📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Creative Director, Cooking
🔹 Company: The New York Times
🔹 Location: New York, NY
🔹 Job Type: Hybrid
🔹 Category: Creative & Design
🔹 Date Posted: July 30, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Guiding visual strategy and developing visual systems for NYT Cooking
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance the Cooking experience
- Building brand identity and cohesion across multiple platforms
- Driving creative strategy and execution, balancing brand goals with performance goals
- Improving art direction and delivery workflows across teams
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, strategic thinking, and collaboration with various teams to achieve the desired results.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead visual strategy and develop visual systems, working with team members from the earliest stages to produce assets that move us toward Cooking’s goals and build on the Times standards for visual excellence
✅ Guide other teams, including Marketing and Advertising, on identity elements and principles for Cooking, on and off platform
✅ Partner with product designers on strategic implementation of typographic systems and unique brand assets throughout the product experience
✅ Maintain brand consistency while pushing the boundaries of creativity
✅ Refine and improve art direction and delivery workflow across teams
✅ Partner with editors to provide ideas and direction for expanding our Cooking newsletters, franchises and other properties
✅ Work with Audience Insights teams to ensure attitudinal and behavioral insights are central to your teams’ work and process
✅ Partner with New York Times brand designers to ensure Cooking assets work strategically within the larger portfolio
✅ Support our value of journalistic independence and a strong commitment to our mission
ASSUMPTION: The responsibilities listed above are essential for driving the creative direction and success of NYT Cooking.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Not specified
Experience: 10+ years of experience working with cross-functional teams focused on developing editorial and product experiences in the digital space
Required Skills:
- Proficiency in Adobe Suite and Figma
- Experience driving compelling creative strategy and execution, ideally in media
- Outstanding conceptual and design abilities, with a strong portfolio demonstrating innovative visual and typographic design systems and digital-first creative thinking
Preferred Skills:
- A highly developed instinct for balancing brand goals with performance goals
- Experience developing and improving production workflows
- Superb written and oral communication skills and the ability to navigate complex corporate structures
- Experience leading through influence, and collaborating on strategic projects with multi-stakeholder groups
- Proficiency with motion, sound and editing tools
- A passion for Cooking, a passion for The New York Times’ mission and a commitment to be a part of our innovation and growth
ASSUMPTION: The required and preferred qualifications listed above are crucial for success in this role, with a strong emphasis on creative skills, experience, and a passion for the mission of The New York Times.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $170,000 - $190,000 USD per year
Benefits:
- Competitive benefits package
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time, with regular attendance in the office each week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on industry standards for a role of this level and experience, and may be subject to change based on the company's compensation structure.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Newspaper Publishing
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees
Founded: 1851
Company Description:
- The New York Times is a global news organization dedicated to delivering truth and understanding to the world.
- The company is committed to independent journalism and has a world-renowned newsroom that sends journalists to report on the ground from nearly 160 countries.
- The New York Times focuses on how readers will experience its journalism, from print to audio to a world-class digital and app destination.
Company Specialties:
- Journalism
- Digital Media
- Product Development
- Design
Company Website: nytco.com
ASSUMPTION: The New York Times is a well-established and respected organization in the journalism industry, with a strong commitment to independent journalism and innovation.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior leadership role within the Cooking team
Reporting Structure: Reports to the editor in chief of NYT Cooking
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with regular attendance in the office each week
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to shape the creative direction of NYT Cooking and contribute to the larger design function and goals for design excellence at The Times
- Opportunity to collaborate with and learn from talented journalists, designers, and product teams
- Possibility to grow within the organization as The New York Times continues to expand its digital offerings
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a substantial impact on the creative direction of NYT Cooking and The New York Times as a whole.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid, with regular attendance in the office each week
Office Location(s): 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018, US
Geographic Context:
- New York City is a major hub for journalism, media, and entertainment
- The office is located in Midtown Manhattan, with easy access to public transportation
- The city offers a diverse range of cultural, culinary, and entertainment experiences
Work Schedule: Full-time, with regular office hours
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and central office location provide a balance between collaboration and flexibility, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development in the heart of the journalism industry.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume submission
- Phone or video screen with the HR department
- Portfolio review and creative challenge
- On-site or virtual interview with the hiring manager and team members
- Final interview with the editor in chief of NYT Cooking
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative portfolio and design skills
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Communication and collaboration skills
- Understanding of the NYT Cooking brand and The New York Times’ mission
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a cover letter that demonstrates your passion for Cooking, The New York Times’ mission, and your commitment to driving creative excellence
- Be ready to discuss your design process, inspiration, and how you approach creative challenges
ATS Keywords: Creative Director, Cooking, Adobe Suite, Figma, Brand Identity, Art Direction, Typography, Digital Experience, Collaboration, Innovation, Leadership
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's creative skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit within The New York Times and the NYT Cooking team.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
- Figma
- Motion, sound, and editing tools (e.g., After Effects, Premiere Pro, Audition)
ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in the listed tools and technologies is essential for success in this role, as they are widely used in the creative industry and at The New York Times.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Independence
- Quality
- Honesty
- Fairness
- Collaboration
- Innovation
Work Style:
- Creative and innovative
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Adaptable and responsive to change
- Results-driven and focused on continuous improvement
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you have a strong portfolio demonstrating innovative visual and typographic design systems and digital-first creative thinking?
- Are you comfortable working with cross-functional teams and navigating complex corporate structures?
- Do you have a passion for Cooking, The New York Times’ mission, and a commitment to driving creative excellence?
ASSUMPTION: The ideal candidate for this role will possess a strong creative portfolio, excellent communication and collaboration skills, and a deep understanding of The New York Times’ mission and values.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Balancing brand goals with performance goals and maintaining brand consistency while pushing creative boundaries
- Managing workflows and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality assets across multiple teams and platforms
- Navigating a large, complex organization and collaborating with various stakeholders
- Keeping up with industry trends and evolving design standards in a fast-paced digital environment
ASSUMPTION: The challenges listed above require strong leadership, communication, and project management skills, as well as a deep understanding of the NYT Cooking brand and The New York Times’ mission.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on the creative direction of NYT Cooking, but shares similarities with other creative leadership positions within The New York Times and the broader media industry
- Compared to other creative director roles, this position offers a unique opportunity to shape the visual identity of a rapidly growing digital product and contribute to the larger design function and goals for design excellence at The Times
- Career paths for this role may include advancement within The New York Times or transition to other creative leadership positions within the media industry
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the creative direction of NYT Cooking and contribute to the larger design function and goals for design excellence at The New York Times, with potential for growth and advancement within the organization or the broader media industry.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a cohesive visual identity for NYT Cooking across multiple platforms, including web, mobile, social media, and print
- Creating a comprehensive brand style guide and design system for NYT Cooking, ensuring consistency and scalability across all touchpoints
- Designing and implementing a new typographic system for NYT Cooking, enhancing readability and accessibility for users
ASSUMPTION: The sample projects listed above are representative of the types of creative challenges and opportunities that may arise in this role, requiring a strong portfolio and proven track record of success in similar projects.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the creative vision for NYT Cooking and how this role fits into that vision?
- How does the NYT Cooking team collaborate with other departments, such as Marketing and Advertising, to ensure brand consistency and cohesion?
- What are the most important qualities and skills you’re looking for in a candidate for this role?
- How does The New York Times support the growth and development of its creative teams and individual team members?
- What are the biggest challenges facing NYT Cooking, and how can this role help address them?
ASSUMPTION: The key questions listed above are designed to help candidates better understand the role, the team, and the company, as well as to assess their fit for the position and the organization’s culture.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through The New York Times careers site
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a cover letter that demonstrates your passion for Cooking, The New York Times’ mission, and your commitment to driving creative excellence
- Be ready to discuss your design process, inspiration, and how you approach creative challenges during the interview process
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your final interview, expressing your continued interest in the role and any additional information you may have to offer
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
