Design Director, Opinion

The role

The Design Director will partner with editors and visual teams to elevate Opinion coverage across all platforms. You will guide the design team, art direct creative solutions, and act as a visual editor for digital projects.

What you will do

• Shape, protect and maintain the visual approach for the Sunday Opinion section and covers
• Develop digital interactive packages, daily reports, newsletters, title graphics and promotional art
• Direct and inspire the design team to develop strong concepts
• Step in as a hands-on visual editor to define story flow and lead visuals
• Partner with editors, graphics, photo, video, audio, and product teams
• Build and guide a diverse global network of external illustrators, photographers, and artists
• Maintain typography, layout, and graphic standards
• Establish efficient workflows to meet tight newsroom deadlines and stakeholder feedback

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of print and digital design experience
• 5+ years managing designers/art directors in a media or news environment
• Proven experience generating multiple visual concepts and adapting to shifting, fast-paced news cycles
• Expertise in commissioning and art directing global creative talent across illustration, photography, typography and motion
• Deep expertise of design fundamentals and tools, including Figma, InDesign, and Adobe Creative Suite
• A portfolio showcasing high-level conceptual thinking, typography, and complex editorial layouts

Nice to have

• Strong communication skills to articulate visual concepts through sketches, wireframes, and cross-functional presentations
• Demonstrated skill in building collaborative environments that foster trust, mentorship, and professional growth
• Working knowledge of UX/UI principles, interactive storytelling formats, and front-end design constraints
• A highly developed eye for emerging trends in illustration, photography, and visual media
• Demonstrated experience optimizing design workflows under tight deadlines

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision benefits
• Flexible Spending Accounts (F.S.A.s)
• Company-matching 401(k) plan
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid vacation
• Paid sick days
• Paid parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development programs

Before you apply

• Submit your own work and do not use GenAI tools to generate substantive content during the application and interview process

About the company

The mission of The New York Times is to seek the truth and help people understand the world through independent journalism.