Art Director

Shape the visual identity of Virginia's premier lifestyle magazine. Virginia Living is seeking a seasoned, imaginative Art Director to lead design across our award-winning print publication and digital platforms — bringing to life our coverage of food, culture, people, destinations, homes, gardens, and more.

This is a hands-on creative leadership role for someone who thrives on variety: from conceptual photography and illustration direction to typography, layout, and marketing materials. You'll have true creative ownership while working alongside a close-knit, passionate team dedicated to showcasing the best of Virginia.

What You'll Do

Creative Direction

• Set and advance the visual direction for each issue, ensuring cohesive, high-quality storytelling across all editorial content

• Contribute story ideas and evaluate them for editorial relevance, freshness, and alignment with the Virginia Living brand

• Identify and assign the right photographers, illustrators, and stylists for each story; negotiate fees and manage contracts through to execution

• Art direct photo shoots with an exacting eye for quality, mood, and brand consistency

• Scout locations, source archival material, and build strong relationships with editorial subjects and the broader Virginia community

Design & Production

• Design compelling layouts and shepherd them through the full production cycle in close collaboration with the editorial team.

• Maintain expert knowledge of offset printing; execute preflight tasks and press checks

• Oversee placement of advertisements in marketing vehicles and ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints

• Maintain organized workflow on the company server

Leadership & Operations

• Meet regularly with the Publisher and Editorial team to review budgets, story ideas, and art direction

• Manage the art budget with fiscal discipline and adherence to schedules and deadlines; generate and process purchase orders accurately and on time

• Proactively identify opportunities to improve creative workflows, streamline production processes, and elevate team output

• Collaborate closely with the Associate Art Director, providing guidance and creative support

• Onboard new artists by coordinating W-9 and direct deposit forms; maintain and update the comp list each issue

• Resolve any budget discrepancies in coordination with the Accountant

What You Bring

• At least 5 years of high-level design experience at a magazine, ad agency, or communications organization — luxury lifestyle or regional media experience strongly preferred

• Exceptional design and art direction skills, with the confidence to articulate creative rationale and bring others along on the vision

• Proven experience directing photographers, illustrators, and stylists, with a strong network of creative talent

• Deep command of typography, photography, and illustration with a refined, editorial aesthetic

• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite — particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator — in a Mac environment; working knowledge of MS Office

• Experience managing art budgets with transparency and accountability

• A proactive, process-oriented mindset: you anticipate production challenges before they arise, continuously refine how the team works, and think strategically about what's next

• Demonstrated ability to translate print design for digital platforms and web

• Knowledge of offset printing, including preflight and press checks

• Branding and marketing experience, with a natural instinct for brand stewardship

• Strong familiarity with Virginia — its culture, communities, landscape, and character

• Outstanding communication and collaboration skills; a collegial, team-first working style

• Meticulous attention to detail, balanced with the big-picture creative vision to lead

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design or a related field

The Details

• Reports to: Editor-in-Chief, Madeline Mayhood

• Location: Richmond, VA — full-time, onsite/hybrid

• Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:30 pm, with additional hours as needed

• Compensation: Competitive

• Vacation: 2 weeks paid vacation + 8 paid holidays annually

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and résumé — including links to your portfolio or website — to Madeline Mayhood at Careers@CapeFear.com. Include "ART DIRECTOR POSITION" in the subject line, and note where you saw this posting.

To learn more, visit VirginiaLiving.com or pick up a copy at Barnes & Noble.

No phone calls, please. Principals only — recruiters and unsolicited service providers, please do not contact us.