Social Media Digital Designer & Photographer

This is a Full Time Job

Position Overview

The Digital Designer & Photographer is responsible for capturing and creating compelling visual content that elevates the Charlotte Hornets across social and digital platforms. This role blends high-level graphic design with content capture, photography, and visual storytelling to produce engaging, platform-specific creative that tells the story of the Charlotte Hornets, builds relationships with audiences, supports marketing initiatives, and keeps the Hornets at the forefront of social media through timely, relevant, and visually compelling content. Working in the fast-paced environment of professional sports, this position will collaborate across departments and travel with the team as needed to capture content.

Essential Responsibilities
• Design high-impact, platform-specific graphics for all Hornets social media platforms
• Concept and develop creative assets for game days, player features, partnerships, and other overarching organizational initiatives
• Capture content and create real-time graphics during most home games and approximately half of away games (either on-site or remotely from Charlotte)
• Identify opportunities to evolve the Hornets' visual identity by introducing new creative approaches, emerging design trends, and platform-native storytelling techniques.
• Capture high-quality basketball and lifestyle photography, including behind-the-scenes content at games, practices, player appearances, community events, and select road trips.
• Assist with non-basketball photography including Community Impact events, grassroots marketing events, and more.
• Edit, organize, and distribute photo galleries in a timely manner to key stakeholders.
• Work with Asset Manager to establish and adhere to tagging and naming conventions for photos and graphics.
• Optimize content for platform-specific formats and best practices.
• Collaborate directly with Social Media, Creative, Marketing, Communications, Community Impact, and Partnership teams to execute digital campaigns.
• React quickly to breaking news and live events with timely creative.
• Monitor emerging trends across social media, design, photography, and digital storytelling, applying insights to evolve the team's creative approach.
• Help maintain brand consistency across all digital platforms.
• Travel with the team as assigned to support content capture.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills, Experience, and Abilities

To perform the job successfully, you should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this job.
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Media, Visual Communications, or related field.
• 2 years of professional graphic design experience with a strong digital and social media portfolio.
• Advanced understanding of layout, hierarchy, and color theory.
• Demonstrated photography and photo editing experience.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Lightroom.
• Strong understanding of social platform specifications, trends, and best practices.
• Ability to create engaging content in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent visual storytelling, organization, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of sports, basketball, and digital fan engagement preferred.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and travel as required during the season.

Additional Information

This is a full time benefit eligible position.