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The Guardian US · 5 days ago

Creative Director / Head of Visuals

NYC Metro Area

Full-time

Hybrid

Lead/Staff

$180K/yr - $200K/yr

The Guardian is a global, reader-funded news organization that delivers fearless, independent journalism. They are seeking a Creative Director / Head of Visuals to lead a team of creative journalists in producing innovative visual stories and ensuring high standards of journalistic accuracy and visual clarity.

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Growth Opportunities

Responsibilities

Lead the team of creative journalists working across photography, graphics, design, illustration, animation and interactive formats; use imagination, energy and flair to innovate and collaborate to create ambitious visual stories in the fast-paced newsroom to amplify our journalism, with the reader in mind

A hands-on CMS user contributing to and implementing the creative team's work, you are responsible for the highest standards of journalistic accuracy, storytelling techniques and visual clarity, quality, look and feel in the team's approach and output, ensuring functionality, accessibility and usability across platforms and devices

Be a source of visual and editorial expertise for projects and initiatives from inception to implementation. Actively foster a culture of collaboration, collaborative processes and efficiency, and a dynamic, creative office environment to motivate and cultivate the creative, technical and journalistic skills of team members. Support Guardian US journalism with photo research, commissioning, art direction, illustration, data visualization, interactives, motion graphics and animation

Balance fast-turnaround, reactive requests with longer-form proactive projects, ensuring priorities are clear and achievable while maintaining high editorial and creative standards. Ensure rota and level of visuals cover supports newsroom operations

Work with clients of the visuals team, including US news, features, the west coast bureau, philanthropy projects and front page editors to ensure the team's work supports the intended journalistic purpose. Ensure that creative considerations are valued and embedded from the outset—acting as a firm and clear voice in the processes. Assist non-team members in understanding visual journalism, related issues and technologies. Advocate for innovative visual storytelling in the newsroom and encourage greater levels of visual literacy

Develop an understanding of who our audiences are, how they interact with Guardian US journalism and apply this in the development of visuals work. Work with the audience team, social and multimedia teams to amplify our journalism on other platforms

Practical application and evolution of our visual guidelines for the day's news and feature stories across visual media, understanding their relative importance alongside the overall news agenda

Help evolve and communicate visual journalism output and processes in the constantly changing media landscape, implementing and experimenting with new tools, approaches and structures where necessary

Coordinate with colleagues in our international editions on shared, global-facing projects

Catch up regularly with Guardian UK counterparts in photography, design and visuals teams as well as the product & engineering teams who maintain our CMS, apps, website and other services to ensure our work and processes function with their changing codebase and style guides

Be an ambassador for visual journalism in the newsroom and on related projects, communicating regularly with peers and senior stakeholders across departments, representing the team at meetings, contributing ideas, building relationships and ensuring smooth collaborations

Cultivate creative contacts and ensure excellent communication and feedback between the team with photographers, illustrators, designers, animators and other creatives to facilitate delivery of contributions of the highest quality. Work with administrators to ensure compliance with terms and payment processing

Track performance of Guardian US visuals work on and off platform, and enter team's work in industry awards

Qualification

Editorial designArt directionInteractive formatsData visualizationFigmaIllustratorPhotoshopCMSProject management softwareHTMLSCSSJavascriptMotion graphicsAnimationInterpersonal skillsCollaborationAdaptability

Required

Exceptional talent and proven track record in editorial design and art direction, interactive formats and coding, graphics and data reporting at a high-profile, deadline-driven, multisection multimedia news organization

Experienced at managing and giving creative direction on concurrent, complex projects

Advocacy for creative needs while balancing production requirements

Editorial workflows and the demands of a fast-paced newsroom

Demonstrable interest in and knowledge of news, features and multimedia journalism and communicating effectively with readers/viewers/listeners

Flexible and adaptable to frequently changing news priorities

A skillful hands-on creative/coach to inspire and manage a multidisciplinary team with a strong spirit of collaboration

Excellent management and interpersonal skills; ability to deal equitably with a wide range of people at different levels, in line with our values

Familiarity with The Guardian's editorial values, and a broad understanding of our existing and potential readership to influence the development of new projects

Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop, CMS, Premier, AfterEffects, project management software

Consistent style and approach in line with brand guidelines and design system across products and platforms

Knowledge of capabilities of web/native capabilities, HTML, SCSS and Javascript

Awareness of web accessibility guidelines and web standards

Up to speed on the latest trends and technologies

Benefits

25 days of vacation leave in addition to 12 company holidays

Unlimited sick time

Free Headspace subscription for you and your family members(Headspace is a company that offers evidence-based meditation and mindfulness tools, mental health coaching, therapy, psychiatry, and EAP services)

401(k) Match

Subsidized healthcare coverage including medical, vision, and dental

Medical and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts

Generous parental leave with 100% pay

Long Term and Short Term Disability insurance

Life insurance

Commuter benefits

Work/Life balance: Flexible hybrid schedule