Design Manager

The Design Manager for Women's, Inline, Branded, International, Printables, and SMU is responsible for overseeing the design and development products while leading a team of designers. This role drives innovation, ensuring creative concepts are effectively executed and aligned across teams. The Design Manager fosters collaboration and guides the team to produce high-quality designs that support business goals and enhance the brand's identity and customer experience.

GENERAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Accountable for the creative direction and leadership of SMU & Printables Design & Development
• Communicates design strategy and direction, ensuring understanding of strategy, priorities, and impact within the team
• Mentors, inspires, and manages a team of direct reports, including product designers, production artists, and developers, focused on supporting all projects
• Conceptualizes, researches, and applies new product innovations
• Researches market trends within apparel and other relevant industries to identify advancements in materials, product builds, and other innovations
• Drives the creative process with a focus on our target consumer
• Identifies problems, develops solutions, and seeks innovative approaches to product development
• Manages apparel sample requests, tech pack handoffs, and product development timelines
• Identifies solutions and resolves costing/margin challenges
• Manages business needs and expectations across multiple cross-functional points of contact
• Provides conceptual direction and advisement on new graphic/product launches
• Updates project reports for management
• Prepares and approves final art files for release to print/apparel/headwear vendors
• Solves any final print issues
• Demonstrates the ability to meet deadlines and collaborate with team members
• Provides mentorship and professional development opportunities to team members
• Researches and collects competitive art pieces from outside competitors in our field
• Responsible for art, breakouts, and tech packs for all SMU, DTG, Collabs, Catalog offerings, Hot Market, and Printable Chase
• Presents design concepts and information to key accounts and in sales meetings, articulating creative strategies and design solutions clearly
• Meets with local printers quarterly
• Collaborates across all leagues for design and league submission approvals via Monday.com

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor's degree in Arts or related field or the equivalent combination of education, training, or work experience.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

General Duties and responsibilities include:
● 2+ years of management experience
● 3-5 years in graphic design
● 2-3 years in licensing, sports apparel industry, or related
● Knowledge of screen-printing operations relates to printing limitations
● Ability to introduce and implement new processes and procedures
● Ability to communicate across multiple cultural and experience levels, internal and external
● Strong computer skills in working on a shared server, and Adobe Illustrator; other systems where needed
● Strong attention to detail and can manage time effectively as well as meet deadlines.
● Team player with the ability to be flexible on workflow.
● Ability to travel up to 5 % of the job
● Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
● Knowledge of Project Management Software (i.e.: Monday.com and Basecamp)

The salary range for this position is $94,000- $118,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training.