Head of Visuals

The Washington Post•Washington, DC

55d•Onsite

About The Position

The Washington Post is looking for a passionate and proven leader to elevate and reboot our approach to visual journalism. This masthead-level role oversees the design, graphics and photo departments along with cross-functional visual storytelling teams within News. The Head of Visuals is a key decision maker and driver of the daily news report. They work closely with peers on the masthead and teams across the company, especially in Product. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated track record of setting and executing a vision for visual work that aligns with company goals, experience with new technologies and a deep understanding of how visual journalism must evolve alongside audience habits. This role is based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom and reports directly to the executive editor.

Requirements

At least 15 years of professional journalism experience with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
Expert technical knowledge and understanding of photography, graphics, illustration and design, as well as awareness of how technology is driving changes across the industry.
A track record of success in developing and implementing innovative visual storytelling strategies.
The ability to take an audience-centric view of journalistic work, using data and analytics to inform decision making.
A deep understanding of the role that outside platforms play in reader experiences with The Post's brand.
Dynamic leadership skills, including a collaborative spirit and a strong and respectful communication style.
Experience managing a budget.

Responsibilities

Drive coverage toward creative, informative and arresting visual storytelling, advancing the quality of our work and setting ever-higher standards for reader experiences.
Bolster the visual impact of Post journalism both on- and off-platform, incorporating a data-informed approach aimed at growing engagement and readership.
Manage significant change in the ways visual departments operate and how they interact with related teams across the company and with users.
Evolve team structures and workflows as we seek to maximize our potential in delivering visually led journalism. Identify and execute more efficient and effective ways of melding visual disciplines, including impactful technologies.
Help deepen the visual awareness and acuity of the entire Post newsroom, whether on visual teams or not.
Collaborate with counterparts in Engineering and Product and teams such as Marketing to improve reader experiences, evaluate new storytelling forms and upgrade tools.
Embrace and help the newsroom meet The Post's goals for responsibly incorporating AI into our journalistic work.
Work as needed on business deals and contracts with external vendors, including tactical and strategic approaches to partnerships.
Represent The Post's visual ambition at relevant industry conferences and events.
Inspire a large and diverse group of journalists to find new ways of working together to serve audience growth goals.