Graphic Design Manager

NIS America•Santa Ana, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Graphic Design Manager oversees the daily operations, workflow management, and creative output of the Graphic Design team. This role focuses on effective task delegation, deadline management, and maintaining high creative standards across packaging, key art, digital marketing assets, merchandise, and event materials. In addition to managing the team, the Graphic Design Manager also contributes hands-on design work, especially for high‑priority, complex, or time‑sensitive projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
5+ years of experience in graphic design, creative production, or visual communication.
5+ years of experience in a leadership or management role.
Strong project management skills with proven ability to manage deadlines and delegate effectively.
Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in print, packaging, digital assets, and brand design.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and others).
Experience managing external creative vendors or freelancers.
Excellent communication and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines.
Passion for video games and familiarity with Japanese titles.
Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

Japanese language skills (written and spoken) for licensor communication.
Experience working with first-party platform holders (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) or PC storefront partners.
Experience in gaming, entertainment, or consumer products.
Knowledge of print production processes, merchandise production, and large-format event graphics.
Understanding of video game concepts, terms, and gameplay (especially RPGs).
Familiarity with JRPG history, structure, and visual trends.

Responsibilities

Workflow Management & Task Delegation: Assign tasks based on designer strengths, workload, and project priorities. Manage team schedules, monitor progress, and ensure deadlines are consistently met. Identify bottlenecks early and implement solutions to keep projects on track. Maintain structured workflows that support efficient production and clear communication.
Strategic Creative Planning: Partner with D2C, Operations, Localization, Porting, Marketing and LR teams to understand project goals and creative requirements. Align creative output with marketing campaigns, product launches, and event timelines. Contribute to long-term visual strategy and brand evolution, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints. Support cross-functional initiatives by providing creative insights and direction.
Creative Production & Quality Assurance: Oversee the creation of packaging, key art, promotional materials, digital assets, merchandise designs, and event graphics. Review and approve design deliverables for accuracy, brand consistency, and production readiness. Ensure all assets meet technical specifications for print and digital use. Maintain and evolve brand guidelines and ensure consistent application across all creative outputs.
Process Improvement & Asset Management: Establish and refine workflows, documentation, templates, and file management practices. Improve efficiency through standardized processes and better cross-team alignment. Ensure proper version control, archiving, and accessibility of creative assets. Promote continuous improvement in creative operations.
Hands-on Creative Production: Contribute directly to design production for key visuals, packaging, promotional materials, merchandise, and event graphics. Step in for high-priority, urgent, or complex tasks to ensure deadlines and quality standards are met. Develop visual concepts, layouts, and production-ready files when needed. Support the team by demonstrating best practices and elevating overall creative quality.
Project Coordination: Manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks based on deadlines and business needs. Partner with PMO and project managers to maintain accurate schedules. Communicate proactively with stakeholders regarding project status, risks, and dependencies.
Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned