Manager, Graphic Operations Art

New Era Cap, LLC. is an international lifestyle brand headquartered in Buffalo, NY with an authentic sports heritage that dates back over 100 years. Best known for being the official cap for MLB, NFL, NBA, New Era Cap is the brand of choice not only for its headwear collection, but also for its accessories and apparel lines for men, women and youth. The brand is worn as a symbol of self-expression by athletes, artists and some of the most interesting people around the globe. New Era Cap encourages people to truly express their personal style and individuality through its products.

Since 1920, this family-owned business has hired employees who are masters of their craft. We are innovators, architects of culture, experts, and forward thinkers. We demand excellence because we pride ourselves on the quality of our products and the authenticity of our brand.

Interested in working with us? Check out this exciting opportunity at New Era Cap's Headquarters (HQ) building located in downtown Buffalo, NY. This role is 100% on-site, encouraging employees to collaborate and connect in person five days a week. HQ offers an inviting atmosphere, complete with an on-site cafe, fitness center, and Flagship store.

Apply to join New Era's team!

The Manager, Graphic Operations Art provides template support and artwork deliverables that will be used by all product development and graphic operations team members. This position requires creative problem solving when executing all deliverables in accordance with direction from the Senior Manager, Product & Graphic Operations and must act with urgency and accuracy. The Product & Graphic Operations team is responsible for building all graphic assets, product tech packs, and artwork approval files for the bulk of headwear and apparel initiatives, as well as executing all product reporting, calendar builds, and build of materials (BOM) deliverables for all go-to-market needs. This team has an expert understanding of license logo guidelines and translates that knowledge into graphic executions for production in alignment with our Product Lifecycle Management systems.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for supporting and leading a graphic artist team while facilitating a collaborative relationship between the Merchandising, Design, Sourcing and Production teams
• Manage the execution of custom and at-once graphic deliverables in relationship to adopted product designs
• Support templates, graphic deliverables, and production tech packs in relationship to newly adopted product designs
• Maintain art guides for multiple leagues/teams to ensure the most current graphics are available for use
• Collaborate with Design and Product Line Management teams to accurately create sales assets and mass tech packs within time and action calendar windows
• Manage assigning, monitoring, and evaluating work on an assigned basis for graphic artists
• Lead, coach, mentor and develop global team resulting in a positive, challenging work environment
• Communicate effectively with internal and external personnel on artwork and approval needs
• Ensure accuracy in the Design Approval processes to submit artwork for review/revisions as necessary
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and other supporting departments to ensure product accuracy for our consumers
• Create and maintain templates for production of sales assets and mass tech packs using Adobe Illustrator
• Replicate artwork across all leagues/teams with high-level speed and accuracy
• Execute various miscellaneous artwork requests
• Review prototype samples against tech packs for production accuracy
• Understand and utilize multiple New Era project tracking and product creation systems
• Meet or exceed timelines associated with merchandising and/or go-to-market calendars
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and other supporting departments to ensure product accuracy for consumers
• Keep all sensitive matters confidential
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Understand rules and guidelines for licensed sports leagues, teams, and logos
• Ability to follow specific instructions and procedures
• Highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop). Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel. Experience with PLM preferred
• Demonstrates excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to establish relationships and interact with various levels within the organization
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and efficiently prioritize workday to maximize productivity
• Leads collaboration with cross functional teams
• Ability to manage people and create development plans for direct reports
• Proactively manage change with urgency and persistence
• Identify gaps and recommends process improvements. Demonstrates strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficient in individually managing multiple projects daily while meeting established deadlines
• Commitment to representing the brand in all actions and decisions
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and professionalism while working in dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Ability to speak accurately, intelligently and persuasively to internal and external customers

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Technical Design, or Communication Arts preferred; additional experience in lieu of degree considered
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of graphics experience or equivalent combination or education and experience
• Experience in personnel management
• Pre-press or pre-production experience is a plus
• Knowledge of sportswear or apparel industry is a plus
• Portfolio provided on resume

Travel Requirement

• The location for this position is 100% on-site in Buffalo, NY
• 0% to 5%; domestic and/or global

New Era Cap LLC. is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that believes in inclusion and does not discriminate against any candidate or employee on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, genetics, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

The salary range for this posted position is $70,000 - $90,000 (plus bonus & benefits) and pertains to candidates located in Western New York. Actual compensation is determined by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, education, essential job duties and requirements, and necessary experience.

Our casual work environment celebrates individuality and encourages employees to showcase their personal style. We pride ourselves on offering competitive compensation, a generous PTO policy, along with world-class benefits designed to promote health, financial stability, and personal growth.

As an employee, you'll enjoy a range of perks, including paid parking, exclusive discounts on apparel and headwear, and professional development opportunities right here on-site. We can't wait for you to experience all that our dynamic workplace has to offer!

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