Sr Manager, Creative Design (NY based)

Unrivaled Teamwear; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Unrivaled Teamwear seeks a Sr. Manager of Creative Design to lead the Graphic Design team within the Pro Sports Hot Market division.

Translate high-level direction into executable plans, driving performance and supervising all graphic output, including Localization, Collaborations, Special Collections, and Event-driven programs. The role balances entrepreneurial thinking with disciplined execution, overseeing designers, freelancers, and production partners to deliver speed-to-market and growth

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 4–6 years of experience in graphic design within apparel or sports industry.
• 4+ years in a lead/supervisor/manager role in a creative environment.
• Ability to manage multiple design teams or sub-functions.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; PM tools preferred.
• Experience with embroidery, screen print and decoration processes.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience managing fast-turn creative organizations and external resources.

Responsibilities

• Directs all Pro Sports graphic design projects—ensuring on-time, within-budget delivery and adherence to guidelines.
• Leads market-right research and development of print, embroidery, and decoration processes; coordinates trend research for relevance and competitive positioning.
• Supervises review/approval of all designs; ensures final art files meet quality standards and schedules.
• Leads business development initiatives including Hot Markets, Localization, Special Collections, Event programs and growth opportunities.
• Owns creative execution for high-profile sports moments (e.g., Super Bowl, Championships, playoffs) and drives timely, high-quality outputs.
• Evaluates market trends and consumer insights to identify opportunities within Hot Market and localization spaces.
• Presents creative concepts and opportunities to leadership and cross-functional partners to grow the business.
• Prioritizes rapid-response projects while maintaining brand consistency and operational discipline.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Team collaboration

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Brief Description

The Sr. Manager of Creative Design provides agile leadership for the Graphic Design team within the Pro Sports Hot Market division. This role translates high-level creative direction into executable plans, driving team performance and overseeing all graphic design output — including Creative Programs such as Localization, Collaborations, Special Collections, Event 1 initiatives, Hot Markets, Disney and other growth opportunities — while ensuring speed-to-market for both proactive and reactive programs for Pro Sports moments.

Overview

This role owns speed-to-market by identifying emerging trends, partnering cross-functionally, and delivering commercially relevant graphics for time-sensitive opportunities. This role balances entrepreneurial thinking with disciplined execution, managing internal designers, freelance resources, and art production and licensing partners.

Serving as a critical connector between the strategic direction set by the Sr. Director and Brand partners and the day-to-day work of the design team, the Sr. Manager coaches and develops team members, optimizes workflows, builds cross‑functional alignment, and delivers measurable productivity and quality outcomes.

Job Responsibilities

Creative Execution & Quality Oversight

• Art directs or supervises all Pro Sports graphic design projects—including sketch packs and graphic boards—ensuring all work is completed in accordance with established policies, Pro Sports licensed guidelines, and on‑time and within budget.
• Directs market‑right research and development of new print, embroidery, and decoration processes; coordinates trend research at retail and relevant niche/hot markets to ensure design relevance and competitive positioning.
• Supervises the review and approval of all graphic designs (prints and embroideries), ensuring final art files meet quality standards and are delivered on schedule.
• Lead business development initiatives including Hot Markets, Localization, Special Collections, Event programs and other growth opportunities.
• Own creative execution for high‑profile sports moments including Super Bowl, AFC/NFC Championships, NBA Playoffs, World Series, Stanley Cup, NCAA Championships and other key events.
• Evaluate market trends, retail insights and consumer behavior to identify new creative opportunities within the Hot Market and Localized graphic design space.
• Present creative concepts and business opportunity recommendations to leadership and cross‑functional partners to grow the business in this space.
• Prioritize rapid‑response projects while maintaining brand consistency and operational discipline.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborates with Brand and Retail Partners on appropriate graphics aligned with Pro Sports hot market direction.
• Communicates clearly and partners effectively with internal and external clients; maintains departmental policies and procedures governing project flow and client interactions.
• Presents or supervises the presentation of graphic designs, decoration information, and graphic specifics to the division's sales force or Retail buyers—verbally or in written form.

Operational Management & Process Improvement

• Manages day‑to‑day team operations across multiple design sub‑groups; coordinates workload distribution, project prioritization, and resource allocation to maintain momentum across all active projects.
• Establishes and manages departmental budgets; monitors project costs and reports on financial performance.
• Identifies and implements process improvements to enhance team efficiency, consistency of output, and creative quality.
• Manages or coordinates special projects as directed by the Sr Director – Creative Design, ensuring timely and high‑quality execution.

Talent Development & Team Leadership

• Supports, trains, supervises, and formally reviews all direct reports—including Designers, Freelancers, and Associate Designers—in accordance with Unrivaled Teamwear HR guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Actively coaches team members toward higher performance; identifies development opportunities and builds individual growth plans to strengthen the design team pipeline.
• Builds team spirit and community by aligning all associates around clearly stated creative and business goals.
• Ensures day‑to‑day compliance with EEO/Affirmative Action policies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or a related field; equivalent experience considered.
• 4–6 years of experience in graphic design within the apparel or sports industry.
• 4+ years of experience as a lead, supervisor, and/or manager in a creative environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple design teams or sub‑functions simultaneously.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; familiarity with project management tools preferred.
• Experience with embroidery, screen print, and decoration processes strongly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience managing fast‑turn creative organizations and external creative resources.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the associate. Other duties will be assigned as needed.

Equal Employment Opportunity

EOE/AA: Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

We maintain a drug‑free workplace and perform pre‑employment substance abuse testing as well as participate in E‑Verify.