Employment
Graphic Designer (Full-Time)
The National Writers Series (NWS) is a nationally recognized literary nonprofit that brings world-class authors, meaningful conversations, and impactful youth literacy programs to Northern Michigan. We are seeking a highly creative, detail-oriented Graphic Designer to steward and evolve NWS’s visual identity across print and digital platforms.
This role is central to telling our story—through event graphics, seasonal collateral, donor materials, and youth program branding. You’ll collaborate closely with the Marketing & Events Team, Executive Director and Education Director to bring each season of authors and programming to life.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Brand Stewardship
- Maintain and evolve the NWS brand identity across all print and digital platforms.
- Ensure visual consistency, accuracy, and professionalism across all materials.
Print Design & Production
- Season Program Guide – published three times per year
- Design and produce the full Season Program Guide.
- Establish timelines and manage production from concept to print.
- Record-Eagle Insert (8–12 page tab) working closely with Marketing Manager
- Design the seasonal insert in collaboration with the Executive Director.
- Determine content needs and manage layout through to final production.
- Posters, Flyers & Print Collateral
- Create season lineup posters/flyers for distribution in print and online.
- Design author-specific posters 3–4 weeks prior to each event; manage print quantities and file prep.
- Design sponsor thank-you posters (24×36).
- Produce seasonal postcards, bookmarks, and trade ads as needed.
- Scholarship Poster (Record-Eagle) working closely with Education Director
- Format student photos and winners’ statements for annual full-page print.
- Fundraising & Organizational Materials
- Design seasonal sponsorship brochures.
- Design annual fundraising letters (summer + year-end), remittance envelopes, and printed inserts.
- Special Projects
- Summer Gala: save-the-date, invitation suite, name tags, posters, wine labels, etc.
- NWS holiday cards.
- NWS merchandise graphics (mugs, totes, apparel, etc.).
- Event banners (author lineup and sponsor banners).
- City Opera House Files
- Prep author event slides for COH digital boards and web use.
- Design digital graphics for their ticketing website and digital event placements.
Digital Design
- Author Event Graphics (Core Responsibility)
- Concept, design, and produce graphics for the website, social media, email newsletters, and mobile use.
- Create author headshot treatments, event headers, and category graphics.
- Design various digital ad placements for author events.
- Email, Social & Video Assets
- Design graphics for all author email campaigns.
- Produce YouTube thumbnails for pre-event livestream YouTube thumbnails.
- Design social media graphics for Meta ads and organic posts–tailoring to the themes of the event.
- Virtual Only Event Zoom Files
- Design sponsor recognition slides, donor thank-you slides, and virtual only event assets.
Raising Writers and Battle of the Books (Youth Program Support) working closely with Education Director
- Produce all print and digital design needs including:
- Ads
- Program guides
- Chapbooks of student poetry (approx. 3/year)
- Posters
- Bookmarks
- Zoom files
- Stage signage
Brand Projects
- Assist with ongoing brand refinement: anniversary logos, podcast logos, special identity projects, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 3+ years of professional graphic design experience (nonprofit or event-based experience a plus).
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) required.
- Strong typography, layout, and production skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects at once and meet firm deadlines.
- Experience preparing files for professional print vendors.
- A portfolio demonstrating creativity, versatility, and attention to detail.
- A collaborative work style with the ability to receive feedback constructively and align with a shared vision.
- A love of reading and all things bookish is not required but a definite plus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- This is a full-time salaried position
- Work is remote-friendly with occasional in-person meetings so must be local to the Traverse City, MI area.
PAY & BENEFITS
This position pays a $50,000 salary. Our employee package comes with two weeks of vacation, five days off between Christmas and New Year’s Day,and major holidays. Additionally, full-time employees receive a monthly $400 stipend in lieu of health benefits. Other perks for National Writers Series employees include free tickets to all of our events, and opportunities to meet authors.
TO APPLY
Please submit your resume, cover letter, and portfolio link (PDF or website) to Deputy Director, Hanna Lee-Kleb at [email protected]
Development Manager (Part-Time)
The Development Manager works closely with the Executive Director to implement and refine strategic fundraising initiatives that support the mission and sustainability of the organization. This role is responsible for executing work plans to raise donated revenue through individual giving, major gifts, grants, and select special events. The Development Manager leads the Development Committee and actively engages members of the Board of Directors in fundraising efforts.
Schedule Requirements: This is a remote, part-time position requiring approximately 20 hours per week. The Development Manager must be available for a weekly one-on-one meeting with the Executive Director (typically one hour) and maintain consistent office hours each week to support collaboration and responsiveness.
In addition, the Development Manager is expected to attend National Writers Series events to greet major donors and escort them to greenroom author meet-and-greets. These events typically require about 90 minutes of onsite presence during the pre-show reception. Please note that events are generally held in the evening outside of standard business hours, with an average of two events per month.
Essential Job Functions:
- Develops and executes strategic plans for all fundraising activities in collaboration with the
Executive Director. - Oversees gift processing procedures to ensure timely acknowledgments and accurate tracking in
the donor management system, categorized by source and purpose. - Prepares and shares regular reports on fundraising activity and outcomes.
- Educates and motivates board members, staff, and volunteers to participate in fund
development activities using established fundraising best practices. - Identifies, cultivates, and solicits individual donors and event sponsors, involving board members
and volunteers as appropriate. - Ensures delivery of sponsor and grantor benefits, such as signed books and green room visits.
Tracks sponsor sign-ups, contribution levels, and payments in Excel or other tracking tools. - Identifies and engages major gift prospects, coordinating cultivation and solicitation efforts.
- Monitors and analyzes fundraising data to assess performance and recommend strategy
adjustments. - Manages the development department budget and oversees resources required to execute
fundraising plans.
PAY & BENEFITS
This is a 20-hour per week position, paying $30 to $45 an hour, depending on experience and training. Our employee package comes with five days off between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Additionally, half-time employees receive a monthly $200 stipend in lieu of health benefits. Other perks for National Writers Series employees include free tickets to all of our events, and opportunities to meet authors.
TO APPLY
Please submit your resume, cover letter, and portfolio link (PDF or website) to Deputy Director, Hanna Lee-Kleb at [email protected]
Creative Writing Instructor
Send Resume and Cover Letter to:
NWS Education Director
[email protected]
The National Writers Series of Traverse City is looking for dynamic, experienced, and outgoing teachers for various creative writing classes. Our Raising Writers program offers free creative writing classes to area youth and serves students from fourth through twelfth grade. Raising Writers provides writing classes across many disciplines, including fiction, creative nonfiction, journalism, poetry, playwriting, Moth-style storytelling, improv, and college essay workshops.
The ideal candidate for this position is a published writer and/or has an MFA or other graduate degree in a related field, as well as strong teaching experience. We are seeking teachers across multiple writing disciplines, who are highly organized and experienced managing a classroom, devising lesson plans, as well as recording and reporting on their hours. Teachers are also required to participate in aggregating and editing student work to be published in our literary journal.
Responsibilities include coordinating with the education director, building lesson plans that reflect the mission of Raising Writers, communicating with parents and students, and providing students with valuable craft techniques.
Raising Writers teachers have the flexibility to devise courses that fit their schedules. Teachers are paid $75/hour for contact hours, and $30/hour for prep hours. Please email [email protected] with a cover letter and resume.