Motion Design Lead

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Vox Media is looking for a Motion Design Lead, who is both a highly-skilled motion designer and an experienced leader, responsible for conceptualizing and executing motion designs across platforms to create industry-leading branded content for New York Magazine and Vox. The Motion Design Lead is a “player/coach” and has extensive experience creating story-driven content for digital platforms, as well as providing motion design leadership. This role is accountable to the art director and creative director on a project level, and the Head of Branded Content at a high level.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position with an initial six-month term, with the possibility of extension based on performance and business need. Applications without a portfolio or reel link will not be considered.

Creative and Design Leadership

• Partner with our in-house Art and Creative directors to evolve the vision for motion design in branded content across Vox’s Explainer Studio, as well as New York Magazine and its brands, including The Cut and Vulture
• On the pulse of where motion design is going, the Associate Motion Director is immersed in emerging trends, tools, and techniques, folding them proactively into their practice
• Push the level of design our team is known for, partnering with Art Directors and Creative Directors to raise quality expectations and sharpen Vox Media’s visual voice and aesthetic
• Design and execute motion for a range of advertising clients and internal projects ranging from custom long- and short-form video, to social content — from concept through delivery
• Bring deep expertise in visual storytelling across motion graphics, VFX, and 3D
• Provide leadership and creative direction to freelance motion designers, cultivating and growing Vox Media’s network of creative collaborators: designers, animators, and 3D artists
• Craft and initiate new visual products in partnership with other creative leads, translating what’s next in motion into what’s next for Vox Media
• Own the team’s motion design and animation best practices, establishing and evolving our standards, workflows, and techniques that keep the team aligned and working at its highest level
• Develop and maintain brand guidelines for motion and animation, ensuring Vox Media’s visual voice and aesthetic stay consistent and elevated across every deliverable

Team and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as an advocate for motion designers across every project, ensuring design has been vetted and considered well before delivery
• Contribute hands-on where needed, and route the right work to the right people based on individual expertise within our bench of freelance artists
• Collaborate closely with internal partners, as well as external stakeholders such as clients, vendors, and outside resources

On a Project Level

• Show up as a key creative stakeholder — active in brainstorms, kick-offs, and status meetings
• Own motion timelines across projects: set internal milestones, track progress, flag risks early, and to ensure deadlines are met
• Produce work end-to-end on select campaigns, while simultaneously overseeing other projects, collaborating closely with freelance artists on execution by giving clear, timely, actionable feedback at every review stage 
• Review the work of freelancers and provide clear, actionable notes, ensuring creative integrity is maintained through every state of development
• Partner with writers, producers, and video editors to keep story and visual direction aligned
• Attend video shoots when VFX are involved, when appropriate
• Act as the link between outside motion designers, video editors, creative directors and art to coordinate asset handoffs, file sharing and delivering feedback 

WHO YOU ARE

• 8+ years of relevant industry experience in motion design, with leadership experience guiding teams or freelancers
• Fluent in Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator and Figma
• A student of the craft, you follow motion design culture closely and have strong opinions on where the industry is headed and how it can be applied to the Branded Content business at Vox Media
• A strong storyteller who can move between hands-on execution and creative leadership
• A visual thinker with a deeply developed aesthetic and high visual taste
• A collaborative approach to leadership — you build bridges across client services, art, production, and post teams
• A background in graphic design is a plus, alongside an understanding of typography, composition, color, and visual hierarchy

WHERE YOU’LL WORK

• This role is based in our New York City office. You’ll work a hybrid schedule: in-office most days, with some flex days from home.