Sr Art Director

The Philadelphia Inquirer is a public benefit corporation owned by the nonprofit Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Together, we’re at the center of a critical mission to create a lasting future for ambitious, engaging, and useful local journalism. We’re doing this, in part, by deepening our connection with the communities we serve. Our integrated digital and print platforms are the Philadelphia region’s largest media network. We’re passionate about building a sustainable model for indispensable local journalism, and we take pride in finding diverse, dynamic, and talented individuals to help push our team forward.

Senior Art Director 

We are seeking a highly skilled and resourceful Senior Art Director to help elevate the art direction and visual storytelling for our in-house brand content/sales and marketing studio. As the Senior Art Director, you will be responsible for overseeing the design and visual execution of various content initiatives, including ads, branded content magazines and special sections, digital publications and microsites, as well as a vast amount of marketing materials. You will collaborate closely with the VP, Creative Director to ensure that brand standards are developed and executed. This role requires a deep understanding of the publishing industry, strong artistic vision, and the ability to inspire and mentor a creative team.

What You’ll Do

• Art Direction and Strategy Collaborate with sales and marketing teams leads and content stakeholders to understand project objectives, target audiences, and publication themes. Support the VP/CD and help communicate and implement the overall creative vision and strategy for content initiatives, ensuring they align with the project brand identities and values. Provide artistic direction, constructive feedback, and guidance to the design team. Collaborate with freelance illustrators and photographers to ensure a cohesive and impactful visual representation of the content.

• Visual Work Help develop project visions and strategies that resonate with readers, enhance the content's narrative and then share that vision with team members and stakeholders. Design or oversee the project designs, including layout, typography, graphics, and illustrations, ensuring visual consistency and quality throughout the publication.

• Leadership and Collaboration Lead and mentor a small team of designers. Help foster a collaborative and innovative work environment. Provide clear direction and constructive feedback to ensure the team's work meets the highest quality standards. Continually try to raise the bar and create excellent solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, paying particular attention to our digital efforts and product work. Be able to dig into Figma files to double check assets, as well as build a site and design system from scratch. Stay updated on design trends, industry developments, and emerging technologies in the publishing and design space, incorporating relevant insights into creative projects. Add animation and video editing into our team toolkit. Teach team members best practices for low load files. Promote confidence using After Effects and Premier Pro more often than photoshop. Share insights and recommendations with the team to enhance the overall creative strategy and output.

•  Project Management  Manage multiple projects simultaneously, setting priorities and timelines to ensure on-time delivery of content initiatives. Collaborate with the production manager to ensure a smooth production process, addressing any design-related challenges or requirements.

Who We are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, fine arts, or a related field.

• Proven experience as an Art Director or Senior Art Director within a publishing house or content-focused environment. 

• 3+ years leading and mentoring a team.

• 8+ years design expertise 

• Extensive portfolio showcasing creative projects for newspapers, magazines, and websites.

• Proficiency in graphic design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premier Pro), as well as FIGMA.

• Strong artistic vision and understanding of design principles, layout, and typography.

• Able to design for both print and digital at the highest level. 

• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and guide creative professionals.

• Effective communication and collaboration abilities, with the capacity to work seamlessly with cross-functional teams.

• Knowledge of the publishing industry, content creation processes, and printing techniques.

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.