Photo Director, The California Post

Job Description :

The California Post is seeking a Photo Director to oversee all visual storytelling across print and digital platforms. 

Reporting directly to the Editor-in-Chief, the Photo Director will lead a California team responsible for delivering bold, innovative visuals across both print and digital platforms. The ideal candidate will bring a strong newsroom background, sharp creative instincts, and proven leadership skills to ensure our visual storytelling consistently engages and resonates with audiences.

Application Instructions: Please submit work samples or portfolio link for consideration.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for the Photo department, overseeing photo coverage across both print and digital platforms.

• Lead, manage, and mentor the photo team, setting and upholding the highest standards of visual journalism.

• Oversee photo coverage across breaking news, features, investigations, and enterprise projects, assigning photographers and providing clear editorial and creative direction to ensure visuals align with priorities.

• Collaborate closely with editors, reporters, and senior leadership to ensure photography enhances and elevates storytelling.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with photo agencies and freelance photographers, negotiating rates and securing access to top-quality visuals.

• Drive innovation in photojournalism, exploring new approaches to visual storytelling across digital and print.

• Oversee photo selection, editing, and production to ensure accuracy, speed, and editorial integrity.

• Prioritize and manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high editorial standards.

Requirements:

• At least 10 years of newsroom photo experience, with a solid background in editing, leadership, and staff development.

• Proven ability to manage photography teams in the field, coordinating assignments and ensuring comprehensive coverage of major news events.

• Strong experience working with photo agencies and freelance photographers, including negotiating rates and contracts.

• Deep knowledge of photo editing processes, technical standards, and best practices for both digital and print.

• Strong news judgment with the ability to balance breaking news demands with long-term visual projects.

• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and related photo editing tools, and deep familiarity with newsroom publishing systems.

• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to coach and mentor staff.

• Ability to thrive in a high-pressure newsroom environment, with flexibility to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Note: This role will be based in our Los Angeles office and requires regular onsite presence. The shift schedule will be Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. PST.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other protected characteristic. EEO/Disabled/Vets

Reasonable Accommodation

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application or participating in an interview due to a disability, email us at [email protected]. Please put "Reasonable Accommodation" in the subject line and provide a brief description of the type of assistance you need. This inbox will not be monitored for application status updates.

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Base Pay Range: 140,000 - 170,000

We’re committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation to attract top talent. This pay range reflects our good faith estimate for the role and may vary based on a candidate’s experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors.

For bonus-eligible roles, targets are determined based on multiple considerations, including market benchmarks and individual contributions.

For benefits-eligible roles, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package covering health, retirement, wellbeing, and more, along with optional benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees.