Design and Creative Lead

Position overview

PowerLines is a national nonprofit organization that aims to modernize the utility regulatory system for American energy consumers to lower utility bills and grow the economy. It focuses on state public utilities commissions (PUCs), which play a critical role in determining how much people pay for utility bills, how utilities invest in different types of energy, and where new energy projects are built. These 200 commissioners oversee more than $200 billion in utility spending each year and have significant influence over the future of our energy system.

Rising utility bills and electricity demand are quickly becoming a national economic and political issue. In the first half of 2025, utility rate increase requests from utilities totaled $29 billion, setting a record for any year and more than doubling the amount during the same period last year. Recognized on the 2025 “TIME100 Next” list, PowerLines is rapidly becoming a go-to source and leader in informing the national discussion of this issue and has already shaped the conversation in The New York Times here and here, Bloomberg, CBS News, Financial Times, TIME, Vox, The Daily Mail, Heatmap News, MIT Technology Review, Latitude Media, Yahoo News, and Canary Media.

PowerLines is seeking a full-time Design and Creative Lead to oversee the organization's visual identity and lead the development and production of design materials across print, digital, and web platforms, and help expand the PowerLines brand across new channels and formats. PowerLines is headquartered in Washington, DC. This is a three-month, term-limited contract role with the possibility to extend or convert to a full-time hire. This position can either be hybrid or remote. Candidates must be based in the United States. The Design and Creative Lead will report to the Director of Communications and Executive Director.

The Design and Creative Lead will be responsible for producing high-quality design work, maintaining and evolving PowerLines’ established visual identity, and managing the design process from initial request through final delivery. This person will serve as the primary point of contact for design across the organization, working closely with staff  in communications, policy, and leadership to understand project needs, develop briefs, establish timelines, coordinate feedback, and keep projects moving. They will also manage routine website updates, ensuring PowerLines’ digital presence remains consistent with its brand. Beyond graphic design, they will provide art and creative direction across PowerLines’ multimedia, web, and event work and help grow PowerLines as a recognizable brand in its own right.

Key Responsibilities:

Design and Brand Implementation

• Lead the design and production of materials across PowerLines’ communications, including reports and publications, data visualizations, infographics, social media graphics, event materials, presentations, one-pagers, and web graphics.
• Apply PowerLines’ established visual identity and branding guidelines consistently across projects and platforms.
• Translate complex policy research, data, and technical information into clear and engaging visuals.
• Identify opportunities to thoughtfully evolve PowerLines’ visual identity as the organization and its communications needs grow.
• Manage most routine updates to the PowerLines website, including publishing or updating content and incorporating graphics, reports, and other visual assets.

Creative Direction and Brand Expansion

• Provide art direction and creative oversight for PowerLines’ multimedia work, including video and other content beyond static graphics.
• Partner with communications leadership to expand the PowerLines brand, shaping how its identity shows up across owned channels, campaigns, partnerships, and external events.
• Lead design of the PowerLines website, including page layouts, user experience, and new pages and features, in addition to routine updates.
• Set the visual approach for PowerLines’ data visualizations, creating charts and graphics that make research findings easy to understand and share across reports, social media, the web, and press.
• Shape the design of PowerLines events and convenings, from event branding and materials to production elements.
• Bring a marketing sensibility to design work, helping PowerLines’ content reach and grow audiences across its distribution channels.
• Give creative direction and feedback to contract designers and outside creative partners.

Design Project Management and Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for design requests across the organization.
• Set realistic timelines and deadlines, establish review milestones, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Maintain organized project tracking systems, design files, and version-control practices.
• Continue refining design workflows and processes for efficient collaboration.
• Collaborate with colleagues across communications, policy, and leadership to understand project needs and deliver effective design solutions.
• Help colleagues make effective use of existing templates and brand resources.

Requirements

Role Requirements

The ideal candidate is a strong visual communicator with experience in both print and digital design, excellent organizational and time management skills, and the ability to work flexibly within shifting priorities and deadlines. This is an opportunity for an organized, collaborative designer who enjoys both creative problem-solving and building efficient processes in a growing organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related field and at least 5 years of relevant professional experience (in lieu of a degree, 7 years of relevant experience may be considered) 
• A strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality print, web, and digital design, including complex layouts, brand applications, and clear visual communication.
• Highly proficient in:
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Photoshop
• Experience designing long-form documents, reports, publications, data visualizations, infographics, and other complex graphics.
• Experience working within established brand guidelines and applying a visual identity consistently across a range of deliverables.
• Experience providing art direction or creative direction, including guiding and giving feedback on the work of other designers, contractors, or agencies.
• Experience extending a brand across new channels, formats, and audiences, with a sensibility for marketing and audience growth.
• Experience overseeing multimedia work, such as video and photography, and/or designing for live events.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to develop briefs, set deadlines, manage competing priorities, coordinate feedback, and deliver work on schedule.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues who do not have a design background.
• Ability to adapt to evolving priorities and shifting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving and ideation skills.
• Experience with web design and/or UX/UI.
• Experience with video editing and/or experience working with nonprofit, policy, or mission-driven organizations is a bonus but not required.

How to Apply:

• Please submit the following materials:
• Resume or CV
• Portfolio (PDF or website link)
• A brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience, your approach to design thinking, and why you are interested in supporting PowerLines’ mission

Benefits

The target compensation for this term-limited role is $8,000 per month for an initial three-month term, with the possibility of converting to a full-time salaried position with benefits.