Creative Manager Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

GREAT ART. IT'S KINDA WHAT WE DO HERE AND WHAT WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

At Lakeshirts, we make resort apparel that reminds people where they've been. The tee they picked up on vacation. The hoodie they wore on a cool lake morning. The shirt that stays in rotation long after the trip is over.

If you've ever pulled a favorite shirt out of a drawer and thought, "Yep, this one still hits," there's a good chance we had something to do with it.

The Blue 84 Resort line is built around destinations people love and memories they want to take home with them. Our job is to turn those places, experiences, and feelings into art people actually want to wear.

We're looking for a Creative Director to lead where the Resort line is headed and shape how those memories show up on a shirt.

THE ROLE

This is a hands‑on creative leadership role. You'll own the creative vision for the Blue 84 Resort line, guide the work day to day, and make the final call on creative direction. You'll stay close enough to the process to ensure the art feels right, looks great, and lands with the customer, all while helping the team move faster and smarter. We make stuff people wear - and this role is about leading the art behind it. This is an apparel graphics and product-focused creative role, not a marketing or campaign-driven position.

This role is based in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota (preferred), with some travel to stay connected to the product, the places we create for, and the customers who wear it.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Set and evolve the creative vision for the Blue 84 Resort line using market trends, customer insight, and creative instinct
• Lead day‑to‑day creative execution in partnership with Regional Art Directors, Sales, and cross‑functional teams
• Make final decisions on creative direction, approvals, and priorities to keep work moving efficiently and on brand
• Build, coach, and support a strong creative team by creating clarity, developing talent, and keeping everyone aligned
• Work closely with Sales and customer‑facing teams to ensure what we create resonates in the resort market
• Identify opportunities for Continuous Improvement across creative workflows, processes, and tools, including thoughtful use of AI where it adds value
• Remove friction and help the team deliver great art consistently and at scale

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• A strong, clearly defined Resort aesthetic that feels intentional and authentic
• Art that's delivered with consistency, speed, and quality
• A creative team that feels supported, empowered, and aligned
• Products that reflect what resort customers actually want to wear

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• 7-10 years of creative leadership experience, ideally within apparel or a product‑driven environment
• A proven ability to turn ideas into finished product, while balancing creativity with execution
• A collaborative leadership style built on trust, clarity, and bringing people along
• Comfort operating in a fast‑moving environment with multiple priorities
• A mix of data‑informed decision‑making and strong creative intuition
• A team‑first mindset with no interest in big egos
• Bonus points if you like dogs. We have a few around.

WHY LAKESHIRTS

Lakeshirts offers a fun, creative, and team-driven culture where employees are empowered to grow and thrive. We provide competitive pay with daily pay options, comprehensive insurance benefits, up to 22 paid days off in the first year, profit sharing, a 401(k) plan, a relaxed dress code, unique perks like an onsite cafeteria, dogs at work and more. Join us and be part of a company that values teamwork, innovation, and making work enjoyable every day! The wage range for this position is $100,000-$125,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications, with flexibility for exceptional experience.

OUR CULTURE IS ONE-OF-A-KIND AND TRULY SETS US APART. We are proud of our humble beginnings and non-corporate style. We offer a unique atmosphere, unlike any other manufacturer. We work hard to be the best and we seek only committed individuals that will help move our company forward and embrace our values and culture. Lakeshirts | Blue 84 is one of the largest privately-owned screen-printing manufacturers in the United States, responsible for decorating and distribution of a wide variety of garments for the Resort and Licensed channels. We employ over 1000 great people at multiple locations, proudly producing 35,000+ garments daily. It's not just a job but a lifestyle. Our job descriptions help support and guide you in the role you play in making our company successful. LIFE'S BETTER IN A T-SHIRT. IT REALLY IS.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and should in no way be considered a contract or guarantee of employment. Employee may perform other related duties as needed based on the ongoing needs of the business. Minnesota is an Employment-At-Will state and implies no specific length of employment.