Head of Design & Visual Storytelling

Guardian News and Media Limited; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

EAP for wellbeing

Paid volunteer leave

Diversity & inclusion groups

Guardian digital subscription

Job summary

Guardian Australia is seeking a head of design to lead the visual and editorial design team in a fast-paced newsroom. You will be hands-on, shaping Guardian Australia's visual identity and storytelling across web, app and emergent platforms in collaboration with editors, journalists and developers.

The role requires eight+ years in digital editorial design, strong storytelling, and the ability to guide multiple complex projects while upholding editorial standards.

Qualifications

• Exceptional editorial design and visual journalism skills with strong storytelling.
• Eight+ years in digital editorial design and visual storytelling.
• Experience leading multiple complex editorial projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of web and native platform capabilities and constraints.
• Familiarity with web standards, accessibility guidelines and digital production workflows.
• Experience with interactive formats, data visualization and multimedia storytelling.
• Ability to guide and mentor designers and visual journalists.
• Strong collaboration across editorial, product, engineering and creative teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary visual and editorial design team to craft innovative storytelling across design, photography, graphics, animation and interactives.
• Collaborate with editors, journalists, photographers, developers and Guardian network to elevate digital journalism across web, app and emerging platforms.
• Provide editorial and visual direction from inception to implementation on projects and initiatives.
• Ensure design work meets high standards for storytelling, accessibility, usability and editorial quality across platforms.
• Balance fast-paced newsroom deadlines with longer‑term investigative projects and enterprise storytelling.
• Partner with engineering, product and audience teams to create technically efficient, scalable experiences.
• Mentor team members and foster a dynamic, collaborative newsroom environment.
• Advise on visual strategy and contribute to broader editorial visual direction with senior leadership.

Skills

Editorial design

Visual journalism

Team leadership

Mentorship

Workshop facilitation

Cross-functional collaboration

Figma

Photoshop

Illustrator

Premiere

After Effects

HTML/CSS

JavaScript

Accessibility standards

Deadline-driven

Tools

Figma

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. You will be hands-on, shaping Guardian Australia's visual identity and storytelling across web, app and emergent platforms in collaboration with editors, journalists and developers.

The role requires eight+ years in digital editorial design, strong storytelling, and the ability to guide multiple complex projects while upholding editorial standards.