WEB DESIGNER (remote)
What’s the job like?
We’re hiring for a remote Web Designer to work on collaborative teams with a Project Manager, Information Architect, and a Web Developer. You’ll work on multiple (2-3) concurrent website builds. At times you’ll consult with the identity and branding design team as well.
Core responsibilities of the Web Designer include:
- Designing beautiful web experiences for desktop, tablet, and mobile while adhering to client brand guidelines and internal accessibility standards.
- Collaborating with an information architect to translate wireframes to designs.
- Collaborating with other designers on occasion to produce concepts and exchange feedback.
- Collaborating with developers to plan feasible designs and quality check the finished product.
- Communicating with clients to get feedback on drafts and iterate as necessary under tight deadlines.
- Joining team meetings to help make decisions about the projects we want to take on and plan realistic project schedules.
- Juggling multiple projects and deadlines using project management tools such as Basecamp and Harvest. Communicating clearly and proactively with teammates about capacity to meet deadlines.
- Participating in collective, department, and committee meetings. Participating in anti-oppressive political education. Taking on internal operations work as needed to co-manage our collectively-owned and operated business.
We’re an ever-growing and changing shop, so this position will have room for growth depending on your interests, skills, experience, and the needs of the shop.
The ideal candidate will have*:
- Proficiency and experience creating design mock-ups in industry standard software (Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, or similar).
- Willingness to learn and produce mock-ups in Sketch.
- Ability to juggle multiple projects (3-4) while staying on deadline and within scope, or communicating any obstacles to teammates in a timely manner.
- Attention to detail, knowing your design details determine the development process.
- Interest and involvement in progressive social change work and/or worker-owned cooperatives.
- Interest and/or experience in business ownership (this position is on a path of collective ownership of our business).
- Commitment to a cooperative workplace, sharing of shop management duties, and becoming a principal worker-owner in a cooperative.
- Strong commitment to and willingness to engage in anti-oppressive political education.
- Full agreement with our Points of Unity.
Some nice to have’s are:
- Experience with and/or understanding of open-source content management systems (e.g. WordPress, Joomla, Drupal); the majority of our websites are built in WordPress
- Basic experience with web development or information architecture.
- Familiarity with wireframing and / or designing in Sketch, Figma, or similar program.
- Experience with project management.
- Experience with office or small business management.
- Experience with UX design, user testing, and/or quality assurance.
- Experience with collective decision-making.
- Familiarity with WCAG accessibility standards and design principles.
- Experience working with personas, user workflows, and working with content strategists.
What are the pay and benefits like?
The position is full time (37.5 hrs/week) at $34/hr**.
Our benefits include:
- 10 days of paid wellness/sick time each year;
- 10 days of paid vacation time each year, with an increase to 20 days after the first two years;
- 10 paid holidays each year;
- Full health, dental, and vision insurance; and,
- Flex Spending Accounts (FSA) for medical expenses and dependent care.
More benefits, including patronage (profit-sharing) and access to 401(k), come when you become an owner after 9 months of candidacy.
As a new employee, you will be eligible for an ownership position after completing a 9-month candidacy period with three evaluations. You will have both a “buddy” and a “supervisor” who will facilitate evaluations, support your growth, and orient you on what it means to be an owner of Design Action. You will be expected to fulfill certain collective duties, including attending a weekly Collective Meeting and regular all-staff trainings, in order to become an owner.
One of the biggest pluses of being at Design Action is the rare opportunity to be a worker-owner at a design & tech business that is explicitly committed to social justice. Our democratic workplace structure (no bosses!) allows us to put our political values into action. In addition, many of our members are rooted in community activism and organizing on issues such as anti-imperialism, prison abolition, tenant & housing rights, anti-racism, gender equity, and environmental justice. We also hold regular anti-oppression trainings as well as annual staff and department retreats where we can build our camaraderie with one another and strategize on ways to keep our business bold, radical, and thriving.
We are a Mac-based, closed-union shop (CWA typographical sector, AFL/CIO). Equipment including computer, peripherals, and budget for ergonomic set-up will be provided.
**While pay rates are not negotiable (all employees receive the same pay rate), DAC is committed to increasing compensation regularly so that we may provide a thriving wage.
To apply, please send the following to jobs@designaction.org:
- Resume / CV;
- Brief cover letter that includes how you heard about us; and,
- A portfolio of 4-6 relevant work samples, with a brief description of your role, the project goals, how you approached it, and what software you used. Screenshots or links are ok. Please include at least 2 examples of responsive sites you designed head to toe. Candidates who advance will be asked further details.
*BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), trans and gender non-conforming people, queer people, women, and disabled people are strongly encouraged to apply.
We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, especially if you are from a marginalized group or have experienced systemic barriers to education and advancement in your field.