Graphic Design Specialist
Athletes First is a full-service sports management and athlete representation firm that has represented elite NFL talent since 2001. Headquartered in Southern California, the company also maintains offices in New York City, Gainesville, and Atlanta.
The firm has established a significant presence within professional sports representation by combining high-level industry influence with personalized service.
Its guiding philosophy centers on making sound decisions, working with the right people, and representing clients for the right reasons.
Position Overview
Athletes First is looking for a creative, highly organized, and detail-oriented Graphic Design Specialist to support its athlete and talent representation business across the NFL, NCAA, Coaching, and Broadcasting divisions.
In this position, you will collaborate directly with agents and the wider Creative team to produce compelling visual materials that support client recruitment, personal branding, marketing initiatives, career development, and everyday representation needs.
The role requires versatility and strong project-management abilities, as you will frequently manage several creative assignments across different sports and business divisions while maintaining a consistently high standard of design.
Key Responsibilities
- Design professional recruiting materials, presentations, and pitch decks for agents working across NFL, NCAA, Coaching, and Broadcasting.
- Develop client-facing creative materials that support personal branding, marketing initiatives, and long-term career strategies.
- Collaborate with agents to transform recruiting objectives and client strategies into polished and visually engaging content.
- Produce graphics for social media and digital platforms to strengthen client visibility and Athletes First’s brand presence.
- Maintain consistent visual identity and branding across representation materials, presentations, and other creative assets.
- Manage multiple design assignments simultaneously while meeting deadlines across various sports and departments.
- Work closely with the broader Creative team to maintain consistency in design style, quality, and project turnaround.
- Stay informed about emerging graphic design, sports marketing, digital media, and talent representation trends.
- Contribute creative ideas that enhance the presentation and marketing of athletes, coaches, broadcasters, and the agency itself.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related discipline is preferred.
- At least 2 years of professional graphic design experience, preferably within sports, entertainment, marketing, or an agency environment.
- Strong proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- A strong professional portfolio demonstrating experience across print, digital, and social media design.
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to handle several projects simultaneously.
- Strong communication and collaboration abilities.
- Comfortable receiving direction and feedback from multiple agents, departments, and stakeholders.
- Ability to maintain quality while working within a fast-paced and deadline-driven environment.
- Interest in sports and an understanding of athlete, coach, or talent representation is advantageous.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related discipline is preferred.
- At least 2 years of professional graphic design experience, ideally within the sports industry, creative agencies, or similar environments.
- Strong proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- A well-developed portfolio demonstrating versatility across print, digital, and social media design.
- Excellent organizational and time-management abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple projects, priorities, and stakeholders simultaneously.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across different teams and departments.
- Comfortable receiving creative direction and incorporating feedback from multiple agents and stakeholders.
- A genuine interest in sports and familiarity with athlete, coach, or talent representation is considered an advantage.
- Ability to produce high-quality creative work within a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Benefits
Athletes First offers eligible employees a competitive benefits package that includes:
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan.
- Cell phone reimbursement.
- Flexible paid time off (PTO).
- Unique exposure to the highest levels of professional sports, with opportunities to work alongside elite athletes, coaches, agents, and front-office executives.