Head Of Design: Ai-Driven Ux & System Leadership

Elmo Software; Sydney; In loco; AUD 180.000 - 240.000; Tempo pieno

Vantaggi offerti da questo lavoro

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Diversity and inclusion groups

Wellbeing plans and staff support

Descrizione del lavoro

Guardian Australia is seeking a head of design to creatively lead Guardian Australia’s visual and editorial design team, as a hands‑on editorial designer and visual storytelling lead in an engaged, fast‑paced newsroom environment.

This role will collaborate with editors, journalists, photographers, developers and visual creatives across Australia to elevate the digital experience of our journalism across web, app and emerging platforms.

Competenze

• Exceptional talent and skill in editorial design and visual journalism.
• At least eight years’ experience in digital editorial design, visual storytelling and interactive formats.
• Experience creating engaging storytelling experiences across web, app and digital platforms.
• Demonstrated experience guiding multiple complex editorial projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of web and native platform capabilities and constraints.
• Experience with Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere and After Effects.
• Knowledge of HTML, SCSS/CSS and digital production workflows.
• Awareness of web standards and accessibility guidelines.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced newsroom to strict deadlines.
• Ability to maintain a consistent visual style across products.

Mansioni

• Lead editorial design and visual storytelling for Guardian Australia across web, app and platforms.
• Collaborate with editors, journalists, photographers, developers and creatives.
• Provide editorial and visual expertise from inception to implementation.
• Ensure high standards in storytelling, accessibility, usability and editorial quality.
• Innovate and evolve visual storytelling formats and design guidelines.
• Influence design direction and contribute to editorial strategy with senior leadership.
• Mentor designers and visual journalists and foster a collaborative newsroom environment.
• Balance daily deadlines with long‑form and investigative projects.

Conoscenze

Editorial design

Visual journalism

Storytelling

Team leadership

Deadline management

Audience insight

Accessibility

Editorial strategy

Strumenti

Figma

Photoshop

Illustrator

Premiere Pro

After Effects

HTML/CSS

Descrizione del lavoro

Head of Design – Guardian Australia

Full-time, Permanent. Location: Sydney, Melbourne.

Guardian Australia is part of Guardian News & Media (GNM), publisher of theguardian.com. We are seeking a head of design to creatively lead Guardian Australia’s visual and editorial design team, as a hands‑on editorial designer and visual storytelling lead in an engaged, fast‑paced newsroom environment.

This role will collaborate with editors, journalists, photographers, developers and visual creatives across Australia and the wider Guardian network to elevate the digital experience of our journalism across web, app and emerging platforms. The role will help shape and evolve Guardian Australia’s visual identity and storytelling ambitions in the context of the Guardian’s global digital products and editorial strategy.

In this role you will…

• Work to tight deadlines in collaboration with editors, reporters and developers to create compelling visual storytelling and design concepts that express Guardian journalism and values, with the reader at the centre.
• Creatively lead a multidisciplinary visual and editorial design team producing innovative and engaging storytelling across design, photography, illustration, graphics, animation and interactive formats.
• Be a source of editorial and visual expertise for projects and initiatives from inception to implementation.
• Ensure visual and design work consistently meets high standards in storytelling, accessibility, usability, functionality and editorial quality across all platforms and devices.
• Use imagination, energy and flair to innovate and evolve visual storytelling formats.
• Influence design direction and contribute to broader editorial visual strategy alongside the Creative Director and senior editorial leadership.
• Assist in building a dynamic, collaborative and creative newsroom environment that supports ambitious journalism while motivating and mentoring team members.
• Balance reactive daily newsroom demands with longer‑term enterprise and investigative projects, ensuring priorities are clear and achievable.
• Work closely with engineering, product and audience teams to create visually compelling experiences that are technically efficient, scalable and audience‑focused.
• Support Guardian Australia journalism through art direction, illustration, motion graphics, data visualisation, interactives and multimedia storytelling.
• Practical application and evolution of visual and design guidelines for news and feature stories, understanding their place within the wider editorial agenda.
• Develop an understanding of Guardian Australia audiences and how they engage with our journalism, applying these insights to the development of visual work.
• Collaborate with editors across news, features, sport, culture, investigations and other desks to ensure visual storytelling supports editorial intent from the outset.
• Advocate for visual journalism and greater visual literacy across the newsroom, helping colleagues understand design processes, storytelling opportunities and emerging technologies.
• Collaborate with colleagues across editorial, engineering, UX, product and audience teams to support broader strategic objectives and ensure effective delivery.
• Coordinate with Guardian colleagues internationally on shared editorial and visual projects.
• Maintain strong relationships with photographers, illustrators, animators, designers and other external creative collaborators.
• Participate in workshops, planning sessions and editorial discussions to shape storytelling strategy and visual innovation.
• Spread awareness of opportunities and challenges in digital visual storytelling and editorial design.

Knowledge and experience

• Exceptional talent and skill in editorial design and visual journalism.
• At least eight years’ experience in digital editorial design, visual storytelling and interactive formats.
• Experience creating engaging and accessible storytelling experiences across web, app and digital platforms from concept to execution.
• Demonstrated experience managing and giving creative direction on multiple complex editorial projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of capabilities and constraints of web and native platforms.
• Experience with Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere and After Effects.
• Knowledge of HTML, SCSS/CSS and digital production workflows.
• Awareness of web standards and accessibility guidelines.
• Experience working in a fast‑paced newsroom environment to strict deadlines.
• Ability to maintain a consistent visual style and editorial approach across multiple products and platforms.
• Demonstrable interest in Australian news, features and multimedia journalism.
• Broad understanding of Guardian audiences and how audience behaviour informs storytelling and product development.
• Up to date with developments in visual journalism, storytelling technologies and digital trends.
• Up to speed on the latest trends and technologies.
• A passion for independent journalism and an understanding of our editorial code and values.

Skills and behaviours

• Able to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships across editorial, product, engineering and creative teams.
• Ability to guide and mentor designers and visual journalists through iterative creative processes.
• Ability to lead workshops, planning sessions and collaborative editorial discussions.
• Ability to work with and lead a multidisciplinary team.
• Creative, innovative and solutions‑oriented.
• Strong editorial judgement and attention to detail.
• Highly organised, with excellent time management skills.
• Resilient under pressure and adaptable in a fast‑moving newsroom environment.
• Proactive and self‑motivated.
• Confident in advocating for visual and creative priorities.
• Commitment to the Guardian’s values – honesty, integrity, courage and fairness.

About working at Guardian Australia

• Employee assistance program (EAP) to support employee wellbeing.
• Dedicated diversity and inclusion employee groups, action plans (including our Reconciliation Action Plan) and cultural competency training.

Closing date for applications: Monday, 26 October 2026.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including people with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

We believe that our role in the Australian media is to give a voice to the most marginalised people in society and value and respect all differences in all people – including people of colour, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from different social classes, people with diverse gender and sexual identities, and people with disabilities (seen and unseen). We believe these communities must be centred in the work we do, bringing a new perspective and a diversity of thought. We also encourage flexible working and aim to create a work environment where all employees feel respected.

Guardian Australia is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, and provides targeted wellbeing plans to support news professionals covering tough stories or dealing with the cumulative impacts of difficult topics.