fund’s robust website can find data centers and interactive features, charts and infographics, multimedia, and more. In addition, The Commonwealth Fund conducts dozens of forums for expert and health policy audiences, including an annual retreat for Congressional health leaders.
Job Description
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Publications and under the oversight of the Senior Vice President for Communications and Publishing, the Graphic Designer will be responsible for concept through execution of design projects for the full range of Commonwealth Fund publications, including reports, briefs, brochures, infographics, and various internal documents, in both digital, print, and social media formats.
The Graphic Designer will maintain a consistent look of all materials needed across media. The Graphic Designer will also provide support to the Assistant Vice President of Online Information and consulting Web Editor in the formatting and posting of content and the curation and selection of all graphics and photography for the Fund’s website, www.commonwealthfund.org.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lay out and format publications, including all text, figures, and art.
• Conceptualize and implement new designs for infographics, special reports, microsites, brochures, social media sites, and promotional and other materials.
• Provide creative direction to the Assistant Vice President of Online Information for interactive and other online features.
• Create multifunctional PDF documents for the Fund website.
• Maintain branding standards and update guidelines as needed. Develop and design new templates, guidelines, and guides.
• Provide support in managing the production of completed files to printers.
• Obtain estimates and negotiate pricing with vendors. Review printer proofs and samples.
• Commission and hire freelance photographers, developers, and designers as needed.
• Coordinate photo shoots and perform digital retouching and color correction. Curate images and maintain photo library.
• Design, format, and update PowerPoint presentations for internal and external meetings.
• Undertake special design projects as directed.
The Fund’s philosophy on successful performance in the job includes the willingness on the part of all staff members to handle any assignment necessary to further the goals of the institution. This may include taking on responsibility for other program areas or departments if the need arises.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of in-house graphic design experience (in an office environment) required. Formal or informal training in graphic design required. Nonprofit experience a plus.
• Education: BFA or BA in graphic design or communication arts preferred.
• Must be proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, Microsoft Word, and Powerpoint.
• Some experience with web design and related applications (e.g. Flash, HTML, CSS, Java Script) a plus. Experience with CMS preferred.
• Understanding of how branding supports non-profit communications
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must be very detail-oriented and able to work efficiently under tight deadlines while juggling multiple projects.
• Interest in and a commitment to The Commonwealth Fund’s mission is desirable.
The Fund has a relatively small staff to initiate, develop, and implement projects that will best fulfill its mission of helping Americans lead healthy and productive lives. Judgment, integrity, and the ability to listen with sensitivity to others are traits that are particularly important in an organization of this size, where teamwork is essential to effectiveness. The ability to work collegially with a variety of Fund staff and to assure appropriate professional and management review procedures for publication are key qualifications. Interest in and strong commitment to the Fund’s mission and current grants programs.
COMPENSATION
Commensurate with background and experience. The Fund offers an excellent benefits package (medical/dental insurance, life/disability insurance, pension plan, tuition reimbursement, ample vacation and lunch in staff dining room).
The Commonwealth Fund values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of individuals of diverse backgrounds, sex, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
To Apply
Send resume, link to portfolio, and cover letter via e-mail to:
dd@cmwf.org
Diana Davenport
Vice President, Administration
The Commonwealth Fund
One East 75th Street
New York, NY 10021-2692