Art Director (Creative Studio)

The National Geographic Society (NGS) is a nonprofit organization that uses science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it is one of the world's most trusted nonprofit organizations and global brands. Its Communication, Marketing and Brand division includes six integrated departments, among them the in-house Creative Studio where this role sits.

The role

The Art Director is a senior creative leader within the Creative Studio, reporting to the Senior Director, Creative Studio. The role exists to conceptualize, develop, and execute integrated creative campaigns and marketing collateral that communicate NGS's mission, build enthusiasm for the brand, and move audiences to action. It carries responsibility for translating business goals into engaging creative work across platforms, leading projects from concept through production, and providing mentorship and direction to a small team of designers (2+ direct reports).

What you would do

• Collaborate with the Senior Director and divisional marketing teams to develop campaign concepts, top-level themes, and design directions that resonate with target audiences.
• Provide art direction and establish design standards for fundraising campaigns, visual identities, donor stewardship materials, and related work.
• Develop and maintain visual style guides, and ensure consistent use of brand standards across all deliverables.
• Guide and execute visual assets for digital, print, and out-of-home ads, emails, web, social media content, and event materials.
• Work with marketing teams to assess needs and develop template solutions for production-oriented work.
• Manage a small team of designers, assign day-to-day work in the project management system, and lead group creative critique sessions.
• Partner with the Studio Manager to establish timelines and assess incoming projects.
• Help define, implement, and maintain creative workflows and processes, identifying opportunities for templatization.
• Stay current on industry trends, new technologies, and data-driven insights to evolve creative output over time.
• Maintain an organized, well-documented archive of work accessible to future users.

What they are looking for

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Communications, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience working on multi-platform marketing campaigns at an in-house agency, ad agency, or design firm.
• At least 3 years of experience managing creative teams.
• A portfolio demonstrating high-level design acumen, color theory, typography, and an understanding of integrated campaign development across platforms.
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Strong experience in both print and digital design, including production processes.
• Experience with project management software such as Monday.com.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet tight deadlines, and maintain close attention to detail.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills across many teams and functions.
• Video and motion experience are a plus.

Working arrangements

This is a hybrid role based in Washington, D.C. Staff are required to work on-site at NGS headquarters (Base Camp) every Tuesday and Wednesday, with the option to come in on additional days. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States; this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Pay and benefits

The salary range for this position is $133,000 - $140,000 per year.

• medical, dental, and vision insurance;
• a wellness program;
• 401(k) with employer matching after 6 months;
• up to 22 days of paid annual leave and 10 days of sick leave;
• 12 paid holidays plus a paid winter break (December 25-31);
• paid parental leave;
• adoption, surrogacy, and fertility benefits;
• a Lifestyle Spending Account;
• pet adoption assistance and insurance;
• pre-tax transportation benefits with employer subsidy;
• employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit;
• learning and development opportunities;
• and various National Geographic discounts and perks.