Graphic Designer

Our Mission in Action

Trees play a vital role in solving some of the most pressing issues facing our communities and natural spaces today. For 150 years, American Forests has stood boldly at the forefront of the conservation movement, working collaboratively and innovatively to ensure that all people have access to the benefits of trees. As we look ahead to the next 150, continued collective action will be essential to securing a healthy, climate-resilient future for all. To support this work, we are looking for a Graphic Designer to join our Communications team.

What You’ll Do

This is not your average design role. At American Forests, storytelling is at the heart of everything we do — and we're looking for a visual thinker who wants to help us tell it better. You'll touch nearly every corner of our creative output: social media content across every major platform (including TikTok), eye-catching pitch decks, beautifully crafted media kit packaging, a wide range of digital and print marketing materials, brand assets, iconography, and more. 

You'll work alongside the Director of Digital Brand & Social Media — someone who spent years as a Creative Director and is genuinely invested in growing the next generation of creative talent. If you're hungry to learn, eager to experiment, and ready to put your fingerprints on meaningful work, this role was built for you.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Graphic Design & Creative Execution

• Design a high volume of assets for digital campaigns, email, social media (TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and emerging platforms), web, presentations, and reports.
• Support major campaigns and initiatives with cohesive visual storytelling that stops the scroll and moves people to care.
• Create print materials including one-pagers, media kit packaging, event collateral, and donor materials.
• Design, develop, and maintain a library of brand assets including iconography, character illustration, custom graphic elements, and visual motifs that reinforce the American Forests visual identity.
• Develop reusable Canva templates and toolkits that empower teams and partners to communicate on-brand with confidence.
• Support video production with light editing, motion graphics, or graphics overlays.
• Collaborate with external vendors, freelancers, and agencies as needed.

Brand Management

• Serve as a guardian of the American Forests brand, ensuring consistency across all visual materials.
• Maintain and evolve brand guidelines, templates, and design systems.
• Review internal and external creative assets for brand alignment and quality.
• Partner with communications, development, and program teams to translate strategy into compelling visuals.
• Design presentation decks for external audiences using PowerPoint, Google Slides, and/or Canva.
• Design one-pagers, proposals, and pitches for various partners as well as external and internal audiences.
• Manage production of high-quality digital brand collateral and review materials developed across departments for brand consistency.
• Help oversee and advise on swag design and logo usage on brand materials, including conference and event materials such as tablecloths, signs, and banners.

Collaboration & General Marketing Support

• Pitch in as a true team player, providing general marketing and creative support across the organization as needed.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and shifting priorities without missing a beat.
• Translate creative briefs into polished visual solutions.
• Support fundraising and marketing efforts with design that drives engagement and action.
• Bring fresh ideas and creative energy to campaign planning and concept development.
• Bring a strong eye for detail and commitment to quality to everything you touch.

What We’re Looking For

We don’t expect you to check every single box. If this role excites you, we want to hear from you! We’re interested in your ability to learn, collaborate, and bring fresh perspectives.

• 3–7 years of professional graphic design experience at a D2C, B2B, or B2B2C brand, a creative agency, a studio, or a nonprofit; we care about the quality of your work, not the category of your employer.
• A portfolio that demonstrates range across formats, styles, and content types, and reflects creativity and intention in every piece.
• Strong, confident proficiency in Canva, including the ability to build templates that internal teams and partners rely on daily.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Experience with presentation tools including Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Solid understanding of typography, layout, color theory, and visual hierarchy.
• Experience designing social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn, with a clear understanding of what performs.
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently while collaborating effectively across teams.
• A genuine passion for the environment, conservation, or making the world a better place.
• Experience with Image Relay (a plus but not required).
• Familiarity with Figma for collaborative design work (a plus but not required).
• Motion graphics, kinetic typography, or light animation skills (nice-to-have).
• Character illustration or original illustration experience (nice-to-have).
• Video editing experience with After Effects, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, or similar (nice-to-have).
• Familiarity with web design systems and CMS platforms (nice-to-have).

Reporting and Supervision

The Graphic Designer reports to the Director, Digital Strategy & Social Media and will work closely with multiple departments across the organization, including Communications, Development, Operations, and Programs. This position does not have any direct reports at this time.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried exempt position. The budgeted salary range is $65,000-$80,000.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focused on health and wellness, work-life balance, and financial security, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; vacation and sick leave; paid holidays; a 401(k) with match; flexible spending accounts; disability, life, and AD&D insurance; parental bonding and bereavement leave; an employee assistance program; a technology stipend; pet benefits; and military leave.

Working Conditions

This is a {remote/site-based/hybrid} position based in the {specific work location or United States}. Up to {amount of travel – default is 10}% of travel throughout the U.S. and/or to American Forests’ headquarters in Washington D.C. may be required.

This position requires the ability to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing) for extended periods and to operate a computer and other office equipment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to support individuals across the full range of abilities and experiences in performing the essential functions of the job.

About Us

American Forests is a national non-profit organization committed to creating healthy and resilient forests from cities to large forest landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. We advance our mission through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests and movement building. We envision a world in which the significant environmental, societal and economic benefits of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all people. Established in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national non-profit conservation organization in the U.S. working to restore urban forests and forested landscapes for over 150 years. 

American Forests welcomes individuals who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to be a part of our team to help make a difference individually and collectively as we work toward achieving our mission. We are committed to fostering an environment that is welcoming and respectful and provides opportunities for advancement and professional growth for every team member. 

American Forests is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to provide access to all individuals along the continuum of human ability and experience.

In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.