Creative Director

OVERVIEW

A thriving mission-driven multimedia organization NPR produces award-winning news information and music programming in partnership with hundreds of independent public radio stations across the nation. The NPR audience values information creativity curiosity and social responsibility and our employees do too. We are innovators and leaders in diverse fields from journalism and digital media to IT and development. Every day our employees and member stations touch the lives of millions worldwide.

Across our organization were building a workplace where collaboration is essential diverse voices are heard and inclusion is the key to our success. We are committed to doing the right thing in our journalism and in every role at NPR.This means that integrity adherence to our ethical standards and compliance with legal obligations are fundamental responsibilities for every employee at NPR.

In addition to a resume please submit:

• Instead of a traditional cover letter provide a brief statement outlining your approach to creative leadership team mentorship and how you balance artistic innovation with organizational goals.

NPR is one of the countrys most trusted brands but its reputation was built in a media landscape that no longer exists. Audiences have scattered across owned platforms social video and a dozen competitors fighting for the same attention. The organizations winning that fight are the ones willing to look and sound different not just distribute more. This role exists to help NPR make that shift real.

This is and is not a caretaker role for an established brand. Its a build and evolution role: new formats new visual language a creative team stood up for video at a scale the organization hasnt operated in before.

Youll report to the SVP of Brand & Communications and work closely with Product Audience Insights Marketing and Editorial to shift a beloved legacy brand into one that can compete with new creators and challengers.

• Establish technical brand standards visual principles and digital design systems that make NPRs visual expression instantly recognizable across direct-to-audience platforms.
• Build platform-native video formats and visual frameworks that drive industry-leading differentiation compelling audiences to choose NPR over thousands of alternative journalism and entertainment options
• Push beyond generic institutional and media-industry conventions to create work with greater personality clarity emotion and cultural relevance.
• Translate organizational values editorial priorities and public service mission into standardized motion assets video packages and platform-native visual frameworks.
• Analyze market landscapes and digital competitor trends to ensure NPRs video and motion visual language remains distinct modern and culturally relevant.

• Define the technical visual frameworks and motion standards required to integrate video seamlessly across NPRs owned digital ecosystem (websites mobile apps newsletters and membership portals).
• Partner with Product Engineering Marketing and Editorial teams to establish a cohesive UI/UX and motion experience across owned platform touchpoints.
• Build modular scalable design systems and template kits that enable teams across the organization to independently publish brand-aligned digital content.
• Ensure that creative work supports a deeper direct relationship with audiences rather than treating owned platforms simply as distribution channels.
• Help develop the visual and verbal conventions that make the organizations digital experiences feel distinctive intentional and connected.
• Identify opportunities to use design storytelling video motion and other creative tools to increase engagement with owned experiences.
• Utilize audience analytics and engagement data to continuously optimize digital assets and direct-to-audience visual experiences.

• Establish production standards camera/lighting guidelines motion graphic templates and editing signatures for short-form social explanatory and talent-led video formats.
• Procure maintain and manage specialized video studio hardware camera packages lighting setups field audio gear and editing suites
• Partner with Editorial and other teams to determine where technical brand video and motion graphics complement editorial production.
• Develop recognizable approaches to motion editing typography graphics sound pacing and visual storytelling.
• Ensure that video is treated as a core creative medium rather than an adaptation of work conceived for print or static digital formats.
• Supervise a dedicated technical video and motion production squad (2 direct reports) managing daily project allocations post-production workflows and technical skill development

• Establish operational SLAs resource management models and quality-assurance protocols to scale high-volume video publishing efficiently.
• Lead the creative development of campaigns executive communications fundraising materials events presentations reports digital experiences and other strategic initiatives.
• Ensure creative work is aligned with organizational priorities audience needs accessibility standards and brand guidelines.
• Encourage experimentation while maintaining consistency and quality.
• Enforce strict compliance with federal digital accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 closed captioning color contrast screen-reader compatibility) across all motion and video deliverables.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned and this job description can be modified at any time.

• 8 years of progressive creative leadership experience specializing in digital media video production or motion systems architecture within an in-house team or agency environment.
• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating advanced technical mastery conceptual thinking creative direction visual sophistication and digital product visual identity across multi-platform ecosystems.
• Demonstrated experience helping a brand evolve modernize or become more differentiated.
• Deep technical proficiency in industry-standard video and motion software suites (Adobe Premiere Pro After Effects Figma design systems) and the changing ways audiences discover consume and engage with media.
• Meaningful experience developing or directing video and motion work.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships influence cross-functional partners and navigate complex organizational structures.
• Experience managing agencies freelancers and creative budgets.

• Experience working with a media technology cultural entertainment consumer nonprofit or mission-driven brand undergoing significant transformation.
• Experience helping an established or legacy brand evolve for new audiences or platforms.
• Experience supporting direct-to-consumer subscription membership or other owned-and-operated digital strategies.
• Experience building or expanding an internal video motion or multimedia creative capability.
• Experience developing enterprise design systems or brand governance frameworks.
• Familiarity with audience research brand measurement accessibility standards and emerging creative technologies.
• Demonstrated experience directly managing technical creative personnel such as video editors motion designers and digital production leads.

• Strong technical storytelling instincts across motion video and platform-native digital formats.
• Fluency in visual systems digital motion design video production workflows and digital brand expression.
• Deep curiosity about media culture design technology motion trends and changing audience behavior on owned digital platforms.
• Strong people leadership technical team management coaching and talent-development skills.
• Comfort leading creative/digital visual transformation within and systems integration within an established organization.
• An ability to respect the equity of a legacy brand without being constrained by its history when building new platform formats.
• Excellent collaboration and relationship-building skills across cross functional teams.
• An ability to communicate the strategic technical and architectural reasoning behind creative choices.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity organizational complexity and competing priorities.
• Strong decision-making and prioritization skills.
• A commitment to accessibility inclusion and creating work for a broad and diverse public.

• Equivalent hands-on experience in lieu of a bachelors degree.

• NPR Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington D.C. or New York City location at least 3 days a week. The employee must also be in commuting distance to Washington D.C or New York City.

• This is a full-time exempt position.

Salary Range: The U.S.-based anticipated salary range for this opportunity is $147000-$165000 plus benefits. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salaries NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR provides comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPRs benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness paid time off and financial well-being. Plan options include medical dental vision life/ accidental death and dismemberment long-term disability short-term disability and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.

Does this sound like you If so we want to hear from you.

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NPR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. NPR is committed to being an inclusive workplace that welcomes diverse and unique perspectives all working toward the same goal to create a more informed public. Qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ethnicity national origin ancestry age religion religious belief sex (including pregnancy childbirth and related medical conditions lactation and reproductive health decisions) sexual orientation gender gender identity or expression transgender status gender non-conforming status intersex status sexual stereotypes nationality citizenship status personal appearance marital status family status family responsibilities military status veteran status mental and physical disability medical condition genetic information genetic characteristics of yourself or a family member political views and affiliation unemployment status protective order status status as a victim of domestic violence sexual assault or stalking or any other basis prohibited under applicable law.

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Director