Photo Team Manager - Tacoma, WA

Jostens is a prestigious leader in the student commemoration industry, proudly serving the local communities for over 125 years. This well-established company collaborates with thousands of K-12 schools, colleges, and universities annually, fostering partnerships with beloved sports teams and esteemed organizations nationwide. Known for its iconic products such as yearbooks, letter jackets, class jewelry, and championship rings, Jostens keeps meaningful traditions alive and inspires millions to celebrate their unique stories, milestone moments, and significant accomplishments each year. With 13 first-class facilities worldwide, spanning North America to the Caribbean, Jostens combines innovation with heritage to provide exceptional quality and service.

The role open is a Seasonal Photo Team Manager position based in Tacoma, WA, or surrounding areas, combining remote and onsite work at various school locations. This hybrid position offers a competitive pay rate between $30.00 and $32.00 per hour and is full-time with eligibility for healthcare benefits. The work schedule spans from June through November, with a possibility to extend into December depending on event schedules, averaging over 30 hours per week with opportunities for overtime and corresponding pay during peak weeks.

As a Seasonal Photo Team Manager, you will take charge of school photography operations, overseeing a team of photographers that capture unforgettable moments for students from kindergarten through 12th grade and their families. This position requires a natural leader who thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments and possesses a passion for photography. You will be responsible for inspiring and managing your team, providing training support, and handling the logistics necessary for seamless photo days. This combination of leadership, training, and operational management is crucial to ensure that each school photo event runs efficiently and effectively.

Training includes a three-day paid "Train the Trainer" session at JostensPIX Headquarters in Minnesota, virtual training sessions, and pre-season local photographer training sessions you identify. Throughout the season, you will provide on-the-job guidance for new hires to maintain high-quality standards.

Operational responsibilities include managing photo day logistics, ensuring appropriate photographer scheduling for events, organizing and overseeing the storage and transportation of photography equipment, coordinating equipment pickups with your team and event leads, and preparing all gear for shipment at the season's end.

Employee management is another core aspect of this role. You will collaborate with Human Resources to conduct interviews and hire photographers, directly oversee photographers within your hub, manage school assignments and schedules, maintain clear communication with photographers and school contacts about event details, and set expectations to ensure adherence to JostensPIX standards and attendance policies. Leading virtual team meetings weekly, approving photographer expenses, managing overtime, and coordinating travel arrangements including hotel bookings are also integral duties.

Additionally, you will occasionally provide direct photography support during peak times, serving as a photographer or event lead to help at photo days. Your involvement in troubleshooting technical issues and ensuring equipment setups run smoothly will help maintain high operational standards.

Candidates must bring leadership experience with proven success in managing teams under pressure, along with a four-year degree or equivalent experience in education, customer service, or business. Exceptional communication skills and organizational abilities are essential to juggling multiple tasks efficiently. Tech-savviness, physical stamina to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, flexibility with work hours including early mornings and evenings, and a valid driver’s license with access to a reliable vehicle that can transport equipment are required. Comfort working within school environments and maintaining a professional appearance are also important.

This role reflects Jostens’ values of care for employee success, rewarding hard work, health and wellbeing, and investing in the future with benefits like healthcare coverage and a 401K match. The company provides a supportive and fun environment, competitive compensation, daily pay options, and travel reimbursement for time and mileage. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company with a rich heritage dedicated to celebrating milestone moments with a dynamic, growing team.