Shape the visual identity of Virginia's premier lifestyle magazine. Virginia Living is seeking a seasoned, imaginative Art Director to lead design across our award-winning print publication and digital platforms — bringing to life our coverage of food, culture, people, destinations, homes, gardens, and more. This is a hands-on creative leadership role for someone who thrives on variety: from conceptual photography and illustration direction to typography, layout, and marketing materials. You'll have true creative ownership while working alongside a close-knit, passionate team dedicated to showcasing the best of Virginia. What You'll Do Creative Direction Set and advance the visual direction for each issue, ensuring cohesive, high-quality storytelling across all editorial content Contribute story ideas and evaluate them for editorial relevance, freshness, and alignment with the Virginia Living brand Identify and assign the right photographers, illustrators, and stylists for each story; negotiate fees and manage contracts through to execution Art direct photo shoots with an exacting eye for quality, mood, and brand consistency Scout locations, source archival material, and build strong relationships with editorial subjects and the broader Virginia community Design execute preflight tasks and press checks Oversee placement of advertisements in marketing vehicles and ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints Maintain organized workflow on the company server Leadership generate and process purchase orders accurately and on time Proactively identify opportunities to improve creative workflows, streamline production processes, and elevate team output Collaborate closely with the Associate Art Director, providing guidance and creative support Onboard new artists by coordinating W-9 and direct deposit forms; maintain and update the comp list each issue Resolve any budget discrepancies in coordination with the Accountant What You Bring At least 5 years of high-level design experience at a magazine, ad agency, or communications organization — luxury lifestyle or regional media experience strongly preferred Exceptional design and art direction skills, with the confidence to articulate creative rationale and bring others along on the vision Proven experience directing photographers, illustrators, and stylists, with a strong network of creative talent Deep command of typography, photography, and illustration with a refined, editorial aesthetic Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite — particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator — in a Mac environment; working knowledge of MS Office Experience managing art budgets with transparency and accountability A proactive, process-oriented mindset: you anticipate production challenges before they arise, continuously refine how the team works, and think strategically about what's next Demonstrated ability to translate print design for digital platforms and web Knowledge of offset printing, including preflight and press checks Branding and marketing experience, with a natural instinct for brand stewardship Strong familiarity with Virginia — its culture, communities, landscape, and character Outstanding communication and collaboration skills; a collegial, team-first working style Meticulous attention to detail, balanced with the big-picture creative vision to lead Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design or a related field The Details Reports to: Editor-in-Chief, Madeline Mayhood Location: Richmond, VA — full-time, onsite/hybrid Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:30 pm, with additional hours as needed Compensation: Competitive Vacation: 2 weeks paid vacation + 8 paid holidays annually To Apply Please submit a cover letter and résumé — including links to your portfolio or website — to Madeline Mayhood at Careers@CapeFear.com. Include "ART DIRECTOR POSITION" in the subject line, and note where you saw this posting. To learn more, visit VirginiaLiving.com or pick up a copy at Barnes
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