CAREER GUIDE FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER

SOC Code: 11-9199

Pay Band(s): 4 and 5             (Salary Structure)

Standard Occupational Description: There is no standard occupational description for the occupation of Graphic Design Manager as used by the Commonwealth. This occupation would be included in the Managers, All Others. This group is comprised of many different types of management occupations with a wide range of characteristics. 

Commonwealth of Virginia Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate activities and staff who design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs.

Graphic Design Manager positions in the Commonwealth are assigned to the following Roles in the Media and Production Services Career Group:

Media Manager I

Media Manager II

While Graphic Design Managers within the Commonwealth are all located within the Media and Production Services Career Group, individuals may want to pursue other opportunities within the Commonwealth depending upon individual training, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and interests.   

Other Career Group(s) that may be of interest are:

General Administration

Public Relations and Marketing

Training and Instruction

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND TASKS

(Technical and Functional Expertise)

Skills
Note: The technical and functional skills listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Graphic Design Managers commonly recognized by most employers.  Typically, you will not be required to have all of the skills listed to be a successful performer.  Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

• Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
• Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Knowledge
Note: The technical and functional knowledge statements listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Graphic Design Managers commonly recognized by most employers.  Typically, you will not be required to have all of the knowledge listed to be a successful performer.  Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

The Knowledge of:

• Principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of visual arts.
• Printing process including press check.

Abilities
Note: The technical and functional abilities listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Graphic Design Managers commonly recognized by most employers.  Typically, you will not be required to have all of the abilities listed to be a successful performer.  Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.

The Ability to:

• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
•  Come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, and mathematical operations).
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Tasks
Note:  The following is a list of sample tasks typically performed by Graphic Design Managers.  Employees in this occupation will not necessarily perform all of the tasks listed. 

• Assign and supervise the activities of graphic design staff.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, and resources.
• Develop and implement program policies and quality standards.
• Review and approve the creation of designs, concepts, and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
• Consults with clients to discuss projects and design.
• Manage the development of graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Internet web sites.
• Discuss illustrations or rough sketches of material with clients and staff and recommending actions.
• Research, design, write and edit complex projects to ensure quality work for clients.

INTERESTED?

Like people, occupations have traits or characteristics.  These characteristics give important clues about the nature of the work and work environment, and give you an opportunity to match your own personal interests to a specific occupation.  When you choose a job in an occupation that matches your own interests you have taken an important step in planning a successful and rewarding career.

The occupation of Graphic Design Manager has Artistic, Enterprising and Realistic characteristics as described below:

Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

LICENSURE, REGISTRATION, OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Generally this is not required for Graphic Design Manager positions in state government.

The University of Virginia Training Services Group offers a Web Basic and a Web Designer certification. Their web site provides additional information: http://www.itc.virginia.edu/training

Managers with the Commonwealth of Virginia are eligible for the Virginia Certified Public Manager Program offered by the Department of Human Resource Management. The web site is http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/training/cpm/cpmhome.htm. This certificate program offers practitioner-oriented course work that builds upon management training programs offered through agencies, colleges, and universities.

Attainment of the Certified Administrative Manager (CAM) designation offered by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers, through work experience and successful completion of examinations, can increase a manager's advancement potential. The Institute of Certified Professional Managers is a certifying organization and offers a management certification program. The Institute is located at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Web site is http://cob.jmu.edu/icpm. Management Skills is the theme of the program, which emphasizes the teaching and application of real-world, practical skills and techniques over theories, and critical-thinking skills over rote knowledge.

Certification may enhance professional development and career progression.

EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES 

1. Graphic design managers manage, plan, analyze, and create visual solutions to communications problems and supervise staff.
2. A bachelor's degree is required for most management-level design positions. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is granted at 4-year colleges and universities.
3. The State Council of Higher Education lists the following Virginia educational institutions offering programs in graphic design: Marymount University and Virginia Intermont University. Virginia Commonwealth University, Ferrum College, Hampton-Sydney College, Mary Washington College, and Roanoke College offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts.

For more information about graphic, communication, or interaction design careers, contact: American Institute of Graphic Arts: http://www.aiga.org/

Other management training opportunities may be offered by through the Virginia Center for Public Policy at VCU (www.oppt.org) such as attendance at the various progressive level management courses and institutes for managers and executives (i.e. Virginia Supervisory Institute (VSI), Advanced Management Institute (AMI) and the Virginia Executive Institute (VEI).

COMMONWEALTH COMPETENCIES

Competencies are a set of identified behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that directly and positively impact the success of employees and the organization. Competencies can be observed and measured.  When consistently demonstrated, competencies make employees particularly effective in their work.  Competencies help lay out a road map to career success.  You can use the Commonwealth Competencies to help improve your individual performance by adopting behaviors that make high performing employees successful in their jobs. In this way, you can use the Commonwealth Competencies for your further professional development.

The Commonwealth Competencies are:

1. Technical and Functional Expertise
2. Understanding the Business     
3. Achieving Results
4. Serving the Customer
5. Teamwork
6. Interpersonal and Communication Skills
7. Leadership and Personal Effectiveness

The above competencies may be applied to employees throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.  They can be rank-ordered by agencies and hiring managers to represent the needs of a specific job.  The rank ordering will change depending upon the occupation, an organization's priorities, the actual job requirements, and the supervisor's preferences. 

Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) and how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others.  Hopefully, by studying the Commonwealth competencies, identifying your developmental opportunities, and working to refine your own competence, you can take charge of your career!

For additional information about the Commonwealth Competencies go to: http://jobs.virginia.gov/cc_planningctr.htm.  For the competencies, we first list the competencies and then define each.  Finally, we list competency indicators; to describe what successful performance looks like. 

COMMONWEALTH CAREER PATH

Career opportunities in the Commonwealth are not limited to moving “up” to the next highest role and pay band, changing positions, or to becoming a supervisor.  That's because most roles describe a broad group of occupationally related positions that perform a range of work that requires increased knowledge and skills.  For that reason, Commonwealth roles describe the career paths within the same or higher-level role for the same or different Career Group.  The broad salary range and the Commonwealth's pay practices provide flexibility in recognizing career development and advancement. (Salary Structure)

For example: Graphic Design Manager

PAY BANDS	PRACTITIONER ROLES		PAY BANDS	MANAGER ROLES
			4	Media Manager I
			5	Media Manager II

Sample Career Path

Media Manager I

The Media Manager I role provides a career track for managers responsible for directing complex graphic design programs. Duties include leadership and creativity in managing: a department that plans, develops, coordinates, and monitors the production of multiple projects that meet aesthetic and project standards as well as time and budget allowances.

Media Manager II

The Media Manager II role provides a career track for managers responsible for providing leadership and creativity in directing multi-media services used by state agencies for promotional, educational and informational purposes. Areas of responsibility include state  graphic communications.

ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT: 

O*NET (Occupational Information Network) 

http://online.onetcenter.org/gen_search_page

Virginia Employment Commission 

http://www.alex.vec.state.va.us/

Career One Stop

  http://www.careeronestop.org/

Virginia Career Resource Network 

http://www.vacrn.net/