Designer (Headwear)

New Era Cap, LLC. is an international lifestyle brand headquartered in Buffalo, NY with an authentic sports heritage that dates back over 100 years. Best known for being the official on-field cap for MLB, official sideline cap for NFL, and official on-court cap for NBA, New Era Cap is the brand of choice not only for its headwear collection, but also for its accessories and apparel lines for men, women and youth. The brand is worn as a symbol of self-expression by athletes, artists and some of the most interesting people around the globe. New Era Cap encourages people to truly express their personal style and individuality through its products.

Since 1920, this family-owned business has hired employees who are masters of their craft. We are innovators, architects of culture, experts, and forward thinkers. We demand excellence because we pride ourselves on the quality of our products and the authenticity of our brand.

Interested in working with us? Check out this exciting opportunity at New Era Cap's Headquarters (HQ) building located in downtown Buffalo, NY. This role is 100% on-site, encouraging employees to collaborate and connect in person five days a week. HQ offers an inviting atmosphere, complete with an on-site cafe, fitness center, and Flagship store.

Apply to join New Era's team!

The Designer is responsible for creating on-trend, commercial designs in accordance with the strategic plans of the Product Development department and in alignment with business objectives. The Design team is responsible for the headwear design and creative execution of our licensed sports and brand partner initiatives. This team understands all design touch points in the development process and is focused on driving commercial results. Our Designers understand New Era headwear product types and systematic design processes, while consistently creating new products for review and adoption. This position executes design needs per go-to-market project in accordance with direction from the Design Director.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the design execution of specific projects in relationship to product plans
• Translates consumer trends into color, silhouette, and graphic executions for seasonal programs, official/authentic programs, key account customs, etc.
• Collaborate with Product Line Management, Product Operations and Sourcing teams to design product that aligns to cost, pricing, and margin framework
• Understand licensed sports marketplace trends and execute design needs that are trend appropriate
• Manage and executes custom design sessions with key accounts and special retail partners
• Manage and execute special design project needs and lead partner communication processes as appropriate
• Meet or exceed timelines associated with merchandising calendars
• Keep all sensitive matters confidential
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Understand the licensed sports marketplace and headwear consumer, and can transform those insights into commercial product design
• Demonstrate a strong graphic ability in custom logo and wordmark design
• Experience in graphic/product design environment
• Embrace collaboration with cross functional teams
• Proficient in individually managing multiple projects daily while meeting established deadlines
• Demonstrate excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to speak accurately, intelligently, and persuasively to external customers
• Represent the brand in all actions and decisions
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel
• Experience with PLM preferred

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fashion Design or Communication Arts preferred; additional experience in lieu of degree considered
• Five (5) to ten (10) years of Product Design experience or equivalent combination or education and experience
• Knowledge of sportswear or apparel industry highly preferred
• Portfolio is required for application to be considered

Travel Requirement

• The preferred location for this position is 100% on-site in Buffalo, NY, but may consider remote candidates who can travel to Headquarters as needed
• Occasional marketplace travel is required

New Era Cap, LLC is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that believes in inclusion and does not discriminate against any candidate or employee on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, genetics, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

The salary range for this posted position is $65,000 - $75,000 (plus bonus & benefits) and pertains to candidates located in Western New York. Actual compensation is determined by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, education, essential job duties and requirements, and necessary experience.

Our casual work environment celebrates individuality and encourages employees to showcase their personal style. We pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote health, financial stability, and personal growth, along with a generous PTO policy.

As an employee, you'll enjoy a range of perks, including paid parking, exclusive discounts on apparel and headwear, and professional development opportunities right here on-site. We can't wait for you to experience all that our dynamic workplace has to offer!

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