Salary Range: £30,000 - £35,000 FTE (£24,000 - £28,000 based on skills and experience​)

Contract: 6 months Fixed Term, Part-time​

About RUSI

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) is the world’s oldest and the UK’s leading defence and security think tank. Its mission is to inform, influence and enhance public debate on a safer and more stable world. RUSI is a research-led institute, producing independent, practical and innovative analysis to address today’s complex challenges.​

About the role

RUSI’s Publications Team is responsible for ensuring that the Institute produces timely, accurate and relevant content. The team’s work spans shorter, blog-style, commentaries to longer research reports.

RUSI’s Publications Team is looking to recruit a part-time (0.8 FTE) Graphic Designer (Maternity Cover) for an initial 6-month contract. The ideal candidate will have superb knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, be proficient in Adobe InDesign and Adobe Acrobat (Pro Version) and be comfortable designing for print and digital (mostly PDF) outputs. They will have experience with tools to create common visualisations (for example, graphs, tables and other infographics) that effectively communicate data and ideas and be able to engage with a diverse range of content generators.

The successful candidate will be working closely with the team’s editorial staff.​

Key Tasks

• Create both simple and complex tables, graphs and other infographics for the Institute’s publications using Adobe Illustrator and Infogram.
• Typeset publications using Adobe InDesign.
• Ensure that final outputs meet expected presentational quality standards (including for accessibility).
• Project manage the production of routine graphic-design outputs.
• Create print-ready files and arrange print runs with suppliers.
• Lead on the completion of other, ad hoc design tasks across the Institute.
• Assist with uploading publications to the Institute’s website using a content management system.
• Assist with the administration of the department, including updating the department’s planner, and corresponding with internal and external stakeholders.

The above list of duties is not exhaustive; the postholder will be required to undertake such duties that may reasonably be expected within the scope and grade of the role.​

​

Person Specification​

Essential skills and experience

• Superior ability in Adobe Illustrator. Competence with Photoshop, Acrobat as well Microsoft Office programs.
• A professional or university qualification (equivalent to at least Level 5) in graphic design or a closely related field.
• Ability to transform raw data into effective graphics.
• Competence with data-visualisation software that automatically translates inputted data into graphics (for example, Infogram).
• Good communication and time-management skills with an ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, including the project management of routine projects.
• Ability to complete tasks accurately and to deadlines.
• A passion for design and the overall look and feel of publications.
• Ability to find and professionally communicate solutions to key stakeholders, collaborate effectively with colleagues and learn from feedback.

​Desirable Criteria

• Adobe Certified Associate/Expert qualification in InDesign, Illustrator and/or Photoshop.
• Experience with the use of content management systems.
• Experience with HTML and CSS.​

Our expectations 

We expect all staff to abide by and promote our RUSI’s Vision and Values https://rusi.org/content/values and Equal Opportunities Statement.​

Benefits​

• 25 days annual leave (rising with service)
• Additional days off during Christmas -RUSI Christmas closure days
• Generous pension contributions at 6% employer contribution,
• Access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Season ticket loan
• Access to free access to RUSI's world leading programme of events and conferences, research materials and library
• Discretionary closure days over Christmas
• Weekly staff lunch in our London office (one day a week)
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders
• *Enhanced sick pay
• *Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

*Depending on length of service​​

Application Process

• Written answers to both questions below (max 200 words per question):

           -A colleague has produced an infographic for you to evaluate. In your view, what are the three most important criteria you would use to determine if it is a success? Why did you choose these criteria?​

           -What is the greatest professional challenge that you have encountered as a graphic designer? What did you learn from this experience and what would you do differently if you encountered a similar situation today?

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a skills-based test and those proceeding to the final stage will be invited to interview.  Please DO NOT submit multiple applications for this vacancy. We no longer accept applications to our recruitment mailbox, applications received in our mailbox will not be processed.