Art Director

National Geographic Society; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

National Geographic Society seeks a Lead Integrated Art Director to helm in-house Creative Studio campaigns across digital, print and OOH. You will shape top-level themes, set design standards, and develop cohesive visual identities for fundraising materials and signature events.

You will lead a small team of designers, implement template solutions, and ensure brand consistency across multi-channel outputs, collaborating with cross-functional marketing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Communications, etc.).
• 10+ years working on multi-platform marketing campaigns in-house or agency.
• 3+ years experience managing teams.
• Portfolio showing high-level design acumen, including color theory and typography.
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Strong portfolio highlighting art direction, marketing campaigns, design and storytelling.
• Working knowledge of print and digital design and production processes.
• Experience with project management software such as Monday.com.
• 2+ direct reports.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship not provided.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior Director, Creative Studio and marketing teams to shape themes, concepts and design direction.
• Provide art direction and set design standards for campaigns and donor materials.
• Develop and maintain visual style guides.
• Collaborate to create template solutions for production-focused deliverables.
• Brainstorm to develop creative themes for programs and events.
• Direct and deliver visual assets for digital, print and OOH advertising.
• Manage a small team of designers and foster collaboration.
• Lead critiques and ensure alignment with briefs and goals.
• Ensure consistency of style guides and brand standards across deliverables.
• Define and maintain creative workflows with leadership and manager.
• Stay current on industry trends, new technologies and data-driven insights.
• Create and maintain an organized archive of work.

Skills

Art direction

Color theory

Typography

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in graphic design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Monday.com

Job description

Lead integrated art direction within National Geographic Society's in-house Creative Studio.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior Director, Creative Studio and divisional marketing teams to shape top-level themes, campaign concepts, and design direction for target audiences
• Provide art direction and set design standards for fundraising campaigns, visual identities, donor stewardship materials, and related creative work
• Develop and maintain visual style guides
• Collaborate with divisional marketing teams to evaluate needs and create template solutions for production-focused deliverables
• Participate in brainstorming to develop creative themes for programmatic initiatives and signature events
• Direct and deliver visual assets for digital, print, and OOH advertising, including emails, web, social media, and event materials
• Manage a small team of designers, supporting a collaborative, results-oriented environment
• Lead constructive feedback during group creative critiques and review design deliverables for alignment with the project brief and goals
• Ensure consistent execution of style guides and brand standards across all deliverables
• Work with the Studio Manager to set timelines, evaluate new projects, and assign day-to-day work in the team’s project management system
• Define, implement, and maintain creative workflows and processes with the Senior Director and Studio Manager to improve production efficiency and identify opportunities for templatization
• Stay current on industry trends, new technologies, and data-driven insights to evolve and optimize creative output
• Create and maintain an organized, well-documented archive of work for future use

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Communications, etc.)
• 10+ years working on multi-platform marketing campaigns in an in-house agency, ad agency, or design firm
• 3+ years experience managing teams
• Portfolio showing high-level design acumen, including color theory and typography
• Demonstrated understanding of campaign development and how integrated deliverables operate across platforms
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma
• Strong portfolio highlighting expertise in art direction, marketing campaigns, design, and storytelling
• Working knowledge of both print and digital design, including production processes
• Creative, innovative thinker with strong collaboration and communication skills
• Ability to handle multiple projects at once, meet tight deadlines, and remain detail-oriented
• Experience with project management software, such as Monday.com
• Ability to collaborate across many teams and functions
• Video and motion experience is a plus
• Experience with 2+ direct reports
• Legally authorized to work in the United States; position is not eligible for visa sponsorship

Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Figma
• Monday.com

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Engaging and comprehensive wellness program
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment
• Flexible paid time off with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on remaining pay periods) and 10 days of sick leave
• 12 paid holidays
• Paid winter break between December 25 and 31
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
• Fertility benefits
• Learning and development opportunities
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Pet adoption assistance and insurance
• Pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit
• Variety of National Geographic discounts and perks

Job Designation

• Hybrid in Washington, DC
• Work at Base Camp two days each week: Tuesday and Wednesday
• Hybrid staff may come in additional days each week if preferred

Salary

• USD 133,000 - 140,000 per year
• Range reflects organizational need, skill sets, experience and training, certifications, and more
• Individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the range