Senior Photo Editor, National Geographic

Disney - Washington, DC

Full-time - Senior

Washington, DC

Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries

About the position

The Senior Photo Editor for National Geographic is a pivotal role that involves developing, pitching, and producing compelling visual stories across various platforms, including NationalGeographic.com, our app, print magazines, and social media. This position requires a deep understanding of visual storytelling and a passion for diverse approaches to photography. The Senior Photo Editor will leverage an extensive global network of photographers to produce and assign evocative stories rich in detail. A meticulous and passionate approach to researching imagery is essential, as the editor will be responsible for finding the perfect visual elements to accompany each story. Collaboration is key, as the Senior Photo Editor will work closely with photographers, writers, text editors, video producers, and designers to create powerful visual narratives that align with National Geographic's mission. In this role, the Senior Photo Editor will redefine visual storytelling by pushing boundaries in the digital space and setting new standards for multiplatform visual journalism. Mentoring entry and mid-level visual editors will be a significant aspect of the job, helping to cultivate a highly effective team that produces content connecting with audiences and yielding expert, sophisticated stories. The focus will be on subjects such as archaeology, wildlife, science and health, technology, and more. The Senior Photo Editor's passion for photography will embody National Geographic's commitment to excellence in visual storytelling, inspiring and illuminating the wonders of our world through the power of photography.

Responsibilities

• Pitch thoroughly developed ideas in a well-structured written format, with a clear central theme and a strong hook, leveraging data and an understanding of audience preferences across platforms.
• Assign, direct, produce, and acquire a wide range of photographic stories for use across platforms, including digital, social, and print, while adhering to operational excellence guidelines.
• Manage a variety of editorial projects, including newsstand-only single-topic issues and recurring franchises for digital, social, and print, ensuring effective collaboration with all teams involved.
• Manage deliverables, assets, and workflows, including accurate caption information, verifying credit lines, archiving, and transmitting images, while working with pre-press on color correction and image veracity.
• Provide field support to photographers, including securing visas, permits, releases, and specialized equipment, as well as ensuring compliance with Disney onboarding practices.

Requirements

• Minimum of five years of experience as a photo editor, with a deep focus on editorial and documentary work.
• Highly calibrated understanding of what makes a great breakthrough story in a content-saturated era.
• Awareness of and adaptability to changing industry trends and technologies.
• Excellent visual taste and writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively and positively in a fast-paced environment, achieving strategic team goals through multitasking and problem-solving.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, capable of collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Self-motivated with the ability to exercise independent judgment and work with minimal supervision.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to maintain visual excellence within timelines and set budgets.
• Experience with Photoshop, Filemaker, Asana, Slack, Air Table, Keynote, and Lightroom.