Associate Artist, Graphic Operations

New Era Cap; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid parking

Employee discounts on apparel/headwear

Professional development on-site

Job summary

New Era Cap, LLC in Buffalo, NY, is seeking an Associate Artist, Graphic Operations to support templates and production art packs under guidance from the Manager, Graphic Production Art. This role emphasizes problem solving and precise execution within league guidelines.

You will collaborate across Product Development, Sourcing, and Product Line Management to deliver go-to-market assets, maintain league art guides, and replicate artwork with speed and accuracy while upholding brand standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Technical Design, or Communication Arts preferred; relevant job experience in lieu of degree considered
• 0–1 year of graphics experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop). Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel. Experience with PLM preferred

Responsibilities

• 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
• Assist in the creation of sales assets within time and action calendar windows in collaboration with Product Development, Sourcing, and Product Line Management
• Create and submit designs for internal and external approvals and execute necessary changes according to league/team guidelines
• 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

Skills

Learn league guidelines

Follow instructions

Cross-functional collaboration

Urgency and persistence

Attention to detail

Multi-project management

Brand representation

Positive attitude

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related field

Portfolio required

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Microsoft Office

Excel

PLM system

Job description

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, and 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.

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.

The Associate Artist, Graphic Operations (Headwear & Apparel) 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 (not design creation) when executing all deliverables in accordance with direction from the Manager, Graphic Production Art 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 BOM deliverables for all go‑to‑market needs. The 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

• 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
• Assist in the creation of sales assets within time and action calendar windows in collaboration with Product Development, Sourcing, and Product Line Management
• Create and submit designs for internal and external approvals and execute necessary changes according to league/team guidelines
• 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

• Ability to learn and retain rules and guidelines for licensed sports leagues, teams, and logos
• Ability to follow specific instructions and procedures
• Ability to collaborate cross‑functionally for product design needs
• Ability to execute change with resiliency, urgency, and persistence
• 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 a dynamic, fast‑paced environment

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Technical Design, or Communication Arts preferred; relevant job experience in lieu of degree considered
• Zero (0) to one (1) year of experience in graphics experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop). Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel. Experience with PLM preferred
• Pre‑press or pre‑production experience is a plus
• Knowledge of sportswear or apparel industry is a plus
• Portfolio is required for application to be considered

Travel Requirement

• 0% to 5%; domestic and/or global

The salary range for this posted position is $44,000 - $48,000 (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!