Desktop Publisher - U of C NORC

JOB SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for fulfilling formatting document requests for the desktop publishing area. Activities include design, layout, formatting, and production of federal government reports, research briefs, questionnaires, contract proposals, grant applications, conference posters, marketing brochures, awards and certificates, and other items. The desktop publisher demonstrates understanding of the production of documents intended for hardcopy and electronic presentation. Such work requires adhering to federal and internal compliance standards and guidelines and meeting client and internal deadlines. This position may have responsibilities across multiple, concurrent proposal projects, with shifting priorities and urgent requirements. Also performs document editing and proofreading functions to validate proposal production compliance against customer proposal preparation instructions.

The desktop publishing role is responsible for complying with the Section 508 law which requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. The position requires familiarity with Section 508 and experience remediating documents to meet WCAG 2.1 and HHS standards. This includes PDF, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel remediation. Experience working with Commonlook PDF remediation software preferred.

DEPARTMENT: Office of Business Development

The Office of Business Development (OBD) identifies and disseminates key information regarding prospective clients and business opportunities. In addition, OBD staff support proposal preparation, maintain a proposal database, and coordinate proposal process improvements across all departments. Within OBD, the Desktop Publishing team designs and produces proposals as well as a variety of other print and digital collateral.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, modify, and maintain document and presentation styles and templates primarily using Microsoft Office (Word and PowerPoint), and on occasion Adobe Creative Suite.


• Review Request for Proposals (RFP) formatting specifications and format documents adhering to those requirements


• Format and enhance exhibits and other static visuals based on the vision of the authors


• Assist in the document production process for proposals and specific projects, seeing a project from start to finish.


• Perform or assist in final document assembly and production using Microsoft Word and PDF.


• Understand and follow established company proposal and document development processes


• Establish and maintain document version control for all proposal and project assets.


• Prepare materials to support business development and marketing initiatives


• Format and remediate documents to ensure Section 508 compliance for posting on government websites


• Perform other duties as assigned

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Bachelor’s degree, or high school diploma with 5 years of relevant work experience.


• 2 years of experience in proposal/document production/desktop publishing is required


• Advanced software skills in Microsoft Office Word and Adobe Acrobat Pro, and has a working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Excel, SharePoint, and Teams.


• Exceptional graphic and visual design and page layout skills including color theory, visual hierarchy and overall best practices using primarily Microsoft Office programs.


• A strong understanding of the proposal/publication process which includes document formatting, assembly, printing, and production


• Knowledge of Section 508 laws and experience creating 508 compliant documents


• Experience working with CommonLook PDF for document remediation preferred


• Ability to prioritize and simultaneously handle a variety of projects and assignments with different team leaders in a professional manner


• Strong attention to detail, highly organized and ability to manage time effectively.


• Must have excellent self-management, time management, multi-tasking, and prioritizing skills.


• Strong page layout skills and ability to take creative direction.


• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to stay calm under pressure, work as a team, be empathetic, listen attentively, and present an overall positive attitude.


• Ability to create, modify, and apply proposal templates


• Ability to effectively interact with Project Managers, Task Leaders, and Senior Management


• Ability to think clearly with strategic capacity to sift through complex information and influence the organization on the critical few priorities


• Ability to work both independently and as a part of a team


• Excellent communication skills

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The pay range for this position is $54,000 – $82,000.

This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:  

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment 

  
  


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  Dental and vision insurance  

  
  


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  A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program  

  
  


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  Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance 

  
  


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  Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

  
  

 NORC’s Approach to Equity and Transparency  

Pay and benefits transparency helps to reduce wage gaps. As part of our commitment to pay equity and salary transparency, NORC includes a salary range for each job opening along with information about eligible benefit offerings. At NORC, we take a comprehensive approach to setting salary ranges and reviewing raises and promotions, which is overseen by a formal Salary Review Committee (SRC). 

WHAT WE DO:

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

WHO WE ARE:

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

EEO STATEMENT: 

NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the workforce. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other legally protected characteristics.