J-1 Visa Creative Lead Jobs
Creative Lead roles in the U.S. are available to international professionals through the J-1 visa Trainee or Specialist program category, depending on your experience level. Securing sponsorship requires a State Department-designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019 and approve your training plan with the host employer.
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Get Access To All JobsEsther Prangley Rice Gallery Graphic Design Intern
Category: Student Worker
Department: Art
Locations: Westminster, MD
Posted: Jul 22, 2026
Closes: Sep 2, 2026 - 11:59 PM EDT
Type: PT No Benefits
Salary Type: Hourly
Salary Range: $15.00 - $15.00
Position ID: 202928
About McDaniel College:
McDaniel College is a four-year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences offering over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. One of the original "Colleges That Change Lives," McDaniel emphasizes experiential learning and student-faculty collaboration to develop the unique potential in every student. Represented by the Green Terror, over 20 athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. A student-centered community of 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students offers access to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., plus a European campus in Budapest, Hungary.
At McDaniel College we value our employees by offering our full-time employees tuition remission, 403B retirement accounts, paid time off, medical insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and paid maternity and parental leave. For more information about the college's benefits, please click here to review the 2026 benefits guidebook and click here to view 2026 premium rates.
Job Description:
Job Title: Esther Prangley Rice Gallery Graphic Design Intern
Effective Date: 07/06/2026
Reports to: Director of Esther Prangley Rice Gallery
Department: Art
Rate of Pay: Maryland Minimum Wage
FSLA Status: Non-Exempt
Location of Position: Peterson Hall, McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster, MD 21157
Duration of Appointment: August 17, 2026 to November 20, 2026
Schedule: Schedule is at discretion of supervisor
Evaluation Procedures: Student workers are evaluated on a continuous basis.
Scope:
- Provides creative support to the Rice Gallery by creating works of art and design for special events occurring throughout the semester and assisting with marketing and events.
Responsibilities:
Design & Creative Production
- Assist with creating digital visual materials for Rice Gallery Program events.
- Assist in conceptualizing and executing art installations in the Rice Gallery.
- Design and produce promotional items and giveaways for program participants.
Marketing & Communications
- Maintain the program's visual identity across all platforms.
- Collaborate with the Director to develop marketing strategies for events.
- Document events through photography for future promotional use.
Event Support
- Attend and provide on-site support for events, which may include at least one weekday evening event during the semester.
- Assist with setup and teardown of event spaces, including art installations.
- Create environmental graphics and wayfinding signage for events.
- Implement and/or design interactive art experiences for event attendees.
- Provide technical support for visual presentations during events.
Administrative & Project Management
- Maintain organized digital files of all created materials in OneDrive and/or Teams.
- Track project timelines and meet established deadlines.
- Participate in regular planning meetings with the Director.
- Document creative processes for program archives.
- Manage inventory of design supplies and materials.
- Provide weekly progress reports on assigned projects.
Community Engagement
- Design collaborative art projects that engage program participants.
- Facilitate and/or assist with creative workshops for the Gallery, if desired.
- Create visual documentation of Gallery activities.
- Support the visual storytelling of the Gallery's impact.
Professional Development
- Maintain a portfolio of work created during the internship.
- Document the creative process and outcomes for each project.
- Reflect on learning experiences and skill development.
- Participate in feedback sessions to improve art/design work.
- Identify opportunities to enhance the program through creative initiatives.
Schedule:
- 6-10 hours a week.
- The internship will begin on August 17, 2026 and end on November 20, 2026.
- Internship needs to start in August to create Postcards and Posters for the first exhibition that opens on 8/27/26.
Requirements:
Qualifications:
- Current undergraduate student at McDaniel College. Priority will be given to Art majors and minors.
- Knowledge of Word, Teams, OneDrive, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (preferably Photoshop and Illustrator).
- Successful completion of Art courses, which may include any one or more of the following: Perceptual Drawing, 2D Design Concepts, 3D Design Concepts, Digital Imaging, Graphic Design I.
- Strong communication skills.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented and able to juggle multiple projects at once and complete projects by hard deadlines.
- Ability to transform themes and ideas into works of art and design, including installation, sculpture, and community-engagement projects.
- Evidence of art and/or design experience in a portfolio format (PDF, Canva or PowerPoint presentation) will be required during the interview process.
- Letter of recommendation from a faculty member or supervisor.
Physical Characteristics:
The position involves computer-based design work that requires sitting for extended periods. The role demands significant finger and hand dexterity for detailed design tasks, digital illustration, and precise material handling when creating physical art pieces. While working on installations and event setups, the intern will occasionally need to stand, bend, and reach to arrange displays and decorations. The position involves lifting and carrying art supplies, marketing materials, and display items weighing up to 10 pounds. Strong visual acuity is necessary for color assessment, detail work, and quality control of completed materials. The work environment includes standard office and classroom settings, creative studio spaces, and various campus event locations where the intern may be exposed to art materials such as adhesives and paints. The intern must be able to work in different lighting conditions and maintain stamina during event preparation and breakdown.
Additional Information:
McDaniel College, in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate in the recruitment, admission, and employment of students, faculty, and staff in the operation of any of its educational programs and activities. McDaniel College will not tolerate any discrimination or harassment on the basis of any protected status including protective hairstyle, race, religion, color, ancestry or national origin, disability, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military status, genetic information, marital status, veteran's status, or any other actual or perceived legally protected characteristics.
Application Instructions:
Please click the Apply Now button below to begin your application.
- Please upload a letter of recommendation from a Faculty member or supervisor in the documents section of this application.
- Note that evidence of art and/or design experience in a portfolio format (PDF, Canva or PowerPoint presentation) will be required during the interview process.
Esther Prangley Rice Gallery Graphic Design Intern
Category: Student Worker
Department: Art
Locations: Westminster, MD
Posted: Jul 22, 2026
Closes: Sep 2, 2026 - 11:59 PM EDT
Type: PT No Benefits
Salary Type: Hourly
Salary Range: $15.00 - $15.00
Position ID: 202928
About McDaniel College:
McDaniel College is a four-year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences offering over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. One of the original "Colleges That Change Lives," McDaniel emphasizes experiential learning and student-faculty collaboration to develop the unique potential in every student. Represented by the Green Terror, over 20 athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. A student-centered community of 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students offers access to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., plus a European campus in Budapest, Hungary.
At McDaniel College we value our employees by offering our full-time employees tuition remission, 403B retirement accounts, paid time off, medical insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and paid maternity and parental leave. For more information about the college's benefits, please click here to review the 2026 benefits guidebook and click here to view 2026 premium rates.
Job Description:
Job Title: Esther Prangley Rice Gallery Graphic Design Intern
Effective Date: 07/06/2026
Reports to: Director of Esther Prangley Rice Gallery
Department: Art
Rate of Pay: Maryland Minimum Wage
FSLA Status: Non-Exempt
Location of Position: Peterson Hall, McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster, MD 21157
Duration of Appointment: August 17, 2026 to November 20, 2026
Schedule: Schedule is at discretion of supervisor
Evaluation Procedures: Student workers are evaluated on a continuous basis.
Scope:
- Provides creative support to the Rice Gallery by creating works of art and design for special events occurring throughout the semester and assisting with marketing and events.
Responsibilities:
Design & Creative Production
- Assist with creating digital visual materials for Rice Gallery Program events.
- Assist in conceptualizing and executing art installations in the Rice Gallery.
- Design and produce promotional items and giveaways for program participants.
Marketing & Communications
- Maintain the program's visual identity across all platforms.
- Collaborate with the Director to develop marketing strategies for events.
- Document events through photography for future promotional use.
Event Support
- Attend and provide on-site support for events, which may include at least one weekday evening event during the semester.
- Assist with setup and teardown of event spaces, including art installations.
- Create environmental graphics and wayfinding signage for events.
- Implement and/or design interactive art experiences for event attendees.
- Provide technical support for visual presentations during events.
Administrative & Project Management
- Maintain organized digital files of all created materials in OneDrive and/or Teams.
- Track project timelines and meet established deadlines.
- Participate in regular planning meetings with the Director.
- Document creative processes for program archives.
- Manage inventory of design supplies and materials.
- Provide weekly progress reports on assigned projects.
Community Engagement
- Design collaborative art projects that engage program participants.
- Facilitate and/or assist with creative workshops for the Gallery, if desired.
- Create visual documentation of Gallery activities.
- Support the visual storytelling of the Gallery's impact.
Professional Development
- Maintain a portfolio of work created during the internship.
- Document the creative process and outcomes for each project.
- Reflect on learning experiences and skill development.
- Participate in feedback sessions to improve art/design work.
- Identify opportunities to enhance the program through creative initiatives.
Schedule:
- 6-10 hours a week.
- The internship will begin on August 17, 2026 and end on November 20, 2026.
- Internship needs to start in August to create Postcards and Posters for the first exhibition that opens on 8/27/26.
Requirements:
Qualifications:
- Current undergraduate student at McDaniel College. Priority will be given to Art majors and minors.
- Knowledge of Word, Teams, OneDrive, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (preferably Photoshop and Illustrator).
- Successful completion of Art courses, which may include any one or more of the following: Perceptual Drawing, 2D Design Concepts, 3D Design Concepts, Digital Imaging, Graphic Design I.
- Strong communication skills.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented and able to juggle multiple projects at once and complete projects by hard deadlines.
- Ability to transform themes and ideas into works of art and design, including installation, sculpture, and community-engagement projects.
- Evidence of art and/or design experience in a portfolio format (PDF, Canva or PowerPoint presentation) will be required during the interview process.
- Letter of recommendation from a faculty member or supervisor.
Physical Characteristics:
The position involves computer-based design work that requires sitting for extended periods. The role demands significant finger and hand dexterity for detailed design tasks, digital illustration, and precise material handling when creating physical art pieces. While working on installations and event setups, the intern will occasionally need to stand, bend, and reach to arrange displays and decorations. The position involves lifting and carrying art supplies, marketing materials, and display items weighing up to 10 pounds. Strong visual acuity is necessary for color assessment, detail work, and quality control of completed materials. The work environment includes standard office and classroom settings, creative studio spaces, and various campus event locations where the intern may be exposed to art materials such as adhesives and paints. The intern must be able to work in different lighting conditions and maintain stamina during event preparation and breakdown.
Additional Information:
McDaniel College, in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate in the recruitment, admission, and employment of students, faculty, and staff in the operation of any of its educational programs and activities. McDaniel College will not tolerate any discrimination or harassment on the basis of any protected status including protective hairstyle, race, religion, color, ancestry or national origin, disability, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military status, genetic information, marital status, veteran's status, or any other actual or perceived legally protected characteristics.
Application Instructions:
Please click the Apply Now button below to begin your application.
- Please upload a letter of recommendation from a Faculty member or supervisor in the documents section of this application.
- Note that evidence of art and/or design experience in a portfolio format (PDF, Canva or PowerPoint presentation) will be required during the interview process.
See all J-1 Visa Creative Lead Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Creative Lead Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Creative Lead
Align your portfolio with specialty occupation standards
Creative Lead roles must demonstrate a direct connection between your formal education and the proposed training. Document specific design disciplines, creative direction methodologies, or campaign leadership skills that map to the work you'll do at the host organization.
Identify host employers with existing J-1 infrastructure
Target companies that have hosted J-1 trainees before. Agencies, in-house creative departments at large brands, and media companies are more likely to have HR teams familiar with DS-2019 obligations and training plan documentation requirements.
Search J-1 compatible Creative Lead roles on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to find U.S. employers and Creative Lead openings that align with J-1 sponsorship pathways. Filtering by role type helps you focus outreach on organizations whose hiring patterns match your program category.
Confirm your program category before approaching sponsors
If you hold a degree and have under one year of post-graduation work experience, you likely qualify under the Trainee category. Specialists with five or more years of professional creative experience follow a different track with different DS-2019 documentation requirements.
Request a training plan review before the offer stage
The designated sponsor, not your host employer, approves the Training and Internship Placement Plan. Ask prospective employers to outline your proposed duties early so the sponsor can flag any scope issues before you receive a formal offer.
Check whether your role triggers the two-year home residency requirement
Some J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home country residency requirement after their program ends. This affects future U.S. visa eligibility. Confirm your status with the designated sponsor before signing any host employer agreement.
Creative Lead J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Creative Lead positions?
Most Creative Lead candidates fall under the J-1 Trainee category if they have a relevant degree and fewer than five years of post-graduation experience in the creative field. Candidates with five or more years of professional experience in creative direction, brand strategy, or related disciplines may qualify under the Specialist category instead. The designated sponsor determines the appropriate classification based on your background.
Who actually sponsors a J-1 visa for a Creative Lead role?
The J-1 visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization such as CIEE, Cultural Vistas, or AIPT. That organization issues your DS-2019 form and monitors your program compliance. The company where you perform your creative work is the host employer, not the visa sponsor. You need both: a host employer willing to take you on and a designated sponsor to administer your exchange program.
How do I find Creative Lead host employers open to J-1 trainees?
Use Migrate Mate to search for Creative Lead roles at U.S. employers whose hiring patterns align with J-1 sponsorship. From there, focus outreach on creative agencies, in-house brand teams at large companies, and media organizations, since these environments are most familiar with the training plan and DS-2019 documentation the designated sponsor requires.
Can a Creative Lead position qualify as a specialty occupation under J-1?
The J-1 program does not use the specialty occupation standard that applies to H-1B visas. Instead, designated sponsors evaluate whether your proposed host placement is directly related to your degree field or documented professional experience in creative disciplines. Roles involving creative direction, visual identity, campaign leadership, or content strategy typically satisfy this connection, but the sponsor makes the final determination.
Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to J-1 Creative Leads?
It depends on your country of nationality, the source of your program funding, and whether your home country's government designates your field as a skills shortage area. Many privately funded Trainee and Specialist placements are not subject to the requirement, but you must confirm your specific status with the designated sponsor before your program begins, since the requirement affects your ability to apply for H-1B or immigrant visas afterward.