Sr. Graphic Designer / Marketing Associate

All jobs at Southern Champion Tray (SCT) require Team members to act in accordance with the shared Core Values and Operating principles of the company as they perform specific job functions. These include:

• Trustworthy – We strive for our actions to match our words in all our relationships.
• Servant – Hearted – We enable and empower our team to serve the needs of customers, Team members, suppliers, and the community.
• Relational – We aim to build healthy relationships while fostering an environment that promotes compassion, balance, and personal and professional growth.
• Resourceful – We value strategic insourcing, first looking to create solutions internally, and then looking to apply that knowledge to future opportunities.

SUMMARY

Key member of Southern Champion Tray’s Marketing team, responsible for bringing the SCT brand to life through compelling, consistent visual communications while also supporting broader marketing initiatives.

This role combines senior-level graphic design expertise with hands-on marketing execution. The ideal candidate is a highly skilled designer who can independently manage creative projects from concept through completion, while also contributing to product launches, campaigns, digital marketing, sales enablement, events, and other initiatives that strengthen the SCT brand and support profitable growth.

The position requires someone who is both creative and practical, able to develop strong visual solutions while understanding the business objective, audience, and message behind each project.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Marketing Execution: Coordinates and executes creative components of marketing materials, including product catalogs, brochures, sell sheets, trade advertisements, trade show displays, manuals, and other collateral
• Brand Management: Ensures implementation of brand guidelines, guaranteeing consistency and high-quality standards across all design elements 
• Collaboration: Works closely with Marketing Manager to align design and communication strategies with overall business goals
• Team Leadership: Mentors design team, fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement

• Digital Integration:
  • Oversees integration of any new technologies to enhance our capabilities 
  • Leverages AI-powered creative tools to enhance concept development, image creation and editing, design exploration, production efficiency, and other creative workflows while maintaining SCT brand standards, quality, and originality

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Exhibits exceptional presentation and communication skills to effectively articulate vision internal teams and external partners 
• Demonstrates meticulous attention to detail and strong ability to work under tight deadlines
• Utilizes organizational agility to navigate complex projects, working across functional areas to gather necessary inputs and drive projects to completion 
• Builds and maintains strategic relationships across the organization, fostering cross-functional collaboration and trust 
• Stays current on design, digital marketing, packaging, motion graphics, animation, and visual communication trends and identifies opportunities to apply relevant ideas to SCT's marketing

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities but may assist with training and mentoring other team members.

DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS

• Expands expertise in integrated marketing, digital marketing, visual communication, and emerging design trends to strengthen SCT’s brand and marketing effectiveness
• Continues to develop advanced capabilities in AI-powered creative tools and evaluates new technologies that improve creative quality, efficiency, and workflow while maintaining responsible AI practices
• Builds increasing influence as a creative partner by translating business objectives, audience needs, and stakeholder input into effective marketing solutions
• Strengthens project leadership skills by independently managing increasingly complex, cross-functional creative initiatives from concept through completion
• Mentors and shares knowledge with other design and marketing team members, contributing to continuous improvement, innovation, and capability development
• Develops the ability to evaluate creative and marketing effectiveness using feedback, performance data, and business outcomes to inform future campaigns and initiatives
• Expands knowledge of SCT’s products, customers, markets, and business strategy to better connect creative work to profitable growth and broader organizational objectives

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Marketing, or a related field. Advanced degrees or professional certifications are highly desirable.
• Minimum seven (7) years in marketing and graphic design
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating branding initiatives, digital marketing strategies, and comprehensive marketing campaigns
• Advanced knowledge in website development and design principles, including CMS platforms like WordPress and SharePoint
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), MS Office, and digital marketing tools and platforms
• Proficiency in Adobe After Effects and Premier Pro, a plus
• Proficiency with AI-powered design and creative tools, including experience using generative AI as part of the creative process for concepting, image development, editing, ideation, and workflow efficiency
• Experience developing presentations and working within Microsoft PowerPoint and other Microsoft 365 applications
• Proven track record of innovative design for promotional plans, including research, pilot programs, and execution of marketing programs for a diverse product portfolio 
• Understanding of responsible AI use in a professional creative environment, including appropriate consideration of brand integrity, confidentiality, intellectual property, accuracy, and final human review

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Eighteen (18) years of age or older
• Successful completion of pre-employment drug screen, physical and background check
• Dependability
• Valid driver's license
• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle
• Willingness to travel occasionally by air and land

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Excellent interpersonal and communication (both verbal and written) skills

• Ability to work satisfactorily as a Team Member and communicate with all levels within the company
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. 
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and consistency.
• Ability to receive feedback, collaborate effectively, and translate stakeholder input into strong creative solutions. 
• Excellent organizational skills
• Detail oriented
• Adept at problem solving and finding creative solutions
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment on a customary and regular basis 
• Ability to set, adjust and change daily priorities
• Ability to handle sudden changes in project/priority and multiple tasks simultaneously in a positive fashion
• Ability to manage conflict and resolve issues in the most positive fashion for all parties concerned

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to read and understand complex documents, letters, etc. and write legibly in English. 
• Ability to understand and speak clearly, and communicate in English

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide both fractions and decimals, solve equations, read measurements 
• Ability to use formulas to calculate and analyze data

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form

• Ability to evaluate effectiveness of design and marketing materials in achieving branding consistency and business objectives
• Strong problem-solving skills to identify and address bottlenecks or inconsistencies in creative processes.
• Proficiency in assessing new tools and technologies for design to enhance SCT's capabilities
• Capacity to manage resources efficiently, prioritizing projects based on business impact and available resources
• Analytical mindset to optimize workflows for efficiency and quality

CAREER PATH AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Support for continuous learning and professional development
• Mentorship programs fostering growth within the marketing and communications team

VALUES ALIGNMENT

• Demonstrated commitment to integrity, ethics, and corporate social responsibility
• Ability to embody and promote SCT’s core values: Trustworthy, Servant-Hearted, Relational, and Resourceful

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team member successfully performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, but the essential functions cannot be eliminated or performed by others. 

While performing the duties of this job, regularly required to remain in a stationary position a minimum of 50% of the time, move and regularly operate a computer and other office equipment and properly employ objects, tools, and/or controls. Frequently required to communicate and exchange accurate information. 

While performing the duties of this job, regularly required to walk, stand, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls and reach with arms and hands. 

Specific vision abilities include close vision, color vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 

May frequently transport up to ten (10) pounds and occasionally transport up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Lifting devices must be used or help must be requested for anything over twenty-five (25) pounds. 

Ability to occasionally travel by land and/or air for extended periods of time. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and cannot be eliminated or performed by others.

While performing the duties of this job, regularly exposed to a climate-controlled office environment and occasionally a shop manufacturing environment. 

Office environment exposures include frequent telephone and computer use. The noise level in the office is usually moderate consistent with an office environment. 

Shop manufacturing environment exposures include exposure to moving mechanical parts, machinery, tools and equipment, heights, vibration, fumes or airborne particles, motorized vehicles, machining operations, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the shop is usually loud consistent with an industrial manufacturing facility and may require hearing protection in certain areas.

Occasionally exposed to travel hazards associated with automobile and/or airplane travel. 

WORK LOCATION

On-Site – Position requires regular presence at the assigned work location.