VP, Product Design, Connected - CNN

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We are CNN. THE WORLD’S MOST ESSENTIAL AND ENGAGING SOURCE OF DIGITAL NEWS. We are in the midst of rapid transformation and need our next generation of innovators, makers, and dreamers who will lead and drive our growth. We aim to make the world a better, more connected place.

CNN is seeking a VP Product Design, Product Creative to lead our agile Product Creative team. This role functions as a high‑level player‑coach, responsible for owning the creation of premium visual assets that sit directly adjacent to the UI. You will define and execute the creative direction for critical touchpoints—including partnering with the design system team to develop and implement product style guides, ensuring our digital products reflect CNN’s brand promise, delivering creative cohesion at scale through our design system and in targeted product UI.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with leadership in Product Design, Editorial Visuals, Merchandising and Brand to align and execute a cohesive creative direction across all CNN digital products. You will oversee a specialized agile team of visual and product designers. You must be as comfortable utilizing your hands‑on, high‑fidelity craft as you are driving executive alignment and shaping the overarching creative strategy.

The ideal candidate leverages deep design expertise and innovative workflows to bridge the gap between systematic UI design and dynamic brand expression.

Above all, this leader will be deeply committed to advancing CNN’s mission by ensuring that our product experience feels as premium and trusted as our journalism.

• Lead the Product Creative Team:
  Oversee a specialized, agile team of visual and product designers dedicated to defining creative direction and executing high‑fidelity work that sits close to the product UI.
• Own UI‑Adjacent Assets:
  Direct and execute the creation of critical visual touchpoints, including avatar systems, interactive collection headers, dynamic backgrounds, curated hubs, bespoke promotion CTAs, and UI templates.
• Operate as a Player‑Coach:
  Act as an Executive Creative Director who balances hands‑on design execution and craft with high‑level strategic alignment.
• Drive Cross‑Functional Cohesion:
  Work intimately with leadership in Editorial Visuals and Brand—maintaining an adopted reporting line to these groups—to align and execute a unified creative vision across all CNN products, playing a key role in guiding our Design Council initiatives.
• Elevate the Product Design Quality Bar:
  Provide expert craft guidance and detailed feedback to your team, ensuring that all visual assets achieve tactile resonance, support our narrative‑led design philosophy, and maintain strict brand integrity.
• Systematize Creative Intent:
  Collaborate with platform and design system teams to translate the creative aspirations of Marketing and Editorial partners into scalable product style guides that bake the “CNN Look” into the platform.

• 15+ Years of Hybrid
  
  Experience:
  
  A robust background spanning visual design, product design, and creative direction. Content creation (Broadcast, UGC, Agency, or Editorial) experience is a strong plus.
• Player‑Coach Mentality:
  You possess the strategic vision of a high‑level leader but remain deeply connected to the craft, highly comfortable executing world‑class design work yourself.
• The “Creative Director’s Eye”:
  Exceptional visual judgment with a track record of providing…