YouTube Thumbnail​/Digital Designer

Founded in 1917, the National Hockey League (NHL®) is the premier professional ice hockey league in the world and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.

With more than 1500 employees across the US and Canada, the NHL is a global sports and entertainment organization committed to building healthy and vibrant communities using the sport of hockey. At the NHL, we are looking for dynamic, energetic and impactful individuals who are committed to doing the same by sharing in our philosophy that Hockey is for Everyone.

The National Hockey League is seeking a highly creative, data-savvy Graphic Thumbnail Designer to develop standout You Tube thumbnails that directly drive views, click-through rates, and channel growth. This position is PART TIME, at 25 hours a week.

As a key contributor to the NHL’s digital content strategy, you’ll help define and evolve the visual identity of our You Tube ecosystem. You will design bold, high-impact thumbnails that maximize discoverability and performance—capturing everything from the intensity of a game-winning goal to the humor, rivalry, and behind-the-scenes personality of the league’s biggest stars.

Working closely with You Tube, producers, editors, and channel managers, you’ll create thumbnails informed by performance data, SEO best practices, and emerging visual trends. Your work will help shape how millions of fans discover and engage with NHL content across platforms.

• Create high-impact You Tube thumbnails for NHL and sports-driven content that directly increase Click-Through Rate, drive discoverability, and elevate overall channel performance.
• Collaborate closely with producers and video editors to ensure every You Tube thumbnail accurately reflects the storyline, matchup stakes, and fan-focused messaging—positioning the video for maximum click appeal.
• Translate key hockey moments, emotional beats, and standout player personalities into compelling You Tube-optimized visuals that resonate with both die-hard fans and casual viewers.
• Experiment with You Tube-specific thumbnail strategies—varying styles, layouts, action imagery, color treatments, and text overlays to enhance performance across highlights, behind-the-scenes features, mic’d-up content, and original long- and short-form series.
• Maintain consistent NHL branding while continually pushing creative boundaries, ensuring every You Tube thumbnail is instantly recognizable, high-impact, and algorithm-friendly.
• Stay up-to-date on You Tube design trends, sports-entertainment best practices, and platform algorithm insights to keep thumbnail visuals competitive, data-informed, and optimized for evolving viewer behaviors.

Knowledge Areas/Experience

Required

• Strong knowledge of You Tube-specific design best practices, including visual hierarchy, facial framing, contrast, and trend-based layout strategies essential for high-performing thumbnails.
• A reel or portfolio link showcasing You Tube thumbnails or related digital work is required.
• 5+ year of experience designing You Tube thumbnails or social-platform graphics, ideally within sports, entertainment, or fast-turnaround digital environments where speed and performance matter.
• Strong understanding of digital design fundamentals—color theory, contrast, composition, cropping, typography—and how to apply them effectively to action-driven sports thumbnails.
• Working knowledge of You Tube analytics and performance metrics (CTR, impressions, watch behavior) and how they directly influence thumbnail strategy and success.
• Familiarity with A/B testing and data-driven creative decisions, using performance insights to refine and…