Art Director

NOTE: This role is based in New York City and encourages a minimum of two days per week in the SoHo office. Some roles or teams may require additional in-office attendance if the essential functions of the role require it.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Our design team is currently seeking an experienced Art Director to spearhead our Non‑fiction School Market publishing within the Children’s Licensing, Brands & Media Trade Art Department. This role oversees all non‑fiction titles and is responsible for leading, art directing, and mentoring a direct report and freelance designers. The Art Director will take full ownership of the overall creative direction of the non‑fiction list, including both original and licensed titles targeted to preschool through young adult readers. The role requires maintaining high visual standards across all non‑fiction projects each season in line with brand and licensor requirements. 

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.

About Scholastic

For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) has been meeting children where they are – at school, at home and in their communities – by creating quality content and experiences, all beginning with literacy. Scholastic delivers stories, characters, and learning moments that empower all kids to become lifelong readers and learners through bestselling children’s books, literacy- and knowledge-building resources for schools including classroom magazines, and award-winning, entertaining children's media. As the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail, and online, and with a global reach into more than 135 countries, Scholastic encourages the personal and intellectual growth of all children, while nurturing a lifelong relationship with reading, themselves, and the world around them. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.

Some benefits that we offer:

• Full suite of health and wellness benefits (including a $0 deductible Medical Plan)

• Retirement 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

Thank you for your consideration in choosing Scholastic.

HOW YOU CAN FIT (Qualifications)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• 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

• Work within budgets

• Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator

• Experience in Non-fiction, creating novelties, and working with licensed brands preferred

Experience and Education:

Experience: 10+ years of children publishing, focusing on Non-fiction a plus

Education: BA in Graphic Design or equivalent

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.

EEO is the Law Poster

EEO Scholastic Policy Statement

Pay Transparency Provision