Senior Graphic Designer

Description

This role will lead the creation of high-impact visual communications across print and digital channels; to steward and evolve brand expression; and to enable a larger, integrated marketing function to deliver audience-centric campaigns that grow Donor Income – one-off, regular and monthly and improved brand awareness and reach. The Senior Graphic Designer partners closely with fundraising and marketing teams, translating insights into creative that is timely, relevant and measurable, while mentoring colleagues and maintaining rigorous design and production standards.

As MAF celebrates its 80th year of service, we are entering an exciting new chapter marked by bold ambition and purposeful growth. With a renewed vision to reach more isolated communities than ever before, we are embracing the significant opportunities to meet this challenge. A key part of this journey is integration—bringing together our people, systems, and operations in more unified and collaborative ways. This involves streamlining processes, enhancing cross-functional teamwork, and aligning our global efforts to ensure we are more agile, efficient, and impactful in our mission.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Campaign & Content Design

• Lead concept development and art direction for integrated campaigns (fundraising appeals, supporter engagement, events, advocacy), delivering design across print, web, email, social and video/motion touchpoints.
• Translate audience and channel insights into creative solutions that drive awareness, engagement and conversion to Donor Income – one-off, regular and monthly.
• Produce press-ready and pixel-perfect artwork; manage templates, mock-ups, and specifications for internal stakeholders and suppliers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work in partnership with Fundraising (Individual Giving, Church Engagement, Community & Events) and Marketing teams to plan and deliver omnichannel creative that supports campaign objectives and supporter journeys.
• Facilitate creative workshops and critiques; clearly communicate rationale, constraints and trade-offs to non-design stakeholders.
• Champion accessibility and inclusion in design (e.g., layout, colour, typography, alt text and document structures) to meet WCAG and print accessibility good practice.

Design Systems, Brand Standards & Governance

• Define, document and maintain design systems, visual frameworks, component libraries and scalable guidelines across digital products and print collateral—not just one-off assets.
• Act as brand guardian: enforce consistency across omnichannel experiences in both UX/UI and traditional graphic output, including typographic scales, colour usage, grid systems and photography/illustration styles.
• Establish governance processes (versioning, contribution, review and deprecation) to keep design assets current and discoverable for a growing marketing team.

AI Integration & Generative Design Workflows

• Use tools such as Adobe Firefly and ChatGPT for ideation, moodboards, copy exploration and rapid prototype generation where appropriate and ethical.
• Evaluate and integrate AI-assisted workflows—especially during early divergent-thinking and concepting stages—to accelerate iteration while maintaining human-led creative direction and brand integrity.
• Maintain responsible-use guidelines for AI (copyright, data privacy, bias, consent) and train colleagues on best practice.

Production & Supplier Management

• Scope, brief, and quality-assure work from external designers, illustrators, photographers, videographers and print/digital suppliers.
• Prepare detailed specifications for print and digital deliverables; review proofs and pass for press or publish, ensuring accuracy and quality control.
• Monitor timelines and budgets, escalating risks and recommending pragmatic options to deliver on time and to standard.

Leadership, Mentoring & Ways of Working

• Model collaborative, feedback-rich ways of working within an agile, multi-disciplinary marketing team.
• Mentor designers and content creators; share best practice, run show-and-tells and codify reusable patterns.
• Contribute to capability roadmaps (design tools, systems and training) that scale with organisational needs.

Measurement & Continuous Improvement

• Define and track creative KPIs aligned to campaign goals (e.g., engagement rate, response/conversion, cost per acquisition) and contribution to Donor Income – one-off, regular and monthly.
• Use insight and testing (A/B, multivariate, user feedback) to refine creative, improve accessibility and increase effectiveness over time.

In addition as with all Team Leaders you will be required to

• Role model organisational values and beliefs - to contribute to the shared spiritual life of the MAF UK team as a unique Christian charity. This will include encouragement of team members to attend, participate and lead in times of Biblical reflection and regular corporate prayer meetings.
• To participate in planning in accordance with the MAF UK strategic plan and as outworked through matrix programme and project teams.
• To support team members to participate in matrix programme and project teams, contributing skills and expertise to required timescales from the appropriate programme leader.
• To keep line manager informed of all relevant and timely information.
• At all times comply with statutory requirements for handling personal and sensitive data in a confidential manner and ensure that good personal data handling practices are developed, reviewed and encouraged
• To abide at all times with the Safeguarding and Conduct Policies, and all other MAF UK policies provided on the Intranet.

Christian values, beliefs and ethos of MAF UK:

As an evangelical Christian mission, MAF UK is seeking those who share in the values and beliefs of the organisation, as described in the mission, purpose, values and beliefs statements. All staff will be required to support and actively demonstrate the Christian values of the organisation and to take part in organisation activities such as staff meetings, prayer meetings, and away days.

KEY EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS

• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience) in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Interaction Design or related field.
• Evidence of continuous professional development (e.g., motion design, UX/UI, accessibility, design systems).
• Significant professional experience in a multi-channel design role covering both print and digital, ideally within the charity or values-driven sector.
• Proven track record leading creative for integrated campaigns—from concept to delivery—working closely with fundraising and marketing teams.
• Experience establishing and maintaining design systems and brand governance across a growing organisation.
• Supplier management and quality assurance across print and digital production; confident with specifications and proofs.Experience leading in accessibility standards and inclusive design principles to improve reach and impact.
• Experience working with an agile framework, familiar with scrum and sprint methodologies
• Expert user of Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects/Premiere) and familiarity with Figma or similar for components and libraries.
• Strong collaborative approach to typographic and layout skills; confident artworking and file preparation for print and digital.
• Excellent communicator—demonstrable ability to translate complex briefs into clear creative routes and to present rationale persuasively to non-design audiences and be a strong soft-influencer achieving a shared outcome.
• Cross-departmental peer-leadership.
• Comprehensive experience of taking a data-informed approach to design; able to interpret analytics/insight, leading on small tests and iterate accordingly using own initiative.
• Working knowledge of email templates and web constraints (HTML/CSS awareness) advantageous.
• Can evidence consistent knowledge of emerging market and cultural trends to anticipate and translate them into innovative, relevant design solutions that align with brand strategy and audience needs.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted creative tools (e.g., Adobe Firefly, Microsoft Co-Pilot) and their appropriate, ethical use.

Job location: Folkestone & Cranfield (hybrid working in line with our flexible working policy)

Terms and Conditions:

• Location: This role is base at the MAF UK Offices in Folkestone, Kent or alternatively Cranfield office Nr Milton Keynes
• Working Hours: At least 36 hours per week but in addition those required to achieve the agreed responsibilities, with 1 hour for lunch daily, unpaid. Hours should be agreed with line manager. Flexibility will be required for working additional hours and travel to meet business needs or for travel or meetings etc. on weekends.
• We welcome hybrid working in line with our flexible working policy, the needs of the business, the requirements of the role and your location. This will be discussed at interview.
• Annual Leave: Annual leave entitlement of 22 days per year and 8 paid public holidays per year.
• Pension Scheme: Non-contributory (10% of salary)
• 6-month probation period with a 3-month review
• Notice period is 3 months

How to Apply:

If you are passionate about making a difference and meet the qualifications, please submit your CV and a cover letter addressing how your skills and experiences align with the role's requirements. You can apply for the role by clicking Senior Graphic Designer in Folkestone | Careers at MAF UK Folkestone