Associate Art Director, Union Square & Co.

Hachette Book Group•New York, NY

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

Union Square & Co. is seeking a talented, creative, and driven Associate Art Director to shape the visual identity of its publishing program. This role involves bringing books to life from concept to completion, leading the creative development of compelling cover designs across diverse genres. The Associate Art Director will oversee projects from initial vision and execution to approvals and final production files. This is an opportunity for an experienced book designer to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment on distinctive books and gift products. The role also includes mentoring and managing three designers, fostering a culture of creativity and collaboration. The Associate Art Director reports directly to the Art Director, Adult Books, and plays an integral role in shaping the creative direction of the list. The ideal candidate will have a strong portfolio of book cover design, a keen eye for emerging trends, and a passion for crafting books readers will want to pick up.

Requirements

Minimum 5-7 years design experience in book publishing
Extensive experience designing book covers specifically, nonfiction, fiction, and other gift related products such as tarot cards or stationary
Detailed knowledge of pre-press requirements for print: manufacturing process, proofing, and color correction
Experience hiring and overseeing illustrators, negotiating rates, and rights usage
Experience managing designers and senior designers
Proficient in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat
4-year college degree preferably in Graphic Design, or equivalent work experience
Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment
Strong time management skills to manage deadlines and delegate work
Experience working with freelancers
Candidates must be able to reliably commute to the New York office

Responsibilities

Conceptualizes and generates creative and innovative cover designs for UNSQ’s Adult list, including Classics, and select Gift titles
Works closely with the Art Director to maintain the highest quality of design and production standards while keeping on track with deadlines
Manages and advises small group of Senior and Junior level designers
Collaborates closely with editorial team to develop thoughtful, market-appropriate designs
Oversees all stages of preparation including prepress, color correction, setting print-ready files up for special effects, and proof review.
Maintains ongoing communications and schedules with the Editorial and Production departments to ensure timely execution and follow through from manuscript to bound book for all projects
Researches and oversees freelance illustrators and designers when required
Ensures that designs fulfill UNSQ’s high standards, represent the brand in the market, and push the envelope in both concept and execution
Attends weekly status and design meetings
Stays abreast of changes in publishing industry, design trends, and new techniques that will improve the efficiency and creativity