Art Director, Book Covers, Penguin Random House Christian Publishing (Open to Remote)

Art Director, Book Covers, Penguin Random House Christian Publishing (Open to Remote)

Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group seeks an Art Director who will be responsible for managing and creating distinctive book covers for our WaterBrook, Multnomah, Image, and Forum imprints. WaterBrook is one of the world’s foremost publishers of faith-based nonfiction and fiction titles. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled Art Director who loves books and reading, working in a highly productive, collaborative, and fast paced environment, managing one direct report.

 

Our Christian publishing program is devoted to creating books that inspire readers to find rich, spiritual purpose in their daily lives and invite them into a deeper relationship with God. We are seeking a creative, collaborative, and enthusiastic Art Director with interest in working with amazing Christian books and fantastic authors to join our team. This Art Director will be a leading member of the Adult Cover creation team, including some Middle Grade and Young Adult Novels. The Art Director will create market shaping designs, envision the correct look for a book and take necessary action to bring that vision to life. This position will be responsible for approximately 70 Christian focused book covers per year ranging from Christian Living titles, Christian Fiction, Young Readers, and gift products.

 

Our award winning and New York Times bestselling authors include, John Mark Comer, Jennie Allen, Latasha Morrison, Michael Todd, Tim Tebow, and Katie Davis Majors. Other notable authors include Anne Graham Lotz, Madison Prewett Trout, Francine Rivers, and Earl and Oneka McClellan.

 

Reporting to the Creative Director, Creative Services Department of the Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, the Art Director will focus on the exciting process of book jacket art development; from engaging with early versions of the manuscript to get a sense of the author’s voice and ideas for their book, through creating several options for initial cover designs. They will work with the author and stake holders to find the best solution for the book cover. The Art Director will over see the Graphic Designer Book Covers to mentor and cultivate a great sense of design, market sensibility, model work ethic, and exceptional design sense. The Art Director will also prepare and work with the Associate Designer, Covers Press, to route the book cover mechanicals. The director will collaborate closely with the Creative Director, editors, illustrators, authors, managing editors, and production managers while maintaining exceptional design standards.

 

This talented Art Director should be ready on day one to take on multiple projects, becoming familiar with the books and author to effectively shape it from the design concepts and editorial requests, through all subsequent passes to the finished book. We are looking for excellent design skills, unique vision, a designer who will elevate the look and feel of each book, creating eye-catching, striking cover designs, and who will bring a sense of playfulness and inventiveness to the title treatments and typography.

 

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the Graphic Design ecosystem, three of which have been focused on art directing, preferably in book publishing. Pervious managing experience is a plus. You should have a strong interest and familiarity with the Christian Book market, and a portfolio of work that includes samples of relevant work. Experience commissioning artwork from freelance illustrators and designers is essential. You must be well versed in the Adobe Suite with experience in digital prepress. We are looking for an art director and designer with an eye and sense for visual storytelling—someone who is considering most effective ways of combining art and typography to visually enhance the reader’s encounter with the book cover.

 

Please apply using our ATS system by January 9, 2025