Employment Status: Regular Full-Time
✓ Pension ✓ Dental Insurance ✓ Disability Insurance ✓ Health Insurance ✓ Life Insurance
✓ Weekdays
Design Consultant
Competition Number: 25832
Primary Work Location: Waterloo City Centre
Posting Status: Internal / External Job Posting
Salary Range: $81,536 - 101,919 (Band G)
Number of Positions: 1 (Current Vacancy)
Employment Group: Staff Association
Job Status: Regular, Full-Time
Posting Release Date: July 16, 2026
Hours of Work: 35 hours / week
Posting Closing Date: July 29, 2026
Why work with us:
The City of Waterloo is a rewarding place to work. Each day, you will support and/or participate in the delivery of services that impact residents of this city, making it a great place to live, work and play for everyone.
Home to two world-class universities, a top-ranked college, a tech ecosystem, entrepreneurs and small businesses, there is a readiness to do things differently in Waterloo. Our vision is to be a leader in sustainability and to build a future-ready community for all. We are committed to workplace wellbeing and providing an inclusive, safe and enjoyable work environment.
For more information about the City of Waterloo’s Strategic Plan, Vision, Values & Guiding Principles, please click here: City of Waterloo 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.
What we offer:
- Supportive and caring organization that promotes respect, inclusivity, sustainability, health, safety and wellness.
- Dedication to the organization’s commitment for Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion through ongoing training and access to related programs and workshops, opportunities to connect with others around topics of social justice and equity, and opportunities to be involved with the initiatives that guide this corporate journey.
- A commitment to environmental sustainability as demonstrated in many plans and policies. For example, we are working towards reducing our corporate greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, with real progress underway.
- Certification as a Living Wage Champion with fulsome employer-paid benefits package (extended health and dental care), including paid sick days, long-term disability, life insurance, Employee and Family Assistance Program and Maternity/Parental Leave Top-Up.
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan (OMERS) eligibility for all employees.
- Up to 10 paid Reservist Leave days per year, with single contribution OMERS buyback option for any unpaid time.
- Flexible work schedules, paid vacation and personal days, and the opportunity to bank overtime.
- Easy and sustainable commuting options through the TravelWise program, which offers public transit discounts and a dedicated carpool network for employees.
- Substantial internal and external training and development opportunities along with opportunities to get involved and give back to the community.
- Enjoyable employee-wide events, activities, site visits, BBQs to connect with co-workers.
- Complimentary FitPass for access to leisure, swim, and fitness drop-in programs for employees and family members.
…And so much more!
What you will do:
Reporting to the Manager of Corporate Communications, your primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Create accessible, creative, and effective visual design solutions for digital and print projects, maintaining consistency with the City's brand identity.
- Adhere to visual communications best practices and corporate brand standards across multiple campaigns and assets, including print, digital, signage, and merchandise.
- Manage design projects from briefing through to production, including determining requirements, scheduling, meetings, project status communication, approvals and production.
- Provide visual design leadership to the communications team, including guidance to the Design Associate as required.
- Present design work at various stages for review and approval.
- Coordinate and art direct City photography, working with photographers, clients and the community, ensuring compliance with our corporate photography and video guidelines.
- Manage the design and use of corporate templates and standards.
- Assist with video storyboarding and oversee video production in collaboration with a communications consultant.
- Offer guidance and collaborate with internal and external clients on appropriate visual design techniques and channels that align with their communication and project objectives.
- Support Communications Consultants with their project needs, managing, prioritizing, and executing multiple simultaneous and often ad-hoc requests.
- Manage the corporate photography, video and visual design asset filing system and library.
- Maintain the print production process and relationships with external vendors, reviewing print proofs and participating in quality assurance for all externally printed materials.
- Work with legislated content while adhering to the City's privacy and confidentiality practices.
- Responsible for researching best practices and techniques in design (including accessible design) and marketing.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest design trends, tools, and technologies.
What you will bring:
- A post-secondary degree or diploma in content/service design, digital arts, or a related discipline with three (3) years’ experience in professional digital and print design; equivalent combinations of education, experience and training in related areas will be considered.
- Proven creativity and conceptual skills in accessible design – a strong design portfolio is required.
- Thorough understanding of designing to meet the requirements for Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Canadian Anti-Spam legislation and other legal requirements for government communications.
- Demonstrated project management/prioritization and time management skills to work in a busy environment with competing deadlines while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
- Advanced proficiency with Mac OSX, Adobe Creative Suite, typography, colour theory, photo editing, composition and print production process including file preparation and production techniques.
- Excellent organizational and customer service skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and expectations.
- Experience communicating effectively and respectably with clients about corporate brand standards.
- Proven ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team, managing multiple design and production projects under fast-paced conditions, concurrent deadlines, and shifting priorities.
- Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills.
- Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and community groups.
- Proficiency with using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel).
- Experience with digital photography / videography, related equipment, and techniques.
- Municipal or public sector experience is considered an asset.
- A passion for promoting and maintaining a healthy and safe workplace and the ability to work respectfully and effectively in a team environment.
- Strong commitment to delivering quality customer service.
- Demonstrated commitment to Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion .
What we will require:
- A Police Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check satisfactory to the City.
- Proof of your current and valid certificate(s), licenses and/or educational qualifications, if applicable.
Be You @ Waterloo (Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging):
The City of Waterloo acknowledges that our work takes place on the land traditionally cared for by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Chonnonton Peoples, and is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. The City is dedicated to advancing the organization’s commitment to Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion and to reducing barriers to employment opportunities. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups, including Black, Indigenous, racialized communities, women, persons with disabilities and members of 2SLGBTQIA+ are encouraged for positions at all levels within the organization. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to self-identify in their application.
Accommodations are available throughout all stages of the recruitment process in accordance with the Human Rights Code and other applicable legislation. We encourage applicants to access support(s) that may be needed. To request accommodation during the application process, please email [email protected], quoting the position and competition number. Applicants advancing to the next stages of a recruitment process will be provided with additional opportunities to make their needs known.
Our use of AI during recruitment:
Our applicant tracking system includes artificial intelligence (AI) features, such as tools that highlight relevant work history or suggest potential job matches. These features are built into the system and may be visible to staff. AI does not make any screening or hiring decisions, and all decisions about interviews and hiring are made by City staff in accordance with applicable City policies and procedures.
Staff Association:
Qualified and eligible City of Waterloo Staff Association applicants will be considered first for this posting.
