Senior Art Director

The Atlantic is looking for a senior art director to join the newsroom and play a central role in shaping and maintaining the visual identity of our journalism.


Reporting to the Visuals Director for The Atlantic's website, this person will help steer a growing digital art team. Specifically, they will manage and mentor art directors and designers, providing direction and support on work from staff and a network of contributors to ensure consistently high-quality visuals across daily and long-term coverage on the site. The role will occasionally extend to special projects and print magazine assignments.


The ideal candidate brings a strong editorial sensibility and a deep understanding of how design and illustration function in a newsroom. They push for ideas that go beyond the obvious solution, hold a clear visual point of view across a wide range of stories, and can successfully balance ambition and speed within a news environment. They are equally comfortable leading and creating original work - approaching it all with creativity, rigor, and a high editorial standard.

Preferred qualifications of the ideal candidate:

• A track record of successful work in editorial design, illustration, or digital media
  
• Experience managing art directors and/or designers, preferably within a journalism or news environment, is a strong plus
  
• A strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking and excellence in visual storytelling
  
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
  
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma; experience with motion graphics and video editing is a plus
  
• Clear and effective communication skills
  
• Energized by working in a fast-paced news environment
  

This role will at times involve early mornings, evenings, or occasional weekend work.

Salary Minimum: $105,000; Salary Maximum: $150,000

This position is based in Washington, D.C., or New York City.

About The Atlantic:

The Atlantic has, for more than 160 years, advanced ideas that matter and sparked global conversation on the most important issues of our time. We aim to bring clarity and original thinking to questions of consequence, on topics ranging from politics, the economy, and global affairs to technology, science, and culture. As the third-longest-running magazine in America, we find ourselves at a remarkable moment: one of both continuation and transformation, of upholding our legacy while continuously reinventing ourselves for the future.

The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC ("The Atlantic") is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Atlantic is committed to diversity and encourages members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, LGBTQ people, people of color, and people with disabilities. We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.


Job offers to work at The Atlantic are contingent upon the candidate's successful completion of reference checks and compliance with The Atlantic's COVID-19 vaccination policy. The Atlantic requires all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including subsequent boosters, and submit proof of vaccination status. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.