Temporary Production Designer

Special Instructions to Applicants: 

All interested applicants should attach a resume, cover letter and a link to digital portfoli  in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.  Portfolios should demonstrate technical precision, typographic hierarchy and examples of multi-channel campaign execution.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities. 

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The Office of Public Affairs at Rice University is seeking a detail-oriented and technically proficient temporary Production Designer to support our Creative Services team. This is a part-time, project-based role focused on the high-level execution of brand assets, digital content, and print collateral.

Ideal Candidate Statement: 

The ideal candidate thrives on the "how" of design—taking creative concepts and ensuring they are flawlessly executed across a vast array of physical and digital touchpoints while maintaining the integrity of the Rice University brand.

Workplace Requirements: 

On campus position: “This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at [insert location and schedule]. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.”

Hiring Range: 

This is a temporary, non-benefits eligible, non-exempt hourly position. 

$35-$38 per hour based on experience

Minimum Requirements: 

• Technical Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Production Logic: Deep understanding of print production processes, including paper stocks, binding, and file preparation.
• Organization: Proven ability to meet strict deadlines and manage multiple moving parts simultaneously.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal skills to consult with campus partners and explain technical requirements to non-designers.

Preferences:

• Experience working within a higher education or large-scale institutional brand.
• Background in managing vendor relationships and reviewing press proofs.
• Experience creating user-friendly templates for non-designers in Canva.

Essential Functions:

Core Responsibilities
In this role, you will manage a steady flow of diverse projects, ranging from brand identity maintenance to high-stakes production management.

Design & Brand Identity

• Identity Systems: Design and typeset official "lockup" logos for schools, research institutes, and various campus partners, ensuring strict adherence to University brand standards.
• Digital Assets: Execute technical production for social media graphics, email headers, and web banners for the Public Affairs teams.
• Print Collateral: Prepare print-ready files for brochures, posters, event invitations, and environmental signage, ensuring correct color profiles, bleeds, and resolution.
• Quality Control: Perform rigorous pre-flighting on all files to catch errors before they go to press or go live.

Additional Creative Support

• Template Creation: Develop easy-to-use Canva or Adobe Express templates for campus partners to empower them to create brand-aligned content.
• Photo Manipulation: Perform basic photo retouching, cropping, and color correction for use across University news platforms.
• Accessibility Compliance: Ensure all digital designs meet ADA/WCAG accessibility standards (e.g., proper contrast ratios and alt-text preparation).

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 
Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University  

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.