Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager - Marketing

Company: NEW ERA CAP LLC

Location: Westwood, MA, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Management

Date Posted: 2026-05-27T14:59:00

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-7 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a team of marketing designers, fostering their growth and ensuring the consistent evolution of the brand's visual identity across all digital platforms.

• Drive the conceptualization and execution of digital creative assets for marketing and e-commerce campaigns, aligning with strategic business objectives and calendar planning.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including E-Commerce, Product, and Sales, to integrate design strategies and ensure cohesive brand messaging.

• Uphold and enforce brand guidelines, providing creative direction and art approval for a diverse range of digital projects to maintain brand integrity.

• Stay abreast of industry best practices and emerging trends in digital design channels (email, paid social, organic social, web) to inform and guide the design team's approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description focuses on creative design leadership, this role has significant implications for Marketing Operations by requiring the manager to ensure brand consistency, adherence to guidelines, and efficient execution of digital assets. This necessitates a strong understanding of operational workflows, project management, and cross-functional team coordination within a marketing context. The emphasis on leading a team and contributing to strategic planning suggests a role that bridges creative execution with operational oversight.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Marketing Creative Design team, providing creative direction, mentorship, and performance feedback to senior and junior designers.

• Develop and implement design strategies for digital marketing campaigns across various channels, including email, paid social, organic social media, and web assets.

• Collaborate with E-Commerce, Product, and Sales teams to translate business objectives into compelling visual concepts and creative solutions for marketing and e-commerce initiatives.

• Ensure all external and internal partners adhere strictly to established brand guidelines, maintaining a unified and professional brand presence.

• Guide the conceptualization of creative solutions for the marketing and e-commerce calendars, contributing to strategic planning and campaign ideation.

• Provide constructive feedback on all design projects, working collaboratively with designers to refine and enhance creative output.

• Partner with the Project Manager to ensure timely delivery of design milestones, proactively identifying and implementing creative solutions for expedited timelines.

• Present design feedback to team members with clear reasoning, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the design team.

• Contribute to the strategic development of the brand's visual language and its application across all marketing touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of people management, creative leadership, and operational execution. The emphasis on "day-to-day processes," "ensuring milestones are met on time," and "establishing creative solutions on expedited timelines" points to a strong operational component, requiring the manager to optimize workflows, manage resources effectively, and ensure efficient project delivery within the marketing operations framework.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific degree mentioned, but a strong portfolio and professional experience are paramount.

Experience: 5-7 years of professional design experience, preferably in-house or agency settings, with demonstrated experience in managing design teams.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience managing senior and junior designers, including mentorship and performance guidance.

• Strong portfolio showcasing sophisticated and impactful design work, particularly in digital marketing contexts.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Expertise in Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.

• Deep understanding of layout principles, typography, and responsive design techniques.

• Exceptional detail-orientation, time management, and organizational skills.

• Excellent verbal and visual communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts effectively.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in brand guideline development and enforcement.

• Familiarity with e-commerce platforms and digital marketing best practices across various channels (email, paid social, organic social, web).

• Understanding of project management principles and ability to work with project managers.

• Curiosity and a proactive desire for continuous learning and skill development in design and marketing trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a hands-on design background combined with leadership experience. For operations candidates, demonstrating how their project management skills, ability to enforce standards, and experience with digital asset creation and deployment align with the responsibilities will be critical. The mention of Figma suggests a need for familiarity with modern collaborative design tools, common in fast-paced GTM operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 5-7 years of professional design work, with a significant portion dedicated to digital marketing campaigns.

• Include examples of leading and mentoring design teams, highlighting leadership style and impact on team development.

• Feature sophisticated and visually compelling creative solutions for digital channels such as email, social media, and web banners.

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of brand guidelines and the ability to maintain brand consistency across diverse projects.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have contributed to or managed the development and optimization of design workflows.

• Demonstrations of how you have ensured adherence to brand guidelines and creative briefs.

• Evidence of successful collaboration with cross-functional teams (e.g., marketing, e-commerce, sales) to achieve project goals.

• Insights into how you have managed expedited timelines and delivered creative solutions under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Manager role with operational undertones, the portfolio should not just showcase aesthetic talent but also the ability to manage processes, enforce standards, and deliver results efficiently. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their approach to workflow optimization, team management, and cross-functional collaboration as demonstrated by their portfolio projects.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $95,000 - $110,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays).

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401(k)) with potential company match.

• Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.

• Employee discounts on company products.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with potential for occasional overtime to meet project deadlines. This is an on-site role in Westwood, MA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is typical for a Design Manager with 5-7 years of experience in the Boston metropolitan area, considering the cost of living and industry benchmarks for creative leadership roles. The benefits package is a standard offering for a company of this size and industry. The on-site requirement suggests a need for local candidates or those willing to relocate.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Apparel & Accessories (Fashion/Sports Lifestyle Brand)

Company Size: NEW ERA CAP LLC is part of a larger organization, typically indicating a mid-to-large size company with established structures and resources.

Founded: Founded in 1920, '47 has a long-standing history and a strong heritage in sports apparel.

Team Structure:

• The Design Manager reports to the Senior Manager - Design, indicating a clear reporting hierarchy within the Marketing Creative team.

• This role involves leading a team of designers (senior and junior), suggesting a team size of at least 2-4 direct reports.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on developing and executing digital creative, suggesting a data-informed approach to design that considers channel best practices.

• Focus on conceptualizing creative solutions for marketing and e-commerce calendars, indicating a strategic planning process tied to business objectives.

• Commitment to brand guidelines ensures a standardized approach to visual communication.

• Continuous learning and staying updated on best practices point to an adaptive and evolving methodology.

Company Website: https://neweracap.com/ (Note: The provided URL was for ADP recruitment; this is the company's main website)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding '47's position as a heritage brand in sports apparel is crucial. The culture likely balances a respect for tradition with a need for modern, digital-first marketing strategies. The operations aspect of this role will involve ensuring that this balance is maintained through efficient creative processes and adherence to brand standards across a dynamic digital landscape.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a significant step into leadership within the creative and marketing operations domain. It's a mid-to-senior level position that requires both hands-on design expertise and managerial capabilities. The scope includes team leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and direct impact on marketing campaign effectiveness.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager reports to the Senior Manager - Design, indicating a clear path for escalation and strategic alignment. This structure allows for mentorship from a more experienced leader and contributes to the broader marketing strategy.

Operations Impact: The Design Manager plays a pivotal role in shaping the brand's digital presence, directly influencing customer perception, engagement, and conversion rates across e-commerce and marketing channels. Effective management of the design team and processes ensures timely delivery of high-quality creative assets, which is critical for successful Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies and revenue generation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Vertical Growth: Potential to advance to Senior Manager - Design, overseeing larger teams or broader creative functions.

• Horizontal Growth: Opportunities to move into related marketing operations roles, focusing on campaign management, digital strategy, or brand management.

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in digital design trends, team leadership, project management methodologies, and cross-functional collaboration. Continuous learning in areas like UI/UX, motion graphics, or advanced analytics to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a pathway to leverage their process-oriented skills in a creative leadership capacity. The growth opportunities highlight the potential to transition into roles that require a blend of creative vision and operational rigor, common in senior GTM operations or marketing leadership positions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role, suggesting a traditional office environment where in-person collaboration is valued.

Office Location(s): Westwood, MA. This location offers proximity to Boston's talent pool and amenities.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is likely collaborative, encouraging interaction between designers and with cross-functional teams.

• Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) and potentially other marketing technology tools.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with the design team, fostering a supportive and productive atmosphere for creative work and problem-solving.

• The company's heritage suggests a culture that may blend professional structure with a passion for sports and lifestyle branding.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with the flexibility to manage personal time around core working hours. However, demanding project timelines may require occasional extended hours, common in fast-paced marketing environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role emphasizes the importance of physical presence for team collaboration and mentorship. Candidates should consider how their work style aligns with an in-person team environment and the specific dynamics of a retail/apparel company.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios for basic qualifications and creative fit.

• Portfolio Review & Creative Discussion: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio, discussing specific projects, design philosophy, and problem-solving approaches. This stage will assess aesthetic quality, technical proficiency, and strategic thinking.

• Team & Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with the Senior Manager - Design, direct reports, and key stakeholders from E-Commerce, Product, and Sales teams. These interviews will evaluate leadership style, collaboration skills, and ability to integrate with existing team dynamics.

• Case Study/Presentation (Potential): Candidates may be asked to present a specific design challenge or a walk-through of a significant portfolio piece, demonstrating their strategic thinking and communication skills.

• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader in Marketing or the broader organization to assess cultural fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, digital design expertise, brand guideline adherence, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Highlight Process: For each project, explain the brief, your role, the challenges, your design process, and the final outcome/impact (quantify where possible).

• Showcase Team Management: If possible, include examples of how you've guided junior designers or managed team workflows.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Ensure your work reflects mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to articulate your design rationale, creative direction, and how you ensure brand consistency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate questions about team management, motivating designers, handling constructive criticism, and managing conflicting creative visions.

• Be ready to discuss how you stay current with design trends and best practices across digital marketing channels.

• Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with non-design teams to achieve marketing objectives.

• Understand '47's brand and recent marketing campaigns to demonstrate genuine interest and strategic insight.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations candidates should frame their portfolio not just by aesthetic quality but by the efficiency, process, and results achieved. Highlighting project management, workflow optimization, and successful cross-functional execution will be key to resonating with the operational aspects of this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, photo editing, and layout. Specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are required.

• Figma: A critical tool for collaborative design, prototyping, and UI/UX work, increasingly standard in modern design workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, a Design Manager in a marketing context would benefit from understanding and potentially utilizing:
  • Web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and design impact.
  • Social media analytics platforms to track engagement and performance of visual content.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) can be beneficial for understanding how creative assets are deployed and tracked within broader marketing campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma is a baseline requirement. For candidates with an operations background, highlighting any experience with analytics platforms that inform creative decisions, or marketing automation tools used for asset deployment, would be a significant advantage. This demonstrates an understanding of the operational lifecycle of creative assets.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working across departments (E-Commerce, Product, Sales) to achieve shared goals.

• Brand Integrity: Deep respect for brand guidelines and a commitment to maintaining a consistent and high-quality brand image.

• Continuous Improvement: A proactive approach to staying updated on design trends and best practices, fostering team growth and evolving creative strategies.

• Efficiency & Timeliness: A focus on meeting project deadlines and delivering creative solutions, especially under expedited timelines, reflecting a results-oriented culture.

• Mentorship & Development: A value placed on nurturing talent within the team, providing feedback, and supporting professional growth.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires active engagement with various departments to align creative vision with business objectives.

• Feedback-Driven: The culture likely encourages constructive critique and open communication to refine design work and foster team development.

• Process-Oriented: With a Project Manager involved, there's an expectation of structured workflows and clear communication channels for project execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values listed point to a culture that balances creative expression with operational discipline. Candidates should emphasize their ability to work collaboratively, adhere to processes, and contribute to a results-driven environment, aligning with the operational demands of the role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Evolving Trends: Ensuring that the brand's established identity remains strong while incorporating fresh, contemporary design elements relevant to current digital marketing channels.

• Managing Diverse Creative Needs: Catering to the distinct requirements of E-Commerce, Product, and Sales teams, each with potentially different objectives and aesthetic preferences.

• Leading a Hybrid Team (Potentially): If the team includes both senior and junior designers, managing varied skill levels, motivations, and development needs can be complex.

• Meeting Tight Deadlines: The fast-paced nature of digital marketing and e-commerce often requires rapid turnaround times for creative assets, demanding efficient workflow management.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Figma, explore new features in Adobe Creative Suite, or learn complementary tools.

• Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Trends: Exposure to the latest strategies in online advertising, social media marketing, and e-commerce best practices.

• Leadership & Management Skills: Developing proficiency in team leadership, performance management, and cross-functional stakeholder communication.

• Brand Strategy: Gaining a deeper understanding of brand positioning, market dynamics within the sports apparel industry, and strategic brand management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations professionals can approach these challenges by highlighting their experience in process optimization, risk mitigation, and resource allocation. The growth opportunities align well with a career path that emphasizes strategic thinking and leadership within a marketing or GTM operations framework.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to managing a creative team and ensuring their professional development." (Focus on mentorship, feedback, and workflow optimization).

• "How do you balance maintaining strict brand guidelines with the need to innovate and adapt to new design trends?" (Highlight your process for evaluating new ideas against brand standards).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about '47 and our brand?" (Research their history, product lines, and recent marketing campaigns).

• "How would you foster collaboration between your design team and cross-functional departments like E-Commerce or Sales?" (Discuss your communication and integration strategies).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each key project, outline the objective, your role, the challenges, your design process, key decisions, and the quantifiable results.

• Emphasize Leadership: Point out instances where you guided team members, managed workflows, or influenced creative direction.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your design methodology, how you ensure brand consistency, and how you collaborate with stakeholders.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and how you leverage them for efficient and collaborative design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations candidates should be prepared to frame their experience in terms of process, efficiency, and measurable outcomes. When discussing their portfolio, they should emphasize how their leadership and design execution contributed to achieving business objectives and optimizing marketing efforts.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the ADP portal at the provided URL.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight experience in team management, digital creative development, brand guideline enforcement, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure it prominently features digital marketing design examples, leadership experience, and process-driven case studies. Be ready to discuss your strategic approach and the impact of your work.

• Prepare for Interview Questions: Practice articulating your leadership philosophy, design process, and how you manage timelines and collaborate with diverse teams.

• Research '47: Familiarize yourself with the brand's history, product offerings, and current marketing initiatives to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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