[Hiring] Principal Multimedia Designer @USA TODAY Co.

Role Description

The Principal Multimedia Designer, Creative Strategy & Enablement is a highly experienced creative professional responsible for supporting elevated creative work, client-facing creative conversations, internal training, sales enablement, and quality improvement across designIQ. This role sits at the intersection of creative strategy, multimedia design, production excellence, client consultation, and operational enablement.

• Serve as creative counsel and strategic design partner to the Sr. Director of Creative Operations.
• Support sales calls, discovery calls, partner meetings, and client-facing conversations where creative expertise is needed.
• Help translate client goals, sales objectives, and business challenges into clear creative recommendations.
• Provide creative direction and guidance on complex, high-value, or strategically important work.
• Create, review, or advise on agency-level creative across various media types.
• Assist in shaping creative approaches for new business opportunities and custom creative requests.
• Support the development of creative briefs, intake standards, and client discovery questions.
• Join internal planning meetings to represent creative quality and client experience.
• Partner with sales and customer-facing teams to explain design recommendations and available solutions.
• Present and explain creative work to internal and external stakeholders.
• Create polished finished creative when needed for strategic work or high-priority client needs.
• Assist with creative training across the operation.
• Help develop training materials and quality standards.
• Mentor designers and creative team members.
• Review creative work for concept, execution, and overall effectiveness.
• Identify quality gaps and recurring creative weaknesses across the operation.
• Use AI-assisted creative tools to improve ideation and workflow efficiency.
• Stay current on design trends and evolving client expectations.
• Design with performance in mind, including accessibility-minded design practices.

Qualifications

• Portfolio required showing advanced creative work across multiple media types.
• Significant professional experience in multimedia design, graphic design, or a related field.
• Proven ability to create and guide agency-level creative across various media.
• Strong understanding of design fundamentals.
• Ability to create polished finished work with limited direction.
• Strong client-facing communication skills.
• Experience participating in client meetings and sales conversations.
• Working knowledge of digital advertising and social platform requirements.
• Experience with video, motion graphics, and multimedia storytelling.
• Strong ability to teach, coach, and mentor other creative professionals.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple tasks.

Requirements

• Advanced working knowledge of Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator required.
• Experience with Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and similar creative tools preferred.
• Strong understanding of print specs and production-ready file preparation.
• Familiarity with digital campaign specs and social media specs.
• Microsoft Office experience required.
• Ability to learn company-specific workflow tools and production processes.

Benefits

• Annualized base salary for this role will be $70,000.00 - $85,000.00.
• Variable compensation may be applicable based on the role.

Company Description

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company dedicated to empowering and enriching communities through trusted journalism and innovative digital marketing solutions.

• Comprises the USA TODAY NETWORK and local media organizations.
• Provides essential journalism and digital experiences to audiences and businesses.
• Supports small and medium-sized businesses with digital marketing products.