Lead Page Designer

Job Summary:

The Lead Page Designer is responsible for overseeing and executing the visual presentation of The Gazette, Denver Gazette, Colorado Politics, associated magazines, and special publications. This role serves as the newsroom's lead design professional, providing creative direction, project leadership, and mentorship to designers and paginators while ensuring consistent brand standards across print, e-edition, magazine, and digital platforms. The Lead Page Designer partners with editors, photographers, and digital teams to develop compelling visual storytelling through innovative page design, graphics, and special projects that engage readers and support newsroom objectives.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of page design standards and visual consistency across all newsroom print and digital products.
• Produce clear, compelling, and dynamic page designs for daily newspapers, quarterly magazines, e-editions, and special publications.
• Create informational graphics, charts, maps, timelines, and other visual elements that enhance storytelling and effectively communicate complex information.
• Perform visual reporting and independently develop graphic concepts that support editorial content.
• Design logos, branding elements, and visual packages for special projects, series, and recurring features while maintaining established brand standards.
• Manage special sections, enterprise projects, and editorial series from concept development through final production and publication.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and coaching to page designers and paginators by offering regular feedback, training, and professional development support.
• Establish and maintain newsroom design best practices, workflows, and quality standards.
• Participate in planning meetings and collaborate with newsroom leadership on project development, resource allocation, and production priorities.
• Ensure all visual output aligns with established brand guidelines and organizational design standards.
• Collaborate with editors, photographers, reporters, graphic artists, and other stakeholders to create visually engaging and effective storytelling.
• Work closely with production staff to ensure layouts meet technical specifications and publication deadlines.
• Develop innovative approaches to visual storytelling and actively seek opportunities to improve reader engagement through design.
• Research industry trends and best practices and incorporate new techniques, tools, and design concepts when appropriate.
• Collaborate with digital teams to maintain visual consistency and brand alignment across print and digital platforms.
• Produce high-quality layouts and designs under deadline pressure while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Assist newsroom leadership in evaluating design processes and recommending workflow improvements to increase efficiency and product quality.

Other Duties:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Education & Work Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of newspaper and/or magazine design experience.
• Demonstrated success leading complex editorial projects from concept through final publication.
• Proven experience mentoring, coaching, or providing leadership to design professionals.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in newspaper, magazine, and visual storytelling design.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required :

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions.

• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InCopy.
• Advanced knowledge of Adobe Acrobat and proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Deep understanding of typography, color theory, visual hierarchy, branding principles, and user-centered design.
• Advanced ability to create newspaper, magazine, special section, and digital publication layouts.
• Strong graphic design skills with the ability to create charts, maps, infographics, and visual storytelling elements.
• Advanced copy-editing skills and strong understanding of AP style and journalistic principles.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and coaching abilities.
• Ability to provide constructive feedback and foster professional development among team members.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Thorough understanding of local, national, and international news and how visual presentation supports editorial priorities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and excellence in visual journalism.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is moderately noisy at times.