Print Desk Designer (Contract)

Application Instructions

Please list all professional experience and explain any gaps in employment history. All of your application materials, which may include PDF files of work samples and/or links to audio, video, photography or graphics, must be uploaded to the field labeled Resume/Cover Letter/Work Samples to be considered for the position.

Join the future of news

We’re on a mission to deliver riveting storytelling for all of America. At The Washington Post, you’ll help reinvent news. Our work is driven by a deep investigative spirit and enhanced by innovation to bring audiences closer to the stories that matter most.

About Our Team

The Washington Post is powered by the passion and talent of our people. It takes all of us to reinvent news. Beyond our award-winning Newsroom and Opinions teams, we work across many departments, including Brand & Events, Communications, Customer Care, Engineering & Product, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing & Advertising, Print Operations, and Sales.

Why This Role Matters

The Washington Post is seeking a creative, collaborative and deadline-driven Print Desk Designer to help shape our daily and weekly print editions through Nov. 30.

This contract role is an opportunity to help produce visually compelling print journalism at one of the world’s leading news organizations. Print Desk Designers work across news and features products, including themed sections and standalone special editions, helping bring stories to life through thoughtful layout, strong visual hierarchy and sharp presentation.

We are looking for a designer with excellent news judgment, a sophisticated eye for typography and layout, and the ability to work quickly and collaboratively under deadline pressure. The ideal candidate is adaptable, eager to learn new tools and committed to maintaining the highest visual and editorial standards across all print products.

This contract position can either be based in our Washington, D.C., newsroom or performed remotely from another location in the U.S. Print Desk Designers work 37.5 hours per week; schedules typically include some Eastern Time evening shifts and at least one weekend day.

What Motivates You: 

• You are passionate about the craft of print design and visual storytelling. 

• You thrive in fast-paced production environments and enjoy solving problems under deadline pressure. 

• You care deeply about presentation, clarity and the reader experience. 

• You enjoy collaborating with editors, designers and production teams. 

• You are energized by experimenting with new tools and workflows. 

How You’ll Support the Mission: 

• Use The Post’s content management systems and design tools to adapt edited text, photography and graphics across print products. 

• Design visually compelling pages and story packages for daily and weekly print editions, as well as special sections. 

• Collaborate with print editors and fellow designers to execute strong, cohesive visual storytelling. 

• Maintain high standards for accuracy, tone and brand consistency across all print products. 

• Contribute ideas for improving workflows, presentation and the overall print experience. 

• Work efficiently under tight deadlines while balancing multiple assignments. 

The Skills and Experiences You Bring: 

• A portfolio demonstrating excellence in print news or magazine design. 

• Typography, layout and visual storytelling skills. 

• Strong news judgment and an understanding of how design shapes the reader experience. 

• Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively in a deadline-driven work environment. 

• Comfort learning and adapting to new technologies and production workflows. 

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. 

• Prior experience with Méthode, Roxen and Adobe Creative Suite are big plusses. 

Interested candidates should upload a résumé and portfolio to our jobs portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

This role pays between $7,200 and $9,500 per month, depending on individual skills, experience and qualifications as they relate to specific job requirements and the duration of the contract assignment. 

Your story awaits. Apply today!

Learn more about The Post at careers.washingtonpost.com.