Art Director

About the role

The Art Director oversees all non-fiction titles and leads, art directs, and mentors a direct report and freelance designers. They take full ownership of the creative direction of the non-fiction list, including both original and licensed titles targeted to preschool through young adult readers.

Responsibilities

• Creative Direction & Design Leadership: Oversee and manage the creative direction and design of 40+ original and non-fiction titles annually, including book covers and interiors.
• Lead the development of compelling visual concepts for new non-fiction books and series for both Trade and School markets, ensuring strong market positioning and visual impact.
• Hands-On Design & Creative Execution: Lead and contribute directly to the design of select key titles while reviewing and approving all design work. Ensure visual quality, cohesion, and alignment with editorial vision, audience needs, and market requirements.
• Freelance & Vendor Leadership: Hire, art direct, and manage freelance designers, illustrators, and packagers. Provide clear creative direction, feedback, and approvals to ensure work meets creative standards, schedules, and budget expectations.
• Project Planning, Budgets & Scheduling: Develop and manage budgets and timelines for assigned projects. Partner with editorial and production teams to plan workflows, monitor progress, and ensure all deliverables are completed on time and within scope.
• Collaboration & Communication: Collaborate with editorial, production, sales, and marketing teams to align creative execution with publishing goals. Represent design in status meetings, reviews, and presentations, clearly communicating creative intent, project updates, and solutions.
• Industry Knowledge & Strategic Growth: Identify opportunities for business growth and revenue generation through creative services. Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitors' offerings, and propose innovative strategies to expand the company's artistic services and portfolio.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in the publishing industry
• Hands-on experience designing non-fiction and novelty books
• Highly creative
• Attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Able to work under pressure
• Highly motivated and organized
• Excellent computer skills in relevant art/design software
• Experience designing for print and building files for print production
• Experience in Non-fiction, creating novelties, and working with licensed brands preferred

Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years of children publishing, focusing on Non-fiction a plus
• Education: BA in Graphic Design or equivalent
• Time Type: Full time

Pay

Annual Salary: $95,000.00 - $105,000.00

Schedule

Full time

Benefits

• Full suite of health and wellness benefits (including a $0 deductible Medical Plan)
• Retail Savings Plan 401(k) with options for both Roth and Traditional Contributions
• Tuition-Free programs for undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Generous Parental Leave Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with opportunity for discounted stock at a 15% discount

EEO Statement

Scholastic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam veteran. Those factors shall not influence the determination of qualifications for a job or other opportunity within the company. Further, all personnel actions (such as compensation, tuition aid, benefits, transfers, promotions, and dismissals, company-sponsored training, social and recreational programs) shall be administered without discrimination.