Associate Director of Visuals

Clay Today; Phoenix, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking an Associate Director of Visuals to lead and inspire a talented team of visual journalists in one of the country's most dynamic newsrooms. This leader will shape the Republic's visual identity across platforms—from breaking news photography and social video to documentary storytelling—driving innovation and excellence.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on editor who mentors staff, fosters collaboration, and uses data and audience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, visual communication or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Proven success leading visual journalism teams in a digital-first newsroom.
• Expertise in multimedia storytelling, including photography, video and cross-platform production.
• Strong understanding of digital and social video platforms, especially YouTube.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining creative excellence.
• Exceptional editorial judgment and commitment to ethical journalism.
• Experience fostering collaboration across disciplines and staff development.

Responsibilities

• Lead visual strategy in a fast-paced daily news environment with cross-platform output.
• Manage a team of visual journalists delivering photos and videos for Arizona stories.
• Oversee planning and execution for major coverage priorities balancing real-time with long-term storytelling.
• Partner with editors and reporters to develop visually forward projects driving audience growth.
• Mentor staff and foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, and journalistic integrity.
• Participate in regional and national visual strategy discussions within the USA TODAY Network to share best practices.

Skills

Multimedia storytelling

Photography

Video production

Cross-platform production

Content strategy for audience growth

YouTube & social video platforms

Editorial judgment

Staff leadership

Collaboration across disciplines

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Job description

The Arizona Republic /azcentral.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking an Associate Director of Visuals to lead and inspire a talented team of visual journalists in one of the country's most dynamic newsrooms. This leader will shape The Republic's visual identity across platforms - from breaking news photography and social video to documentary storytelling - driving innovation and excellence in how we connect with audiences while closely collaborating with and mentoring editors and reporters across the newsroom.

The ideal candidate is both a visionary and a hands-on editor who understands how powerful imagery can define coverage, deepen engagement and expand reach on every platform. You'll foster collaboration among photojournalists, writers and newsroom leaders, guiding enterprise projects and shaping the newsroom's strategy for audience growth through bold and creative visual storytelling.

Responsibilities

Lead The Republic's visual strategy in a fast-paced daily news environment, balancing enterprise and special projects while ensuring consistent excellence across digital, print and social platforms. Manage a team of visual journalists executing award-winning photos and videos capturing the stories captivating Arizona, ranging from culture, politics, sports, dining and breaking news. Oversee planning and execution of newsroom visuals for major coverage priorities, balancing real-time responsiveness with long-term storytelling ambitions. Partner with editors, reporters and teams to develop visually forward projects that drive audience growth, engagement and subscriptions. Lead and mentor across the newsroom. Shape and grow The Republic's off-platform visual presence, using data and audience insights to guide innovation. Use analytics, SEO and other audience insights to inform coverage and approaches. Direct visual planning, including coordination across photo, video, graphics and other interactive formats. Champion ethical, inclusive and audience-centered visual storytelling that reflects and embodies Arizona. Mentor staff, foster professional growth, and build a culture of creativity, collaboration, and journalistic integrity. Participate in regional and national visual strategy discussions within the USA TODAY Network to share best practices and expand visual impact.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in journalism, visual communication or a related field (or equivalent experience). Proven success leading visual journalism teams in a digital-first newsroom. Expertise in multimedia storytelling, including photography, video and cross-platform production. Strong understanding of digital and social video platforms, particularly YouTube, and experience developing content strategies for audience growth. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining creative excellence. Exceptional editorial judgment, with a deep commitment to accurate, ethical journalism. Experience fostering collaboration across disciplines and supporting staff development.