American Avalanche Association is looking for a graphic designer

In case one of you has mad GD skillz:

The American Avalanche Association is looking to hire a new graphic designer/ print production artist for The Avalanche Review. The job description is included below and can also be found at www.avalanche.org/employment. Please share and pass along this announcement to any graphic designer colleagues and friends you may have. We will be accepting applications through June 16th.
All questions should be directed to americanavalancheassociation@gmail.com.

Thanks for your help with this process. Hope you're having a fine spring!

Jaime Musnicki
AAA, Executive Director


Graphic Design­­er/Print Production Artist for the American Avalanche Association / The Avalanche Review

About the client and project:

The American Avalanche Association (AAA) is a nonprofit organization comprised of a collective group of dedicated professionals engaged in the study, forecasting, control and mitigation of snow avalanches. Association membership includes qualified researchers, professional avalanche forecasters, educators, guides, snow safety officers, snow rangers and qualified ski patrollers, technicians and specialists.

The Avalanche Review (TAR) is a trade and scientific journal serving the membership of the AAA. Articles published in TAR improve the knowledge and skills of its readers through topics addressing advances in forecasting, control techniques, education, and research. Balanced content is provided with material in areas such as rescue dogs, search methods, equipment, litigation, and accident reports, along with related general interest and timely news facing the profession.

TAR is a 32-page tabloid published four times per winter, distributed via mail and internet download. The publication is printed on a web press on a 45# white bookstock substrate. The publication is produced as 24 4/4 pages with two BW signatures in a 32-page tab format.

Graphic designer responsibilities:

The designer will use his/her experience and knowledge of current graphic design software to produce graphic art and visual materials for the production of The Avalanche Review. This includes generating and manipulating graphic images and text as well as collecting, processing, checking and uploading files for press. The designer will coordinate and provide production schedules to the editor, ad sales representative, and printer. Editorial materials will be provided by the editor, and advertising will be forwarded by the ad sales representative. The designer will review all editorial and advertising materials and request updated materials when necessary, including ads not provided according to publication specs, editorial images provided at low resolution, etc. The designer then will ensure proper placement of all ads and plan all editorial content layout, provide proofs, then prep all images and content for press and provide to printer per their specifications. The printer does not provide printers’ proofs, so it is essential that designer be capable of providing press-ready files with no errors or delays.

The designer will have the knowledge, expertise, ability and schedule availability to produce this publication from start to finish, with limited direction and/or creative oversight, and will be available to consult and/or direct the editorial and advertising staff as needed. The designer must display the ability and flexibility necessary to finalize all work on schedule and provide proofs in a timely manner, regardless of any delayed, modified and/or additional materials provided throughout the entirety of the production period.

The ideal candidate will garner a strong understanding of the AAA’s mission and membership in order to upgrade the overall TAR design and layout to accurately reflect the organization’s goals and take the publication into the next decade.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Create and provide production schedules to editor, ad sales representative and printer, and coordinate all aspects of production on schedule.

• Update and provide advertising specs, schedule and rates to ad sales representative.

• Receive and review all advertising materials, and coordinate ad placement with ad sales representative.

• Review and confirm receipt of all camera-ready advertising; assist ad sales representative to direct corrections and design suggestions as necessary.

• Produce all ads not provided camera ready.

• Receive and review all editorial materials and coordinate content with editor.

• Create or update designs, concepts, graphics, images and editorial page layouts using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop) and/or QuarkXPress.

• Extract and modify materials provided or embedded in MS Office formats (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

• Proofread materials for content and layout, and apply publication editorial style sheet elements as needed.

• Write headlines and cutlines as needed, and provide proofs on schedule.

• Prepare all materials and preflight electronic artwork (high-res PDFs) for print. Coordinate with print production staff to confirm receipt of final materials, and confirm press production schedule.

• Prepare and provide all materials for web use to appropriate parties. Confirm and follow up as neeeded.

Qualifications:

• Minimum five years of ad agency, design firm or related experience in a deadline-oriented and production-heavy environment.

• Experience producing print materials for web press (such as a newspaper) is preferred.

• Professional degree in Graphic Arts is a plus.

• Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite and MS Office applications.

• Proficiency with style sheets and multi-page documents.

• Ability to retouch and color correct photography.

• Ability to create, convert and color correct tables and charts.

• Strong design sensibility.

• Excellent understanding of graphic design fundamentals, printing and pre-press.

• Familiarity with how the print production process (i.e., web press) impacts creative decisions.

• Ability to identify goals and objectives and adhere to same throughout the creative and production process.

• Ability to work with editor, advertisers, ad sales representative and printer to ensure that deadlines are met.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Self-starter with demonstrated ability to identify, organize and accomplish tasks to meet goals; ability to act independently.

• Flexibility in regard to coordinating layout around editorial scheduling needs, while still meeting press deadlines as scheduled.

• Fluency in avalanche and snow science is a plus.

Application information:

Candidates must provide a cover letter, resumé, relevant portfolio samples, per-page rate, and any other cost estimate such as hourly rate for advertising layout. Client/employer referrals are also requested. All materials must be received by June 16, 2014 at americanavalancheassociation@gmail.com.

Selection process:

The selection process, including interviews, will occur during late June and early July of 2014. Interviews and negotiations with the winning candidate will result in selection by July 9, with the first issue of The Avalanche Review, volume 33, to commence in early September, 2014.