Join our team!

About Windmill Microlending

Windmill Microlending enables immigrants and refugees to build careers in Canada while reducing poverty and labour shortages. We do this by offering affordable loans along with career assessment coaching, financial literacy training, and mentorship for newcomers who lack access to mainstream credit.

Since 2005, Windmill has provided over 12,000 loans to clients in healthcare, IT, financial services, law, engineering, and many other fields to triple their incomes as a result of our affordable loans and support. Windmill is a registered Canadian charity supported by donations and community bonds from the private sector and grants from the public sector.

At Windmill, you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of newcomers. Join a diverse, dynamic team at a leading Canadian not-for-profit where empowering our clients starts with creating an enjoyable workplace for our staff. Our commitment to a fulfilling environment is evident in our 85+% average employee engagement scores on our annual survey.

The role:

The Graphic Designer is passionate about storytelling through creative means and loves coming up with compelling ideas and ways to bring marketing and branding to life. You're inquisitive about design and technology. You follow the latest design trends, possess a keen eye for detail and have a knack for turning briefs into big ideas.

Reporting to the Manager, Marketing, the Graphic Designer oversees Windmill’s visual brand identity while driving Windmill's objective of supporting more skilled immigrants and refugees each year. Your work will increase Windmill's visibility, reputation and community support through graphic design, motion graphics, video, print, production management and brand management.

Key responsibilities:

Digital marketing design (50%)

• Design highly impactful creative assets for digital mediums, including digital advertisements, websites, email marketing, social media, event banners, videos, presentations and e-newsletters
• Collaborate with external advertising vendors to develop Windmill's creative assets, ensuring all specifications are met and final files are delivered on time
• Create templates in Canva for use by other team members across the organization
• Proven expertise in effective digital design, including designing for small dimensions, leveraging motion to capture attention, and creating compelling call-to-action elements
• Produce and edit small video projects, from concept development to production and final delivery
• Collaborate with external professional videographers for larger video projects as needed
• Produce marketing collateral in both English and French, fluency in French is an asset
• Leverage AI tools to enhance creativity, design images and find efficiency in the design process

Print marketing design (20%)

• Design printed marketing collateral including Windmill’s annual impact report, donor booklets, brochures, postcards, flyers, banners and business cards
• Design printed advertising assets including billboards, transit posters, magazine and newspaper advertisements
• Proven expertise in effective print design principles and print production, including an understanding of paper selection and finishes
• Liaise with and manage relationships with printing partners
• Develop marketing collateral in both English and French, fluency in French is an asset

Brand (15%)

• Elevate and refresh Windmill’s brand guidelines in collaboration with the Manager, Marketing
• Develop fresh, original, and impactful concepts while maintain a consistent, cohesive and powerful brand experience
• Champion the Windmill Microlending brand, ensuring brand compliance across the organization and with external partners
• Curate and organize stock photography and videography assets to align with the brand
• Research and recommend design best practices and highlight emerging industry trends

Advertising campaigns (10%)

• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to brainstorm and develop creative concepts and visuals for Windmill’s national advertising campaigns, targeting both donor and client audiences
• Design advertising assets across various mediums, including digital, social media, out-of-home, magazines and newspapers
• Execute production design for all advertising assets, ensuring accuracy in details and adherence to specifications
• Demonstrated understanding of effective ad design principles such as font selection, information hierarchy, and compelling call-to-action elements

File management and production (5%)

• Manage file conversions, exports and delivery of correct file formats
• Organize, package and maintain design files within Windmill’s file management systems
• Ensure flawless execution of deliverables that meet both the aesthetic and technical production standards

Ideal candidate:

You are a creative powerhouse with a passion for storytelling through design, transforming ideas into impactful visual assets that elevate brand identity and captivate diverse audiences. Your portfolio showcases your talent for producing stunning digital, print and multimedia content. You eagerly embrace AI technologies to amplify creativity and optimize workflows, ensuring efficiency and innovation. With extensive experience in end-to-end production, you are a trusted expert in delivering cohesive, high-quality campaigns.

A collaborative and enthusiastic team player, you excel in working with a dynamic marketing and communications team while also demonstrating the ability to work independently. You skillfully manage multiple projects under tight deadlines, relying on your exceptional organizational skills and proactive approach to deliver projects with minimal supervision. Driven by a passion for building brand awareness and loyalty, you consistently produce innovative and creative solutions that reflect industry best practices and the latest trends.

Qualifications and knowledge:

• Diploma or degree in graphic design, fine arts or a related field
• Minimum of five years of proven experience in graphic design, with a strong portfolio showcasing digital, brand and print projects
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), video editing tools (Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro), Canva and Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint
• Awareness of current and emerging trends in design, branding and multimedia
• Experience incorporating AI tools into design workflows
• Proficiency in French is an asset

Core competencies:

• Creative, innovative and proactive in design, with the ability to provide multiple design options
• Skilled at interpreting briefs and developing conceptual solutions to effectively address business challenges
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to clearly communicate the rationale behind design decisions
• Able to take constructive feedback and apply it thoughtfully to design work
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects and deadlines in fast-paced environment
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail, particularly during the revision stage to ensure all necessary changes are captured
• Capable of working independently, as part of a local team and within a national team structure
• Self-motivated with an entrepreneurial mindset, eager to grow, evolve and continuously improve

Compensation and benefits:

• Starting salary range $70,000-$75,000 annually, based on skills and experience required for the role
• Full-time position, 40 hours/week
• Hybrid work solution with a minimum two (2) days in office, up to three (3) days from home
• Position available in Calgary, Toronto or Montreal
• Three weeks’ vacation, plus a company-wide winter break
• Benefits plan – medical, dental, short & long-term disability, and life insurance
• Annual Wellness Budget to support personal well-being
• Access to Group RRSP with matching employer contributions
• Evolving DEI initiatives – our staff is representative of our client base
• Opportunities for advancement in a supportive and inclusive environment

How to apply:

We thank all candidates in advance. However, we will only contact those selected for an interview. To apply, please submit, in confidence, a résumé, design portfolio and a cover letter that sets out your interest in the role and highlights your relevant experience. Please include your salary expectations in your cover letter. The preferred method of application is via email to hr@teamwindmill.org (reference: Graphic Designer).

Windmill Microlending is an equal opportunity employer. Adhering to Canada’s Human Rights Act, Windmill grants equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, creed, colour, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, ethnic origin, age, or place of origin. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

As an active participant in the Federal Government’s 50-30 Challenge, we are committed to building a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant economic future for Canadians by attaining gender parity and significant representation of underrepresented groups on our board and in senior management positions.