Design Manager

Job Title : Design Manager

Class : Full-Time

Reports to : Sr. Director, Creative + Content

Location : On-site, Milwaukee, WI

The Milwaukee Bucks are looking for dedicated people who accept diversity, equity & inclusion in a workplace where everyone feels valued and encouraged.

It all begins with outstanding talent, It all begins with YOU! #FearTheDeer

What We Offer :

• Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision plans, as well as mental health resources
• Pet Insurance
• 8 weeks of paid time off for parents to welcome newborns, adopted and foster children
• Unlimited PTO
• Professional Development through our internal learning & development program - Antler Academy
• Employee Resource Groups
• Milwaukee Bucks and NBA League Discounts
• Company Paid Parking and Phone Allowance

Summary

The Design Manager will lead and plan the creative direction and workflow for the Bucks' in-house design team, including graphic, motion and presentation design.

This position will be responsible for the creation of innovative, visually impactful designs for digital and print applications, that maintain the continuity and integrity of the Milwaukee Bucks and their brands (including the Wisconsin Herd, Bucks Gaming, Fiserv Forum, and Deer District).

They will be expected to take the lead on various projects and tentpole marketing campaigns - overseeing workflow, providing ideation + creative direction and constructive feedback as well as project managing campaigns from conception to implementation.

It is vital that the Design Manager understands creative management of both processes and people. This position is the direct manager to three full-time designers and three student interns.

They will be responsible for leading the team and the day-to-day design operations - including conducting team check-ins, leading brainstorming sessions, project and schedule management of all team projects, and administrative duties as necessary.

The ideal fit for this position is a trustworthy teammate that has an eye for top quality content, a deep understanding of graphic and presentation design, stays up-to-date on industry trends and has a top tier work ethic.

We are seeking someone who can bring innovative design skills to elevate our brand. This position will collaborate closely with various departments including Digital, Partnership Management & Strategy, Business Development, Sales, Basketball Ops and Community Social Responsibility to ensure cohesive and impact visual communications is achieved across all projects.

Responsibilities :

• Supervise and lead the in-house graphic design team, including direct management of designers and interns
• Develop and oversee the visual identity and design standards for the team, ensuring consistency across all platforms
• Conceptualize and create compelling presentations for internal partners, ownership and executive team, as well as team partners and other team entities
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to deadlines
• Use Adobe Creative Suite and other design tools to create and design high quality marketing materials, presentations and content for gameday, events, community initiatives, partner activations and other tentpole marketing campaigns
• Oversee the design request intake process and project management in our Wrike project management system, including organizing jobs and properly delegating and scheduling work for all designers
• Work closely with internal creative + content team, including photography, video production and social media, to ensure a cohesive and properly branded visual language across all channels
• Onboard, train and mentor designers and interns
• Leverage creative and marketing knowledge to develop new creative campaigns for specific targets and audiences
• Will need to work game nights as well as nights and weekends as needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in fine arts, graphic design, visual communication or related field.
• 5+ years experience in a creative leadership role, preferably in sports, entertainment or related industry
• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of design styles and formats, including presentations, digital media and print collateral
• High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, AfterEffects) and Microsoft Office (especially PowerPoint).
• Deep understanding and knowledge of presentation design and multi-page documents layout - proficiency of Beautiful.AI presentation platform a plus.
• Display original thinking and creativity and meet challenges with resourcefulness
• Can balance multiple tasks with high attention to detail
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and delegate effectively. Knowledge of Wrike project management system a plus.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and various departments
• Passion for basketball and sports culture, with a good understanding of the NBA landscape and the Milwaukee Bucks
• Applicant must be willing to travel (up to 10%), able to work long, irregular hours (weeknights, weekends, holidays, etc.

and lift up to 50 lbs.

All offers for employment with the Milwaukee Bucks are contingent upon the candidate having successfully completed a criminal background check.

We will consider people with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable local, state, and Federal laws.

The Milwaukee Bucks is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, Ethnic Minority / Women / Disabled / Veteran / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation.

We provide our employees with a robust employee benefits plan that focuses on the mental and physical wellness of our team.

We strive to offer a flexible work environment that allows our team members to be productive in both their work and home lives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.