Producer & Photo Editor - Climbing Category

About the Role

Patagonia is looking for a Producer & Photo Editor to spearhead the photography production and visual storytelling efforts in our Mountain Sports categories, focusing primarily on traditional and alpine climbing. This position blends sport expertise with creative insight and operational management to craft authentic photographic narratives that embody the climbing culture. The role requires close collaboration with photographers, athletes, and cross-departmental teams to create and manage compelling imagery supporting seasonal campaigns and reinforcing Patagonia’s unique visual style.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and expand a network of photographers, ensuring clear communication and creative alignment while offering feedback and mentorship to enhance their craft and uphold Patagonia's photographic standards.
• Engage deeply with climbing and mountain sport communities to serve as the Creative Studio's authoritative expert, primarily in traditional and alpine climbing, supplemented by knowledge in trail running, mountain biking, fly fishing, and snow sports.
• Oversee sport photography projects for Go-To-Market campaigns from initial concept briefs through final asset delivery, including creating photo briefs, coordinating photographers, managing budgets, and ensuring all visuals align with brand storytelling and identity.
• Advocate Patagonia's photographic vision during campaign development through partnerships with Creative Studio, Marketing, and Product teams to align imagery with brand and campaign goals.
• Produce, edit, and curate images for the Mountain Sports category and key collaborative sectors, supporting an Always-On Marketing imagery pipeline.
• Work alongside Sport Category Marketers and Sports Network Partners to enhance the visibility of sport Ambassadors in photography.
• Coordinate projects with full-time contract photographers to maximize efficiency and transparency in production cycles.
• Supervise color correction processes ensuring consistency and quality standards in the Photo Department.
• Facilitate genuine storytelling within the sport community by fostering authentic and diverse narratives in photography.
• Contribute to new initiatives in the photo department, including development of tools, systems, or programs to strengthen production and storytelling capabilities.

Candidate Profile

• Seasoned mountain sports professional with specialized expertise in climbing, particularly traditional and alpine disciplines, bringing cultural and technical insight.
• Skilled hybrid photo producer and editor comfortable with briefing, editing, and managing photography projects within tight campaign timelines.
• Comprehensive understanding of product lines for placing appropriate technical and lifestyle garments per project.
• Strong editorial judgement with the ability to curate cohesive image collections and communicate art direction effectively.
• Excellent collaborator and communicator with the capacity to maintain focus and high quality across multiple stakeholder priorities.
• Highly organized and accountable, adept at managing complex workflows and large volumes of imagery amidst changing circumstances.
• Relationship-oriented, fostering trust and openness through honest feedback and clear communications.
• Deep commitment to Patagonia’s visual storytelling uniqueness and brand voice.
• Curious and dedicated to process improvements and clarity in team communications and production craft.
• Passionate about Patagonia’s mission with a belief in the power of authentic photography to connect sport, people, and the environment.

Experience Requirements

• More than 5 years in a photo production role at a sizable brand or publication.
• Intimate knowledge of rock climbing culture and media in outdoor sports.
• Proven success operating in fast-paced environments managing multiple simultaneous projects.
• Experience contributing to creative operations improvements, workflows, and tooling enhancements.
• Familiarity with creative development in large brand or studio contexts.
• Practical knowledge of Figma, Adobe Lightroom, and Microsoft Office suite.
• Strong verbal communication aptitudes for delivering clear priorities and feedback.
• Exceptional detail orientation coupled with consistent on-time delivery and schedule management.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this role ranges from $95,000 to $105,000 USD annually, reflective of location-specific market data and individual factors such as skills and experience.

Patagonia provides a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision coverage, retirement plans, and leave policies, subject to employment nature.

Work Location and Schedule

This is a hybrid position based in Ventura, CA, with onsite hours typically Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on other days. Occasional extra office visits might be necessary for team events or critical meetings.

Company Culture and Policies

All employees are expected to foster a positive, professional, and inclusive environment through respectful interactions. Equal employment opportunities are ensured without discrimination based on protected characteristics.