Description
JOB SUMMARY
The Digital Designer reports to the Dallas Zoo’s Creative Director and is a key creative contributor within the Zoo’s growing creative department. This role is responsible for elevating the Dallas Zoo’s digital presence through visually compelling, on-brand, and user-focused design across the website, email marketing campaigns, social media graphics, and other digital assets.
This individual will play a lead role in shaping how the Zoo looks and feels online — ensuring consistency, creativity, and quality across all digital touchpoints — while pushing the brand forward through thoughtful, innovative digital design.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the design and execution of digital creative across multiple campaigns and initiatives, translating campaign concepts into polished, effective digital assets
- Design and produce high-quality creative for the Zoo’s website, landing pages, email campaigns, social media graphics, and other digital applications
- Serve as the primary design owner for DallasZoo.com, including ongoing design updates, page enhancements, and visual consistency
- Act as the creative lead for the Zoo’s email marketing program, designing visually engaging templates and campaigns that support attendance, membership, fundraising, and engagement goals
- Contribute to the visualization, conceptualization, and design of improved user experiences across all digital platforms
- Apply digital design best practices to transform complex messages and information into clear, engaging, and accessible visual experiences
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing & Communications, Membership, Education, Conservation, and other teams to create compelling digital assets that align with organizational goals
- Partner with internal creative resources to ensure digital designs meet usability, accessibility, and web standards while maintaining strong brand integrity
- Ensure proper implementation of designs within web and email environments, maintaining consistency and quality across platforms
- Collaborate with the creative team to brainstorm and produce digital assets including motion graphics, animation, video elements, and interactive content
- Support digital content planning by contributing design concepts and creative solutions for social media, web, and email channels
- Participate in periodic web and email reviews to identify opportunities for creative improvement and innovation
- Collaborate with marketing and insight partners at the Zoo to review performance learnings and apply insights to strengthen future creative work
- Manage and maintain the Zoo’s digital asset library and content management systems
- Perform other design assignments and support duties as assigned
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent professional experience) in digital design, visual design, graphic design, or a related field
- 2–4+ years of professional digital design experience, preferably within an agency or in-house creative team
- Portfolio required, with strong emphasis on digital design work demonstrating effective visual solutions to business and communication goals
- Strong passion for digital, web, and UI/UX-oriented design with a forward-thinking approach to brand expression and storytelling
- Proven experience designing high-quality email creative supporting promotional, e-commerce, and brand-driven objectives
- Experience designing and maintaining websites using WordPress, Elementor, or similar web platforms
- Working knowledge of web, email, and digital design best practices, with a commitment to continuous learning
- Experience with Prospect2 or comparable email marketing / marketing automation platforms
- Experience with integrations between email platforms and CRM or ticketing systems is highly desirable
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premiere Pro)
- Familiarity with modern design tools such as Figma or similar collaborative design platforms is a plus
- Motion graphics, video, and/or photography skills are a plus
- Experience with project management tools (Wrike, Monday, Asana, etc.) is a plus
- Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills
- High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively
- Ability to translate creative direction and briefs into engaging, audience-appropriate digital designs
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative, mission-driven environment
- Strong alignment with the mission and values of the Dallas Zoo
- Bi-lingual skills are appreciated
- Ability to work irregular hours (some evenings, holidays, or weekends)
- Ability to work special events and functions, as required
- Ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. This may involve some lifting, carrying, moving, pushing, and/or pulling of objects/materials of light weight (15-20 pounds).
- A valid Texas Class C driver’s license or the ability to obtain one within 90 days of hire, to operate Zoo vehicles
- Satisfactory completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check is required for employment