Photo Team Manager - Newport News, VA

Jostens is a renowned company with over 125 years of dedicated service in the student commemoration market. The company partners with thousands of K-12 schools, colleges, and universities across the United States, as well as recognized sports teams and prestigious organizations. Jostens is widely known for its iconic products including yearbooks, letter jackets, class jewelry, and championship rings. These products play an essential role in preserving meaningful traditions and helping millions of individuals celebrate their unique stories, milestone moments, and significant accomplishments annually. Operating globally with 13 first-class facilities ranging from North America to the Caribbean, Jostens demonstrates a commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. They are an equal opportunity employer that values full inclusion and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This ensures their workforce is diverse and empowered.

The position available is a Seasonal Photo Team Manager role, starting June 15, 2026. This is a hybrid role combining remote work with onsite responsibilities at various school locations. Candidates must reside in Newport News, VA, or surrounding cities to be eligible. The job offers competitive pay ranging from $25.50 to $27.50 per hour, with full-time status that includes eligibility for healthcare benefits. This seasonal role runs from June through November with a possibility of extension into December, depending on event schedules, offering approximately 30+ hours of work per week. The Photo Team Manager will receive paid training, requiring no previous photography experience, and can benefit from paid daily wages through the DailyPay option. Additional voluntary benefits include discounts and access to home and car insurance, pet insurance, travel perks, and more.

The core responsibility of the Photo Team Manager is to lead and motivate a team of photographers tasked with capturing memorable school photo moments for students and their families from kindergarten through grade 12. The role demands a mix of leadership, training, logistics, and hands-on event management to ensure flawless operation of school photo days. Managers will participate in a paid 3-day "Train the Trainer" session at JostensPIX Headquarters in Minnesota alongside virtual training events. They will identify locations for pre-season photographer training and work closely with training specialists to prepare their teams.

Operational duties involve managing photo day logistics, scheduling the appropriate number of photographers per event, overseeing equipment storage and coordination of pickups, and preparing all photography gear for shipment at season end. From an employee management perspective, the role involves partnering with HR on hiring photographers, managing schedules and assignments, maintaining ongoing communication with team members and school contacts, upholding company standards for attendance and quality, hosting weekly virtual meetings, coordinating travel arrangements, and managing expenses and overtime.

In terms of photography execution, the manager will ensure adherence to JostensPIX protocols and may occasionally serve as a photographer or event lead during peak days. This includes attending several photo day events weekly to provide direct support, troubleshooting technical issues, and managing photographer attendance. The role requires flexibility for travel within the assigned hub and comfort in school environments, with a focus on fostering positive interactions with students of all ages.

Ideal candidates will have proven leadership experience, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience combining education, customer service, and business acumen, excellent communication skills, and strong organizational capabilities. They must be tech-savvy, physically capable of handling equipment weighing up to 50 pounds, willing to work early mornings and evenings, and hold a valid driver’s license with access to a reliable insured vehicle suitable for transporting equipment. A professional appearance and reliable communication access via cell phone and internet are also necessary. Background and health screenings may be required according to state policies. The application deadline is June 15, 2026, with ongoing acceptance until the position is filled.

Joining Jostens means working with a supportive, fun team committed to shared goals, enjoying competitive compensation with options for daily pay and reimbursed travel expenses, access to comprehensive healthcare benefits including health, dental, and vision coverage, and participation in a 401K plan with immediate vesting. This role offers a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful work that blends leadership, creativity, and operational excellence in an established, iconic organization.