Global Creative Director, GQ

Since 1957, GQ has inspired its readers with unparalleled coverage of style, fashion, culture, news, politics, and more. From award-winning journalism and feature writing to unforgettable photography, videos and live events, GQ creates cultural conversations around the world.

Job Description

Location: New York, NY

Global Creative Director, GQ

Location: NYC

Reporting to: Global Editorial Director Adam Baidawi

Overview

GQ is a global authority on style, culture, and modern masculinity, reaching millions of readers across print, digital, video, social, and emerging platforms. As part of Condé Nast’s global network, GQ covers culture through a distinctive lens—one that blends authority, curiosity, style, wit, and a deep understanding of the conversations shaping modern life.

GQ is seeking a Global Creative Director to guide the visual identity of the brand across all platforms. Reporting to the Global Editorial Director, this role will oversee the photography and design teams for GQ U.S., and provide guidance to the visuals teams of GQ’s international editions. This role will work closely with the Global Editorial Director to drive aesthetic consistency and ambitious creative across print, digital, social, video, live events, and everywhere else that GQ lives.

The ideal candidate is a creative omnivore who keeps a finger on the pulse of cultural and aesthetic shifts, constantly staying connected to emerging trends to bring fresh, ambitious ideas to the brand. They are a natural collaborator who brings new editorial ideas to the table and consistently elevates existing ideas, both large and small, across the entire GQ brand. Beyond this forward-thinking mindset, they are highly organized, consistent, and possess deep experience managing and mentoring teams of creative professionals.

This is an in-office position based in New York, reporting to the Global Editorial Director

Primary Responsibilities

● Oversee creative direction for the title globally and elevate GQ’s visual presence on all platforms,

expressing a cohesive brand aesthetic and identity across print, digital, video, social, and brand

extensions through images, type, and all other design components

● Creative direct a global team of visuals editors, designers, producers, and photo researchers

● Act as a leader, mentor, strategic thinker and storyteller who can collaborate with editors, social

team, and video staff to turn ideas into compelling visual narratives utilizing social media, video,

digital, print and experiential activations.

● Come with, and maintain, excellent relationships with photographers and directors, fashion editors,

agents, and producers throughout the industry, globally.

● In collaboration with editors and writers, leverage creative assets to showcase GQ’s journalism

across platforms—whether an expansive talent portfolio, a reported political story, a styled fashion shoot, or a revealing profile.

● Work collaboratively with fashion editors, Condé Nast’s talent group, and editors to conceptualize and oversee cover shoots and other talent-related stories and videos.

● Help create innovative design and standards for the magazine, including covers and features.

● Work with GQ’s Global Design Director to establish graphics, illustrations, typography, and photo layouts, and visual identity systems across the brand’s contents, platforms, and touchpoints.

●Work with the Global Director of Editorial Operations to manage production workflow,

schedules, and budgets.

● Provide clear creative direction and timely/helpful feedback to improve creative processes to keep

work on budget and schedule.

● Work with the commercial marketing team and senior editorial leadership to streamline GQ

visual identity across go-to-market materials

● Help maintain the brand’s creative identity across live events, podcasts, film and

television projects, books, and all other brand extensions.

Requirements:

● 10+ years in a creative role.

● Strong management experience; a thoughtful, inclusive approach to running teams and ability to

lead and manage teams effectively.

● Strong portfolio demonstrating excellent design and/or visuals skills, both creative and technical,

across multiple platforms including print editorial, video, social, digital, and brand work.

Leader-like collaboration, communication, and organizational skills, with an ability to manage many

projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.

● Strong diplomacy skills as the intermediary between the creative team, the editorial team, and other

stakeholders.

● Exhibit a strong, proactive way of working to ensure the best representation of the brand and

inclusion of all team members throughout the process.

The expected base salary range for this position is from $225K - $275K . Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to relevant skills, training, experience, and education.

In addition to salary and a generous employee benefits package, successful candidates may also be eligible to receive discretionary bonus compensation.

What happens next?

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply below, and we will review your application as soon as possible. You can update your resume or upload a cover letter at any time by accessing your candidate profile.

Condé Nast is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status and other legally protected characteristics.