Director of Visual Storytelling & Design

Guardian Media Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee assistance program

Flexible working

Diversity and inclusion groups

Job summary

Guardian Australia is seeking a head of design to lead the visual and editorial design team in a fast-paced newsroom. This hands‑on role collaborates with editors, journalists, photographers and developers across Australia and the Guardian network to elevate digital journalism.

The position is full-time and permanent, open to candidates in Sydney or Melbourne, with flexible start/end times to suit newsroom operations.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years in digital editorial design and visual storytelling.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary design teams in fast-paced newsrooms.
• Strong knowledge of web accessibility and digital production workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary visual and editorial design team to tell Guardian journalism.
• Collaborate with editors, photographers, developers and creatives across Australia.
• Ensure design quality and accessibility across web, apps and platforms.
• Shape visual identity and storytelling strategy in line with Guardian goals.
• Mentor designers and foster a collaborative newsroom culture.
• Coordinate with international colleagues on shared projects.
• Advocate for visual journalism and innovative formats.
• Balance daily deadlines with long-form projects.

Skills

Editorial design

Visual storytelling

Web and mobile design

Figma

Photoshop

Illustrator

Premiere

After Effects

HTML/CSS basics

Editorial strategy

Project management

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Premiere

After Effects

Job description

Guardian Australia is seeking a head of design to lead the visual and editorial design team in a fast-paced newsroom. This hands‑on role collaborates with editors, journalists, photographers and developers across Australia and the Guardian network to elevate digital journalism.

The position is full-time and permanent, open to candidates in Sydney or Melbourne, with flexible start/end times to suit newsroom operations.