The San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) is a nonprofit research organization committed to advancing science-based solutions for the health and resilience of ecosystems and communities. We are seeking a freelance graphic designer to support our mission-driven work. This role is ideal for a creative and detail-oriented designer who’s passionate about making complex environmental science accessible, compelling, and visually engaging.

About Us

SFEI collaborates with public agencies, scientists, designers, and communities to deliver cutting-edge science and visual tools that inform decisions about land, water, and climate. From coastal resilience to contaminant research, our projects aim to create a more sustainable and equitable future.

About the Role

We’re looking for a graphic designer who can jump in on a variety of communications needs, including:

• Designing reports, infographics, factsheets, posters, and other products for scientific and public audiences
• Creating data visualizations and maps (in collaboration with scientists and GIS staff)
• Contributing to web graphics
• Supporting ADA-compliant formatting of our products
• Supporting visual branding across projects and products
• Collaborating closely with our design lead and communications team on deadlines and priorities
• Iteratively and collaboratively finalizing products

Required Qualifications

Qualifications and experience we’re seeking include:

• Visual design experience in graphic design and illustration for the types of deliverables described above (e.g., reports, infographics, factsheets, posters)
• A strong aesthetic sense with knowledge of color, layout, and typography
• Familiarity with science communications principles and best practices
• High level of proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop)
• Experience in translating technical subject matter for a broad audience
• Demonstrated ability to ensure ADA compliance and accessibility in deliverables produced in Word, PDF, and InDesign formats and for the web
• Demonstrated organizational skills and strong attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to confidently and successfully present creative concepts and rationales to internal teams and clients
• Proven experience working in collaborative teams
• Experience in print production
• Experience designing infographics, data visualizations and other information-rich materials
• Ability to effectively communicate availability for project work, both short- and long-term, with our design manager to facilitate workload planning

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience with nonprofits, government agencies, or mission-driven organizations
• Experience with copyediting documents
• Experience creating landscape architecture drawings (e.g. plan view drawings, sectional diagrams, and 3D renderings)
• Experience working with complex or technical subject matter (especially scientific and data-heavy content)
• Experience supporting strategic initiatives and organizational development through design and communication

Role Details

• This is a freelance role with variable hours—workload may fluctuate based on project timelines and priorities
• San Francisco Bay Area, CA, location preferred to facilitate in-person collaboration, but will consider remote location. If remote, must be available during Pacific Standard Time work hours
• Competitive hourly rate based on experience

To Apply

Please fill out this survey for consideration: https://www.sfei.org/sites/default/files/Freelance%20Graphic%20Design%20Support.pdf

You will need to include the following in your submission:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Portfolio or samples of relevant work
• Your hourly rate or flat rate
• Your availability

Please note: This is the first step in a two-part process. We are currently gathering qualifications from freelance designers to build a pool of pre-qualified candidates. As specific projects arise, we will reach out to selected individuals from this pool to request proposals based on the project’s scope and requirements.