About The Company
At Awana, Equip Leaders – Reach Kids – Change the World. We are a global ministry dedicated to transforming communities through the gospel by engaging children and youth in biblical discipleship under the guidance of caring adults. With over 75 years of experience, Awana partners with local churches across the United States and around the world to equip leaders to make disciples of children and youth. Currently, our reach extends to over 10 million children in 140 countries, supported by more than 500,000 trained leaders in approximately 91,000 clubs and churches. Our mission is rooted in the belief that every child can come to know, love, and serve Jesus for a lifetime. We are committed to providing innovative solutions that foster spiritual growth and lifelong faith development, making a lasting impact on generations to come.
About The Role
We are seeking a talented and motivated Graphic Designer I to join our creative team. In this role, you will play a vital part in advancing our mission by creating compelling visual content that aligns with our brand and outreach initiatives. Your work will involve designing a range of digital and print materials, including layouts, icons, campaign assets, and photo compositions, using current design trends and technologies. You will collaborate closely with internal teams, freelancers, and external vendors to produce high-quality deliverables that engage our audiences—children, youth, parents, church leaders, and ministry partners. This position offers a primarily remote work environment with occasional travel to our offices in St. Charles, IL, or Nashville, TN, for organizational meetings and special projects. The role provides an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful ministry that impacts lives worldwide through creative expression and strategic communication.
Qualifications
- Minimum 2 years of demonstrated experience in graphic design or visual communications.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom).
- Working knowledge of design principles, typography, color theory, layout, and composition.
- Experience preparing files for print and digital production, including preflight checks.
- Ability to create basic to intermediate graphics such as layouts, icons, and digital assets.
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or related field preferred but not required.
- Experience working with external vendors and printers is a plus.
- Excellent organizational skills for managing design assets and project files.
- Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Understanding of the Christian faith and familiarity with Awana’s mission and resources is advantageous.
- Eligibility to work in the United States; this position does not sponsor visas.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to the graphic design process by creating visual assets such as layouts, icons, and digital images.
- Execute design projects based on established templates and style guides, with opportunities for conceptual development.
- Perform basic image editing, formatting, and file preparation for both print and digital platforms.
- Assist in building out campaign concepts across multiple channels, ensuring consistency and brand integrity.
- Prepare and refine production-ready files, including PDFs, for review and printing.
- Identify and communicate potential design or production issues to senior team members proactively.
- Support project timelines by following development schedules and completing tasks on time.
- Maintain organized design assets and adhere to departmental workflows and best practices.
- Participate in creative reviews, brainstorming sessions, and provide constructive feedback.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support ministry initiatives, resources, and outreach efforts.
- Uphold Awana’s cultural values in all internal and external communications and relationships.
- Perform additional duties as assigned to support the ministry’s goals and objectives.
Benefits
- Mission-driven work that impacts children and youth worldwide.
- Flexible, remote-first work environment with access to office spaces in St. Charles, IL, and Nashville, TN.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Paid family leave and generous paid vacation and holidays.
- Retirement plans including 401(k) and Roth 401(k) with employer matching.
- Support for professional development and growth opportunities.
- Adoption assistance and college scholarship programs.
- Employee wellness programs promoting health and well-being.
- Engagement in a community that values family, faith, and service.
Equal Opportunity
Awana is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable laws. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply and join us in our mission to equip leaders and reach children with the gospel.