Design Operations Manager

At SanMar, the work you do makes a difference.

What's the Short Version?

The Design Operations Manager drives excellence in design support, provides creative procedure expertise, and leads projects in the apparel product creation process. The Design Operations Manager leads and mentors the design support team and promotes new innovative tools to advance design communications with cross-functional teams. They serve as an expert in visual communication tools, communicating in an innovative way to varied groups of stakeholders.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Direct design operational concepts and principles related to illustration and design in the apparel product creation process.
• Oversee the creative team that designs apparel and bags with all tools of design execution, branding specs, and line art.
• Lead communication and collaboration for cross-functional teams including Merchandising, Development, Technical Design, and Marketing on projects to develop and strengthen brand assets and produce product design collateral to specifications.
• Champion continuous process improvements and enforce best practices for design communications, ensuring consistency and quality across style guides, brand packets, line art, and all creative development and presentation tools.
• Direct and manage day-to-day activities of design projects and workflows to drive calendar deadlines.
• Supervise and mentor illustrators, design assistants, and project managers ensuring they adhere to design standards and deadlines.
• Translate brand project objectives, design strategies, and innovative ideas that effectively conceptualize intent and are communicated with visually compelling tools.
• Govern standards for artwork library creation, ensuring systematic organization, accuracy, and maintenance within company systems, including PLM.
• Advocate forward-thinking solutions and provide guidance to enhance design and product creation practices, including the integration of advanced tools such as 3-D and AI.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all policies and standards.
  
  

What Are We Looking For?

• 7-9 years experience in design, illustration, and page layout software on the Macintosh platform in a professional environment or equivalent education
• Experience in leading a team to meet business objectives
• Strong project planning, organizational and time management skills with a high level of initiative
• Proficiency with Adobe CS Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), PowerPoint, Word and Excel
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to network and influence design process decision
• Desire for ongoing learning and adoption of new and innovative design tools, including AI
• Basic knowledge of garment constructions, silhouettes, color ways, sewing techniques, fabrication and trims
• Experience in PLM systems utilizing design input
• Strong understanding of visual branding, and design solutions
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to network and influence design process decision
  
  

What's Our Offer?

Salary Range: You`ll earn between $100,000 - $145,000 annually, depending on experience.

Bonus: You`ll be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus up to 10% of base salary.

Paid Time Off: You`ll accrue paid time off on a bi-weekly basis based on hours worked up to 112 hours per year to start. Employees also receive 8 paid holidays and 1 paid family day off.

Additional Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401k plan and matches $1 for $1 up to 4% of earnings, matched & vested at every pay cycle
• Life insurance
• Short/long-term disability coverage
• Paid maternity/paternity leave
• Pet insurance
  
  

What Should You Expect?

Hybrid: SanMar's Eastpointe office is located in Issaquah, WA in the Seattle metropolitan area. Employees are required to work in our offices Tuesday through Thursday each week and additional days may be added based on business needs. Our standard working hours are 8:00-5:00 PST. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work environment is moderately quiet. Ability to work on computer for multiple hours with frequent interruptions. Quarterly travel may be required.

Why Work at SanMar?

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. They bring their talent, passion and dedication to work with them every day. Their hard work inspires us and gives us purpose. We love working here together.

Whether you work in our headquarters, from your home or in one of our distribution centers across North America, we believe that investing in you is just the right thing to do. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support your health and well-being, life balance, career growth and (eventually) retirement.

SanMar works with brands you already know, like Nike, The North Face and Brooks Brothers, as well as providing industry-leading private label apparel and accessories. Our people come to work excited to do their part, providing clothing that helps people feel that they’re a part of something special.

Here’s your chance to be a part of this story. If you’re ready to work in a place where your participation matters and your growth is a priority, we’re ready for you.

SanMar is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, whoever you love or follow in faith, whatever your disability or superpower status, whichever ethnicity or gender you identify with, you are welcome at SanMar.

SanMar participates in E-Verify.