Graphic Designer and Engagement Coordinator

Position: Graphic Designer and Engagement Coordinator

Location: Manchester

This is us!

New Practice is looking for an exceptional Graphic Designer and Engagement Coordinator (Graphic Design graduate, or similar) to join our team in Manchester.

This is a fixed term six month contract beginning in February 2025 and concluding in July 2025, and as such would be best suited to a recent graduate with a graphic design or visual communications background with a strong interest in the built environment. The opportunity exists to extend this contract beyond July to best suit the needs of New Practice and the successful candidate.

About the Company

New Practice are experts in place working across the UK and internationally. The practice is committed to embedding social value in place-based projects across the UK and beyond through community engagement, meanwhile use, retrofit & reuse and strategies for community; ensuring that community-centred briefs and shared decision making shape the future of the built environment.

New Practice became part of Civic in Autumn 2024 through a shared commitment to the design and delivery of places that have a positive impact on the environment and enable people to lead healthier, happier lives. New Practice is a RIBA | RIAS chartered architecture practice.

About the Job

As a Graphic Designer and Engagement Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in enhancing community relationships, fostering engagement, and delivering impactful communications to support the practice to deliver on a range of architecture, community engagement and urbanism projects across the public and private sector; all of which are developing the creative capacity of places and connecting people with the decision-making processes that underpin their lived experience.

Your work will include crafting and implementing strategies that connect stakeholders, amplify project narratives, and ensure meaningful collaboration with the communities we serve; fundamentally championing the importance of inclusive, intersectional and accessible design through our work.

Your work will require collaboration across our team and beyond; where you will be supported to directly engage with individuals, groups, organisations and communities through formal and informal methods, and in-person and digital settings as part of our best practice creative engagement work.

You will be involved with internal team discussions to support practice research, learning and development. You will display a strong learning orientation and self-identify areas of personal development. You will exhibit self-awareness, recognise your strengths and areas for development with a strong desire to further develop, and actively seek ways to contribute to team projects or lend a helping hand.

This is a standalone role that will be based out of our office in Manchester city centre which is shared with colleagues from Civic Engineers, Civic Heritage and Watt Energy & Consulting Engineers. We offer flexible working arrangements with the expectation of a minimum of 3 days a week working from the office to enable direct support and mentorship from the Director of Communications and Communications Manager.

You will report to Becca Thomas ARB, Creative Director at New Practice, part of Civic.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to work on meaningful projects that positively impact communities
• Collaborative and innovative work environment
• Professional growth and development opportunities

Day-to-day tasks and expectations

Project Support

• Collaborate with architects, urban designers, and planners to translate technical information into accessible content, high-quality graphics and diagrams.
• Prepare visual and written materials for presentations, reports, and marketing purposes.
• Support the development of engagement tools and strategies that align with project timelines.

Community Engagement

• Develop tools and materials to effectively communicate design ideas to diverse audiences.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute community engagement activities, including workshops, public meetings, and events.
• Build and maintain relationships with community groups, stakeholders, and project partners.
• Collect and analyze community feedback to inform project development.

Communications Strategy

• Develop and implement clear, accessible and engaging communication plans tailored to project goals and audiences.
• Create compelling content, including press releases, newsletters, social media posts, and blog articles.
• Build relationships with community organisations, local leaders and project partners to foster trust and collaboration.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the main point of contact for inquiries related to community engagement and communications.
• Facilitate clear and transparent dialogue between clients, communities, and the design team.
• Ensure that stakeholder needs are identified and addressed throughout project lifecycles.

Please submit a CV, cover letter, your notice period (if applicable) and a portfolio of your work highlighting key projects and your achievements to date. If you do not have a portfolio, CV or a cover letter we have created simple templates for you to use.

Send your CV, cover letter and portfolio as pdfs to apply@new-practice.co.uk with the subject line / title “Apply: Graphic Designer and Engagement Coordinator”.

In your covering letter, please tell us a little bit about yourself, why you want to work at New Practice, part of Civic, and your specific interest in community-led development and creative engagement projects.

Our commitment to inclusive recruitment

New Practice, part of Civic, is a women and LGBTQ+ led practice. We strive for diversity in our team and we encourage applications from all backgrounds, abilities or impairments, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We respect that people have commitments and provide flexible hybrid working hours through discussion.

We anticipate that all first interviews will be conducted in-person, but remote/online options can be made available. Second interviews will be in-person. We will offer first interviews at times that suit you, so if you have dependents, caring duties, or other circumstances affecting your availability for an interview, we’re happy to offer convenient times outside of work hours.

If you have any questions please contact info@new-practice.co.uk with subject line / title: “Graphic Designer and Engagement Coordinator”.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Contract length: 6 months

Pay: £25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Casual dress
• Childcare
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted or free food
• Gym membership
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Private medical insurance
• Referral programme
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Manchester M1 2HG

Reference ID: CommunicationsandEngagement25
Expected start date: 24/02/2025