Natural Resources Defense Council is seeking a Senior Photo Editor for its multimedia department in New York City. This is a hands-on position for an experienced professional. We’re seeking a proven visual leader who can nimbly research photography for a wide variety of projects, coordinate all aspects of photo production and photo selection, manage relationships with internal and external partners, and if applicant has relevant experience, manage a small team photo editors. The qualified candidate must have sophisticated visual storytelling abilities in order to research, select, license and produce visual content for social media, editorial and advocacy websites, as well as print media.
Knowledge of NRDC’s core missions is a must and the successful candidate will have a broad knowledge and curiosity about the environment. The multimedia team supports all sections of the organization by producing compelling visual content daily to advance NRDC’s mission to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.
Exacting attention to detail, high ethical standards, and effective communication skills are necessary. The Senior Photo Editor must have experience tracking large and small projects from conception to completion insuring key stakeholders are informed throughout the process.
This position isn’t limited to photography and the successful candidate will also be involved in producing combination photo and video shoots, providing stills for videos, and commissioning and art directing illustration. The individual should have experience developing budgets, hiring freelance photographers, illustrators, and production crews. In addition, they should have experience with copyright law as it pertains to photo licensing, as well as a working knowledge of contracts for a variety of projects. An innovative spirit, passion for digital media, and the ability to solve problems independently in a fast-paced environment is highly desirable.
This editorial communications position reports directly to the Multimedia Director.
- Manage a small team of freelance and staff photo editors. This includes daily duties, setting expectations, giving direction, providing feedback, documenting and rating performance, nurturing top performers and coaching for improvement.
- Participate in the process of visual content creation from ideation to publication, making sure that content is delivered on time and within budget.
- Research and select stock and editorial photography for stories on NRDC.org, advocacy and fundraising projects, breaking news social media posts, and institutional materials, working nimbly on a volume of projects.
- Ensure that the photography licensed and created is in accordance with the overall visual strategy set by the Multimedia Director and Deputy Multimedia Director.
- Coordinate with Multimedia Archivist to ensure any reuse of previously licensed imagery is within a current license and applicable copyright laws.
- Produce multimedia shoots both in studio and on location, including suggesting appropriately skilled and visually dynamic photographers and videographers, securing ideal shoot locations, sourcing stylists and groomers, organizing shoot schedule, clearly communicating with members of shoot crew and their agents, gathering estimates, ordering meals and backdrops, and ensuring the processing and coordinating all billing, contracts, and new vendor paperwork.
- Initiative inventive ways to source creative imagery to be licensed.
- A minimum of 5 years experience as a photo editor at an agency, editorial publication, news website, or non-for-profit.
- Proven track record of working cross departmentally throughout a complex organization.
- Knowledge of copyright law as it relates to image licensing on all platforms including, print, video and social media.
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Vast knowledge and experience researching, sourcing, and licensing visual material for all editorial and social content.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple daily and long-term projects simultaneously utilizing project management tools and software.
- Organized self-starter but able to work in a collaborative team environment.
- Responsive and quick thinking in rapid paced environments.
- Have a firm understanding of how photography works with typography, layout, and design within print, digital, and social platforms.
- Understand and use social media platforms and tools including, but not limited to Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
- Connections within the creative industry including production houses, photographers, videographers, stylists, illustrators, and freelance photo editors.