Design Research & Communications Specialist - 11 - 145 - sc/orange County – Center For Applied Research And Innovation

Design Research & Communications Specialist

The Design Research & Communications Specialist is an early-career, hands-on role within the Center for Applied Research and Innovation (CARI). This position supports design research sprints, service design execution, visual communication, and innovation lab operations, helping translate research, data, and lived-experience insights into clear, usable, and compelling outputs.

This role assists with research logistics (including participant recruitment, research tools, and documentation), design and communications production, and the day-to-day experience of the forthcoming 3:20 Innovation Lab, a new Salvation Army faith-based innovation lab within CARI. Responsibilities include workshop preparation, space and materials management, learning documentation, and presentation development.

Working in close partnership with the Director of Design Strategy & Research and the Service Designer, this role ensures that learning from CARI's work is accessible, actionable, and visible to internal teams, community partners, funders, and the people we serve.

This role is ideal for a curious, detail-oriented beginner who enjoys learning by doing, working across people and projects, and growing within a mission-driven, faith-based innovative environment.

Ability to walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis. Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead. Ability to operate computer, fax, and telephone. Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in design, communications, UX, social sciences, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 1–3 years of experience in UX design, visual design, communications, or related roles
• Portfolio or work samples demonstrating visual design, UX, or communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a mission-driven, faith-based environment

PAY RATE: $26.00 – $28.85/hr.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting research or service design projects
• Experience in nonprofit, social impact, or community-based settings
• Interest in human-centered design, innovation, and social systems

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Foundations of UX design, visual design, or communications
• Basic understanding of human-centered design and design research concepts (training provided)
• Awareness of social justice, equity, and trauma-informed approaches
• Familiarity with nonprofit, public service, or mission-driven work (preferred)

Skills:

• Visual design and layout for digital and print material
• UX design skills such as wireframing, user flows, and basic prototyping
• Strong written and visual communication skills
• Ability to organize, document, and synthesize information clearly
• Comfort receiving feedback and iterating designs

Abilities:

• Ability to learn quickly and grow in a hands-on, applied environment
• Ability to manage multiple small projects and deadlines
• Ability to work effectively on diverse teams and with community partners
• Ability to approach complex work with curiosity, openness, and care
• Ability to bring positivity, flexibility, and humor to collaborative work

Technical Skills & Tools:

• Design and storytelling tools (Canva required; Figma, Adobe, or similar preferred)
• Digital collaboration platforms (Mural, Miro, FigJam)
• Survey and research tools (Qualtrics, Google Forms, spreadsheets)
• Google Workspace and/or Microsoft tools
• Basic familiarity with accessibility standards (training supported)