Head of Visuals

Location: New Scientist Headquarters, HSK, London, W8 5HY

Position: Full Time/Permanent

Job Introduction

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Head of Visuals to be the lead for New Scientist’s editorial visual identity and manage the picture, graphics, and art desks across digital and print platforms. This role is integral to shaping the visual identity of our journalism, and ensuring high-quality digital imagery, compelling graphics, and cohesive design elements that enhance storytelling and audience engagement. In addition, you will work in close partnership with our Product Design team to maintain a unified brand experience.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in visual journalism, digital visual storytelling, team leadership, and cross-platform production.

Main Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the visual identity of New Scientist’s storytelling, ensuring excellence and impact across all editorial output.
• Partner closely with the Head of Product Design to ensure a coherent and consistent visual brand identity across all customer touchpoints.
• Oversee the strategic direction and day-to-day management of the visuals department, including photography, graphics, and editorial design teams.
• Develop and implement a cohesive digital and print visual strategy that aligns with New Scientist’s editorial goals across all platforms.
• Collaborate with editors, reporters, designers and other relevant colleagues to create compelling visual narratives
• Ensure all visual content maintains high editorial and ethical standards, including accuracy, aesthetics, and adherence to copyright and other applicable laws and regulations.
• Ensure the workflows and production schedules meet tight deadlines while maintaining quality.
• Identify efficiencies in the print production process to free up resource for digital.
• Encourage innovation in digital visual storytelling through emerging digital formats, data visualisation, and interactive graphics.
• Work closely with external contributors, agencies, and freelancers to expand/develop visual content offerings.
• Oversee budget allocation and resource management for the visuals department.
• Ensure seamless integration of visual content across social media, mobile platforms, and emerging digital formats.
• Foster a collaborative and creative work environment within the visuals team.

Person Specification

• Relevant experience in digital visual journalism, including leadership roles in a newsroom environment.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, CMS platforms, Figma and other industry-standard design tools.
• Strong editorial judgment and understanding of journalistic ethics in visual content.
• Proven ability to manage teams and projects in a fast-paced newsroom.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with a proven track record of building strong, collaborative partnerships across different internal departments (e.g. Product, Marketing)
• Experience with digital-first content strategies, including data visualisation and interactive storytelling.
• Understanding of SEO, social media engagement, and audience behaviour related to visual content.

ABOUT NEW SCIENTIST

New Scientist is a magazine brand for the insatiably curious, asking the big-picture questions about life, the universe and what it means to be human. From artificial intelligence to climate change, the latest innovations in health to the mysteries of quantum physics and the human mind, New Scientist covers the ideas and discoveries that matter. 

Since our publication was founded in 1956 for “all those interested in scientific discovery and its social consequences”, it has expanded to include newsletters, videos, podcasts, holidays and live events. Our headquarters are in London, UK, and we also have staff in the US and Australia. 

WORKING FOR NEW SCIENTIST

New Scientist is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applications to New Scientist will receive due consideration regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.