Young Adult Art Director - Random House Children's Books

Job Description

Young Adult Art Director – Random House Children's Books
***Please note the job may require some commuting into NYC, for meeting purposes

Random House Children's Books is seeking to hire an Art Director to join our dedicated and fast-paced art department. The Art Director will manage a team of designers and oversee a growing list of Young Adult jackets for the Delacorte Press, Joy Revolution, Knopf, Make Me a World, Random House, and Labyrinth Road imprints. Titles include a wide range of genres, including contemporary romance, fantasy, horror, nonfiction, thrillers, and historical fiction.

The Random House Children's Books diverse list of YA titles and authors include countless New York Times best-sellers, such as One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus, We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, American Royals by Katharine McGee, The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow, The Gilded Ones by Namia Forna, Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Dear Martin by Nic Stone, and The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, among many others.

Responsibilities:
• Work collaboratively with publishers and support designers in developing YA packaging that supports the company's objectives.
• Lead and oversee growth and development of 4-person YA design team.
• Oversee all phases of YA jacket design for approximately 25–30 titles per season (3 seasons per year) while managing the design team and maintaining their own list of projects.
• Research and pitch new artists with the ability to present appropriate concepts and art samples to art/editorial meetings.
• Make offers and negotiate terms for illustration contracts while staying within budget range.
• Work closely with illustrators from initial sketch development, revisions, and final art for YA book jackets, in addition to coaching team of designers to do the same.
• Responsible for the effective, high-quality design of titles from concept to final art using creativity, resourcefulness, and understanding of goals.
• Prepare jacket and case mechanicals for routing, approvals, and release to production per printing standards, with attention to detail, and in a timely manner to maintain schedules and meet deadlines.
• Create digital sales material for own projects, and oversee completion of team's sales materials.
• Communicate in an effective, professional, and courteous manner with supervisor, team, other departments, and outside agencies.
• Attend and participate in production meetings, cover meetings, team meetings, and meetings with supervisor and editors for specific projects.
• Participate in ongoing DEI initiatives across the company, including corporate training and guiding internal DEI discussions.

Requirements:
• 7–10 years in a children's book design publishing position with a particular skill for Young Adult design and people management
• Strong Mac computer skills and technical knowledge, including a mastery of current InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator programs
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, quality, and process
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task whilst managing time efficiently
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Hardworking, self-starting, collaborative, and able to work independently
• Genuine passion and knowledge for YA design, illustration, and typography
• Knowledge of YA bestsellers, trends, freelance designers, and illustrators

The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $100,000.

Please apply using our online application process, and please include your resume and cover letter.

Penguin Random House job postings include a good faith compensation range for each open position. The salary range listed is specific to each particular open position and takes into account various factors including the specifics of the individual role, and candidate's relevant experience and qualifications.

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Pre-Tax and Roth 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Student Loan Repayment Program, Educational Assistance & generous paid time off.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-r0zjnj-18-219-191-41-42 in your application.