Graphic Design Manager

Interface•Atlanta, GA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

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, its emphasis is on enabling others to do great work. Working closely with the Creative Director and Visual Merchandising Manager, the manager ensures creative and commercial strategies are aligned across all brand touchpoints. The role leads design work and team development, establishes standards and reusable systems, evolves brand guidelines, and represents the team's work and rationale to senior stakeholders. It also partners across creative, merchandising, project management, and print production functions to align team priorities and resources, support launches and campaigns, and develop scalable, sustainable print solutions. The position is primarily studio-based in Atlanta, with a hybrid schedule of three days per week in the office and two days remote. Occasional travel to events, trade shows, and manufacturing sites is required.

Requirements

6–10+ years of professional design experience, primarily in brand or in-house environments.
At least 3 years of direct experience managing a team of graphic designers, including responsibility for performance reviews, development plans, and workload allocation.
Experience managing at least 3 designers simultaneously.
Ability to demonstrate strong design judgment through past work or team output.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite to review, guide, and evaluate the team's work.
Strong grasp of typography, layout, color, and visual hierarchy to critique and elevate the team's output.
Presentation skills.
A degree in Design Management, Communications, Marketing, or Graphic Design.

Nice To Haves

Formal or informal training in people management, coaching, or leadership development.
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.
Expertise with project management tools.
Experience with Adobe Creative Suite applications, including Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

Responsibilities

Step in on high-visibility projects when needed, while primarily delegating and directing design work.
Establish and maintain design standards, templates, and reusable systems that improve efficiency.
Own the evolution of brand guidelines and visual systems, equipping the team to apply them consistently.
Represent the design team's work and rationale to senior stakeholders and advocate for creative decisions.
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 serve as a quality bar for the team.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
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.
Represent the design team's perspective in strategic conversations, sharing insights on capacity, trends, and creative opportunities.
Partner with the Global Print Production Manager to drive innovative, sustainable print solutions that scale globally.