The
Graphic Design Manager is primarily a people leader and strategic partner, responsible for the output, development, and day-to-day management of the graphic design team.
While the role requires strong design sensibility, the emphasis is on enabling others to do great work.
Working closely with the Creative Director and Visual Merchandising Manager, this role ensures creative and commercial strategies are aligned across all brand touchpoints.
Essential Duties:Design & Creative Leadership- Step in on high-visibility projects when needed, but primarily delegate and direct
- Establish and maintain design standards, templates, and reusable systems that improve efficiency
- Own the evolution of brand guidelines and visual systems, equipping the team with the tools to apply them consistently
- Represent the design team's work and rationale to senior stakeholders, advocating for creative decisions
People Management & Team Development- Manage, mentor, and support a team of Graphic Designers
- Provide regular feedback, coaching, and performance guidance
- Support professional development through goal setting, reviews, and skill-building
- Review design work and act as a quality bar for the team
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture
Strategic Partnership & Cross Functional Alignment- Partner with the Creative Director to translate creative strategy into actionable design direction and team priorities
- Collaborate with the Visual Merchandising Manager to ensure design output supports merchandising strategies and product storytelling
- Collaborate with Creative Project Managers on resourcing
- Contribute to product launches and campaign planning by bridging creative vision with commercial objectives
- Act as the design team's voice in strategic conversations, feeding back insights on capacity, trends, and creative opportunities
- Partner with the Global Print Production Manager to drive innovative, sustainable print solutions that scale globally.
Skills & Experience Requirements:- 6-10+ years of professional design experience, primarily in brand or in-house environments
- Minimum 3 years' experience directly managing a team of graphic designers, including responsibility for performance reviews, development plans, and workload allocation
- Experience managing a team of 3+ designers simultaneously
- Ability to demonstrate strong design judgement through past work or team output
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite to review, guide and evaluate the teams work
- Strong enough grasp of typography, layout, color, and visual hierarchy to confidently critique and elevate the team's output
- Presentation skills
Educational Requirements:- Degree in Design Management, Communications, Marketing or Graphic Design
- Formal or informal training in people management, coaching, or leadership development is a plus
Preferred Software/Applications Expertise:- Project management tools
- Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator
Nice to Have:- Experience scaling or evolving an in-house brand or design team
- Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive design practices
- Experience collaborating with external agencies or freelancers
What Success Looks Like:- Creative output is aligned with both brand strategy and merchandising goals
- The Creative Director and Visual Merchandising Manager consider this role a trusted strategic partner
- Team attrition is low and designers report high engagement and clear growth paths
- The design team consistently delivers high-quality, on-brand work
- Designers feel supported, challenged, and clear on expectations
- Stakeholders trust the team's creative leadership and design judgment
- Brand consistency and creative quality improve across all touchpoints
Work Environment:- Primarily studio-based in Atlanta.
- Hybrid schedule - 3 days per week in office / 2 days remote.
- Occasional travel to events, trade shows, and manufacturing sites
#LI-Hybrid
4 - Mid-Senior Level / Management
