GRAPHIC DESIGN AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM LEAD

Directly supporting the Communications Coordinator, the Graphic Design and Communications Team Lead takes a leadership role in all digital communications planning and strategy for Innovation Hub projects. The Team Lead supports a communications team in all graphic design, website management, and presentation development. The Team Lead helps to maintain the Innovation Hub's communications documentation, ensuring that all Innovation Hub branding practices and procedures meet excellent standards.

The role includes significant engagement with the entire Innovation Hub team and requires cross-collaboration with other team members. This is a mentorship-focused position designed to prepare you for potential advancement.

Graphic Design

Works with the Communications Coordinator to develop all Innovation Hub branding and communications, including activities such as designing project iconography and illustrations, marketing materials, visual report layout, crafting presentation slide decks, and formatting various documents
Ensures quality of all Innovation Hub project materials, with adherence to the brand & vision, and that all materials are accessible for web, digital, and print
Negotiates deadlines for visual content with project teams, allocates tasks to team members, and ensures that goals and expectations from all stakeholders are met
Provides constructive feedback to the communications team, encouraging them to learn through multiple iterations, and trial and error
Collaborates with design thinking project teams, offering consultation on how themes and insights garnered from data can best be visualized
Supports team members to take complex data and content provided by design thinking teams and translate it into clear, accessible and digestible visual content
Supports audiovisual storytelling initiatives, including documentary production and video content creation

Website Management

Manages the Innovation Hub WordPress website, maintaining a relevant and current website design, with adherence to the Innovation Hub brand and vision
Manages the Innovation Hub blog through writing and editing content, posting blogs on the website, and ensuring content matches iHub voice and standards
Ensures digital accessibility is consistent and meets all web AODA requirements

Project Management

Coordinates with the Communications Coordinator on project timelines and needs, and follows up with the teams as necessary
Takes initiative to communicate with leadership team members about communications needs, upcoming project deadlines, etc.

Administration

Supports the Leadership team in hiring processes, workflows, and timelines
Supports the Design Thinking and Communications Coordinators with managing the Innovation Hub’s SharePoint system for file and document structures and organization, and MS Teams for team communications, as well as the shared co-workspace
Ability to balance creative work with administrative coordination

Must-Have Qualifications

Technical & Professional Skills:

Excellent leadership potential—quiet leaders are encouraged to apply!
A high capacity for completing work with demonstrated administrative skills in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing deadlines
Aptitude to mentor technical and interpersonal skills for new designers
Exceptional organization, project management and time management skills
Seasoned graphic design skills, visual media and exemplary MS Office skills (Familiarity with Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Figma required)
Exemplary written and verbal communication skills (previous blogging or copywriting experience will be an asset in this role)
Superior time management and administrative skills and the ability to work with tight deadlines
Flexible and adaptable—is excited by performing a variety of roles and tasks

Mindset & Values:

A keen desire to learn and keep up-to-date with the methodologies used in the Innovation Hub (i.e. design thinking, integrative thinking, collaborative methodologies, ethnography, etc.)
An Entrepreneurial spirit—and a desire to work in an ever-changing and dynamic environment
Positive attitude and desire to bring positive change to U of T
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate in a team which is diverse and interdisciplinary, as well as students from diverse backgrounds, programs & study levels
Strong grounding in principles of equity, diversity & inclusivity

Work Style & Collaboration:

Highly communicative and comfortable communicating with various stakeholders
Enthusiasm for mentorship and collaborative learning over independent work
Demonstrated ability to receive and implement constructive feedback
Professional boundaries and understanding of appropriate workplace behaviour

Other Qualifications

The following qualifications are considered an asset in this role:

Strong background in WordPress and website management
Working knowledge of video editing software (PremierePro, AfterEffects, FinalCutPro, etc.), and social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.)
Experience with design thinking, integrative thinking and/or qualitative research methodology or a UX background is an asset
Ability to create accessible content and documents (training will be provided)

Learning Experiences

In this role, you'll learn how to be proactive and check in with your team members and keep them motivated. You'll learn how to look ahead at tasks and gain a proactive approach that allows you to take more initiative in the workplace. You'll learn how to become aligned with a brand and develop that brand further, creating content that is brand-aligned. You'll exercise your creativity and learn how to design differently for different audiences. You'll become skilled at leading and facilitating meetings (even if you think you're a shy person), and you'll gain an understanding of optimal workflows for maximum productivity.

You'll learn to be comfortable with not getting things right on the first try—an essential workplace skill. You'll develop resilience in receiving feedback and making revisions. You'll start to see constructive feedback as a gift and develop professional maturity in workplace relationships and boundaries. In this role specifically, you'll build your graphic design portfolio with real-world projects, learn to translate complex ideas into accessible visuals, and gain mentorship experience that prepares you for future creative leadership.

Application Requirements

When applying, please submit:

One PDF containing both your resume and cover letter
Graphic design portfolio: Include a link to your portfolio in your resume or cover letter. Portfolio must include work samples showing graphic design and other communications work, with explanation of your individual contributions vs. team contributions
Your cover letter should address: your experience with collaborative vs. independent work environments, how you typically respond to constructive feedback, your approach to balancing creative work with administrative tasks, and any experience you have with audiovisual storytelling or video content creation
Responses should be thoughtful and specific (not generic or AI-generated)
You may be asked to complete additional questions in an application form (approximately 20 minutes)

Job Details

Contract Length: 6 months from November 2026 – April 2027
Hours per week: 30 hours (9:00am – 4:00pm Monday – Friday with a 1-hour unpaid lunch)
100% in-person work at U of T Student Commons – 230 College St. Toronto
Hourly Wage: $23/hour + 4% vacation pay