Creative Director / Head of Visuals

The Guardian is a global, reader-funded news organization that delivers fearless, independent journalism. From breaking news and award-winning investigations, to in-depth coverage of technology, sports, film, culture and lifestyle, the Guardian offers a global view that deepens our audiences’ understanding of America and the world.

The Guardian’s US edition – headquartered in New York City, with growing bureaus in Washington DC and Los Angeles – is an entirely digital operation that combines the best of the Guardian’s international reporting with US voices and expertise. Core coverage areas include the climate emergency, economic and racial inequality, wellness, culture, digital privacy and sports – all highlighting the Guardian’s distinctive role within the US media landscape: journalism that’s global, independent, and free. 

It’s the talent, energy and commitment our people bring to the Guardian that make us who we are. Across our business we have some of the most creative thinkers in media and beyond: award winning journalists, cutting edge commercial teams, digital talent and more.

Department: Editorial, Visuals
Reports to: Editor and Executive Editor, Guardian US and Creative Director, Editorial
Location: New York, New York

Hybrid/Remote/In-Person: Hybrid

Terms and conditions: Full time, permanent; News Media Guild position, $180,000 - $200,000

 

About the role

Creatively lead the Visuals team—incorporating design, art direction, interactive formats, photography, data graphics and illustration/animation—as a hands-on practitioner in a fast-paced, dynamic newsroom. Collaborate with the Deputy Head of Visuals and Executive Editor to shape visual ambitions, ways of working and team output, and with editors and journalists to elevate the experience of our journalism. Manage reactive daily demands with longer-term projects, team resources and stakeholders, keep projects on track and budget, and ensure that creativity is respected and protected throughout the process. Bring to life stories such as the US elections 2024, the impact of climate crisis, the investigation into Ice deportations and Bushwick, Brooklyn: the US’s most exciting neighborhood. Shape the visual identity of Guardian US, in conjunction with the US editor, US Executive Editor and Creative Director, Editorial.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

• 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