Design Operations Manager

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?

• Lead, manage, and champion design operational concepts and principles related to illustration and design in the apparel product creation process.
• Support the creative team that designs apparel and bags with all tools of design execution, branding specs and line art.
• Foster communication and collaboration for cross-functional teams including Merchandising, Development, Technical Design, and Marketing on projects to develop and strengthen brand assets and to produce product design collateral to specifications.
• Initiate and drive process improvements and best practices related to design communications including style guides, brand packets, line art, and other 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 and design assistants 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.
• Drive library creation of artwork and set standards for methodical organization and maintenance that is managed and maintained within company systems including PLM.
• Provide guidance and recommendations that result in better practices and/or results for design and product creation team including uses of 3-D and AI.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all policies and standards.

What Are We Looking For?

• 4-6 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 $77,970 - $100,000 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.