Senior Director Operational Art Job Tampa area,Florida USA,Management

Fanatics Commerce is the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, operating a vertically integrated platform that designs, manufactures, and delivers officially licensed apparel, jerseys, headwear, and collectibles for major leagues, teams, and events worldwide. With more than 900 e-commerce sites and a global omnichannel presence across digital, in-venue, and retail, Fanatics Commerce reaches fans in over 180 countries and powers official fan experiences for many of the world's most iconic sports properties.

At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day - building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with entrepreneurial speed, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

At Fanatics, we bring our BOLD Leadership Principles to life every day—building championship teams, obsessing over fans, acting with limitless entrepreneurial spirit, and delivering with a determined and relentless mindset.

As we continue to scale our global platform, the Sr. Director, Operational Art will play a critical role in translating creative concepts into production-ready licensed sportswear and jerseys at global scale.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Sr. Director, Operational Art leads the execution of production-ready artwork, color separations, embellishment specifications, and the sample-to-production process for licensed sportswear and jerseys across domestic and global manufacturing partners. This role partners cross-functionally with Merchandising, Graphic Design, Product Development, Licensing, and Sourcing to ensure artwork is delivered accurately, efficiently, and in full compliance with brand and league requirements for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA, and international properties.

The Sr. Director, Operational Art delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.

HOW WILL YOU DRIVE IMPACT

Success is measured by the ability to deliver results through BOLD capabilities and measurable outcomes.

Team & Leadership Impact (Build Championship Teams)

Cross-Functional Leadership:

Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, Graphic Design, Licensing, and Sourcing to clarify project requirements, establish timelines, and align on artwork execution across the full production pipeline.
Build strong relationships with global vendors and manufacturing partners to ensure clear communication, consistent execution, and on-time delivery across multiple time zones.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and detail-oriented culture aligned with brand, league, and fan expectations throughout the organization.
Lead, coach, and develop production-art managers, artists, separation specialists, Buy Ready specialists, and quality-control team members operating across multiple time zones and regions.
Monitor workload and resource allocation to ensure the team is positioned for high-quality, cost-effective execution in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Cultivate a performance culture rooted in continuous improvement, clear accountability, and professional development at every level of the team.

Fan & Customer Impact (Obsessed with Fans)

Ensure all production artwork, color separations, and embellishment specifications comply with licensing requirements for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA, and international teams and leagues, delivering products that meet fan and league expectations.
Establish and maintain quality-control processes for artwork consistency, color approvals, sample matching, embellishment execution, and vendor file compliance so that fans receive products that match the intended design.
Oversee the research and development and production-sample pipeline — including concept samples, domestic prototypes, strike-offs, and applicable testing — to ensure product integrity from concept through delivery.
Collaborate with Product Development and Design to confirm sample intent, application methods, and embellishment…