Freelance Book Cover Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

W.W. Norton & Company has an opening for an Art Director in their award-winning Children’s Art Department. Come join a growing and energized team where you can work on prizewinning books by industry leading authors and illustrators. The Art Director will be responsible for managing, art directing, and designing approximately 8-10 titles per season in our range of children’s books. They will also provide support for the team in all areas of the publishing process. Candidates must have an excellent portfolio which include book covers and interiors as well as illustrated books (picture books and graphic novels) and have an understanding and passion for the book publishing process. Candidates must exhibit attention to detail, a critical eye for design, and have excellent communication and organization skills. We’re looking to bring in a passionate individual who is aware of the children’s book landscape, excited to help grow a division and enthusiastic about children’s books for all ages. This position is a full-time remote position with a requirement to come into the New York office at least once per publishing season for a week of meetings and interdepartmental collaboration. This position reports directly to the Associate Creative Director of the Children’s Department.

• Manage the full design process from acquisition to release to print for their own list of approximately 8-10 titles per list (24-30 per year) across the Norton Children’s Division spanning picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, young adult and fiction and non-fiction.
• Pursue, nurture, develop, manage and hire freelance illustrators (and their agents) and design beautiful and thoughtful original book packages.
• Hire, manage, and art direct freelance designers while keeping in mind all needs: budgetary, art and font licensing, timelines.
• Meet weekly, seasonal and book production deadlines and manage across multiple stages of production while maintaining organized and accurate files and ensuring good practices with font and art clearances.
• Liase with production department throughout all stages of production from concept and design through file set up and review, to mechanical release to printer and proofing stages.
• Provide support and collaboration to design and art direction staff when needed or as designated by the Creative Director.
• Maintain clear communication with editorial and production staff on a regular basis including complications and offer solutions for successful project completion.
• Represent projects and team in a professional and skilled manner in art presentation and status meetings.

Please note- this job description is not designed to cover all activities required of the employee.

• Must have a strong portfolio that shows versatility of style and proficiency across multiple genres, topics, ages, and formats in Children’s Publishing.
• Exceptional typographic sensibility and understanding of age based design as well as respect for the reader.
• Portfolio must exhibit original ideas and original design executions that feel unique and interesting while understanding the relevant markets.
• At least 7-8 years of work experience required. Experience at a publisher or working with publishers in a freelance capacity for most of those years is preferred.
• Must be comfortable, efficient, and an effective communicator while working in a remote environment.
• Must have awareness of prepress, four color, 2 color, and specialty printing processes pertaining to all stages of children’s book production from concepts to corrections, to proof review and release to print.
• Employment eligibility to work with W.W. Norton & Company in the US is required.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Must be able to work full business hours on East Coast time.

Currently available benefits include:

• Annual compensation for this position is $85,000. All salaries and salary ranges posted by Norton may vary depending on experience, skills, location, and like considerations.
• Generous paid time off, paid holidays, and summer Friday afternoons beginning in July
• Generous health benefits, including PPO, EPO, and High Deductible (with HSA) medical insurance options, vision insurance, dental insurance, flexible spending accounts for healthcare, dependent care and commuter, gym membership reimbursement, and more. Coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children is available.
• Profit-Sharing and 401(k) benefit plan with discretionary contribution matching by employer
• Disability and life insurances
• FMLA, parental and other leave
• Employee Assistance Program (for mental health, financial planning, and other needs)
• Company-provided laptop
• Employee discounts on Norton books
• Limited matching of employee donations to select non-profit organizations
• *All policies and benefits described are subject to change at any time.