Collegiate Art Manager

Lakeshirts; Detroit Lakes (MN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Employee discounts

Wellness initiatives

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Lakeshirts in Detroit Lakes, MN, seeks a Collegiate Production Art Manager to lead our Collegiate Art team. You will set daily direction, coach a large on-site team, and ensure artwork moves accurately and on time across multiple programs, collaborating with Operations, Creative, and Quality to connect design to production.

The role is fully on-site at our Lakeshirts headquarters, with a Monday–Friday schedule, 60k–70k annual pay, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, Graphic Design, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field preferred.
• Proven leadership experience in a fast-paced production, manufacturing, creative services, or apparel environment.
• Experience supporting apparel decoration, screenprint, headwear, accessories, or related industry preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, workflows, and deadlines.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, solve problems, and keep projects on track.
• Ability to learn and effectively use Salesforce, Adobe Illustrator, and other business systems.
• Exceptional communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced, ever-changing environment while remaining nimble and open-minded.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, coach, and motivate the Collegiate Art team by providing clear purpose, direction, and accountability.
• Lead Daily Direction Setting activities to prioritize workloads and ensure artwork is completed accurately and on time.
• Oversee Collegiate Art execution supporting College Screenprint Net, Collegiate Screenprint, Collegiate Accessories, Import Art, Zephyr Headwear, Elite Fan Shop, and Hot Market programs.
• Collaborate with Operations and Production to ensure artwork supports manufacturing schedules and customer commitments.
• Partner with Line Development and Creative teams to ensure artwork achieves the intended visual presentation and production requirements.
• Monitor department metrics and performance indicators to ensure productivity, quality, throughput, and service goals are achieved.
• Support new program launches, art packs, sample production, and special projects.
• Partner with Technical and Quality teams on new applications, techniques, training initiatives, and process improvements.
• Own the Continuous Improvement roadmap for the Collegiate Art team by identifying opportunities and helping others execute great ideas through our NIMBLE program.
• Develop future leaders through coaching, training, performance management, and succession planning.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Excel

Communication

Coaching

Project management

Organizational skills

Team leadership

Collaboration

Detail oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Operations/Graphic Design/Marketing/Merchandising or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Adobe Illustrator

Microsoft Office

Job description

GREAT ART. IT'S KINDA WHAT WE DO HERE AND WHAT WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

THE OPPORTUNITY

At Lakeshirts, we stay on-trend and keep pushing the boundaries of creativity. In the last five years alone, our teams have produced more than 200,000 new designs , along with approximately 26,000 design modifications each year. Our decoration techniques include screenprint, embroidery, applique, stickers, and pretty much everything else under the sun. Whew!

We're looking for a highly organized, detail-driven, boots-on-the-ground leader to guide our Collegiate Art team at our headquarters in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. This team is part of our Production Art organization, a 100-plus-person group of onsite and remote artists who collaborate daily to transform ideas into production-ready artwork and the products our customers love.

As Collegiate Production Art Manager, you will set daily direction, lead through others, and keep artwork moving accurately and on time across college screenprint, collegiate accessories, import art, Zephyr headwear, Elite Fan Shop, and Hot Market programs. You will partner closely with Line Development, Creative, Operations, Production, Technical, and Quality teams to connect great design with great execution.

If you're a servant leader with a talent for multitasking, coaching teams, improving processes, and bringing creative work to life, this could be your next adventure. This is a fully onsite position at our headquarters in Detroit Lakes.

PAY + SCHEDULE

Pay Range: $60,000 - $70,000 annually

Location: Onsite at Lakeshirts Headquarters in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Shift: Monday-Friday

Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Growth: Lead a large, multi-location art team while developing future leaders and owning the team's Continuous Improvement roadmap.

BENEFITS

Lakeshirts offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees and their families. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company match , paid time off, paid holidays, employee discounts, wellness initiatives, and additional voluntary benefit options.

A TYPICAL DAY

Leading from the Front + Leading Through Others + Daily Direction Setting + Execution + Keep the Value Stream Moving

• Build, lead, coach, and motivate the Collegiate Art team by providing clear purpose, direction, and accountability.
• Lead Daily Direction Setting activities to prioritize workloads and ensure artwork is completed accurately and on time.
• Oversee Collegiate Art execution supporting College Screenprint Net, Collegiate Screenprint, Collegiate Accessories, Import Art, Zephyr Headwear, Elite Fan Shop, and Hot Market programs.
• Collaborate with Operations and Production to ensure artwork supports manufacturing schedules and customer commitments.
• Partner with Line Development and Creative teams to ensure artwork achieves the intended visual presentation and production requirements.
• Monitor department metrics and performance indicators to ensure productivity, quality, throughput, and service goals are achieved.
• Support new program launches, art packs, sample production, and special projects.
• Partner with Technical and Quality teams on new applications, techniques, training initiatives, and process improvements.
• Own the Continuous Improvement roadmap for the Collegiate Art team by identifying opportunities and helping others execute great ideas through our NIMBLE program.
• Develop future leaders through coaching, training, performance management, and succession planning.

SKILLS

High-Level Organization + Direction of Multiple Parties + Eye for Detail + Artistic Aptitude + Get-It-Done Team-First Mentality

• Bachelor's degree in Business , Operations, Graphic Design, Marketing, Merchandising, or a related field preferred.
• Proven leadership experience in a fast-paced production, manufacturing, creative services, or apparel environment.
• Experience supporting apparel decoration, screenprint, headwear, accessories, or a related industry preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, workflows, and deadlines.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, solve problems, and keep projects on track.
• Ability to learn and effectively use Salesforce, Adobe Illustrator, and other business systems.
• Exceptional communication, coaching, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced, ever-changing environment while remaining nimble and open-minded.
• Embraces our culture and actively contributes to it.

WHY LAKESHIRTS IS THE PLACE YOU WANT TO BE

OUR CULTURE is one-of-a-kind and truly sets us apart. We are proud of our humble beginnings and non-corporate style . We offer a unique atmosphere, unlike any other manufacturer. We work hard to be the best and we seek only committed individuals that will help move our company forward and embrace our values and culture. Lakeshirts | Blue 84 is one of the largest privately owned screenprint manufacturers in the United States, responsible for decorating and distribution of a wide variety of garments for the resort, college and K-12 markets. At our headquarters in Detroit Lakes, MN, we employ over 1000 great people, proudly producing 35,000+ garments daily. It's not just a job but a lifestyle. Our job descriptions help support and guide you in the role you play in making our company successful. LIFE'S BETTER IN A T-SHIRT. IT REALLY IS.

COGNITIVE OR MENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB

Employee must be able to see and hear, read and write. Requires adaptability, analyzing, assessing, calculating, decision making, dependability, judgment, reading, speaking, following direction, handling multiple priorities, and reasoning.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

CONTINUOUSLY: Sit, Reach below shoulder height

FREQUENTLY: Walk, Reach at shoulder height

OCCASIONALLY: Lift, Stand, Carry, Lift under 10 lbs , Carry under 10 lbs , Reach above shoulder height

NEVER: Push, Pull, Climb, Balance, Bend, Twist, Crawl, Reach, Lift 10-24 lbs , Lift 25-50 lbs , Lift over 50 lbs , Carry 10-24 lbs , Carry 25-50 lbs , Carry over 50 lbs

NOTE / DISCLAIMER

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and should in no way be considered a contract or guarantee of employment. Employee may perform other related duties as needed based on the ongoing needs of the business. Minnesota is an Employment-At-Will state and implies no specific length of employment.