Senior Conceptual Designer (Contract)

Job description:

The Wikimedia Foundation is looking for a Senior Conceptual Designer (contract) who will research and develop original content ideas, design graphics and motion graphics, and write light copy to captivate Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation's audiences on social media.

This position sits on the Social Team within the Foundation's External Communications department. They will work closely with the Brand Studio, including the Creative and Brand teams, to ensure work reflects the best of brand guidelines while innovating in certain scenarios. The role is the creative engine behind all social media graphics— equal parts curious researcher, visual storyteller, and design innovator. The Senior Conceptual Designer is responsible for proactively researching topics, developing content ideas, writing copy, and creating graphics designed to drive engagement with global audiences. We’re looking for someone deeply curious who knows how to translate knowledge content into scroll-stopping social graphics. Ideally you are:

• Deeply curious and self-directed, always discovering unexpected topics instead of waiting for someone to hand you ideas.
• A strong visual thinker with a sharp eye for design, able to translate a concept into compelling graphics and motion graphics for social media.
• An instinctive storyteller and writer, able to take a complex or niche topic and present it in a way that feels accessible, fun, and worth sharing.
• A trendsetter, not a trend-follower — you think originally, push boundaries, and want to create social content that feels genuinely new.
• Culturally plugged in, mindful of diversity as you create content for a global brand. This role must have a strong sense of what people are engaging with on social and bridge that with the world’s knowledge content.

As the Senior Conceptual Designer, you will work closely with the Social Media Manager and the Senior Marketing Manager, Social Platforms and be accountable for:

Research and ideation

• Building and maintaining a consistent pipeline of content ideas that connect cultural moments, trending topics, and knowledge content to Wikipedia and Wikimedia's broader mission.
• Evaluating content ideas against platform best practices, audience interests, and brand alignment to ensure a high-quality, diverse content mix.

Copywriting and visual design

• Writing on-brand copy for social graphics, carousels, and captions, adapting tone and style to match the tone of the content.
• Designing graphics and carousels that are platform-native and visually engaging, and developing the social media design style guide that establishes the visual language, templates, typography, and layout principles for all still image social content.

Content production

• Developing and maintaining organized systems for tracking content, deliverables, and approvals at scale.
• On occasion, partnering with other members of the Social team and Brand Studio colleagues to develop content around tentpole moments.

Skills and experience

• 5+ years of experience in social media content creation, graphic design, motion design, or a closely related creative role.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating both design and copywriting skills, with innovative social-first work front and center.
• Proficiency in design tools such as Figma or Adobe Creative Suite, with a strong e