Junior Material Developer Intern

KEEN Footwear•Portland, OR

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Junior Material Developer Intern will gain hands-on experience in footwear materials development at KEEN’s Global Headquarters in Portland, Oregon. The intern will create new materializations for KEEN icons by developing material mood boards, sourcing and developing selected materials and upper components, collaborating with suppliers to provide direction and monitor progress, and testing materials against QPS standards for quality and performance. The intern will research trends, maintain and organize the material library, translate design ideas into technical specifications, and document seasonal material specifications. The position is an onsite, 10-week internship running Monday, June 14 through Friday, August 20. Interns must work 40 hours per week during standard Monday–Friday business hours and be available in the office five days per week. Occasional travel in and around the Portland area may be needed to support activations.

Requirements

Currently pursuing or recently completed a bachelor’s degree in Textile Design, Textile Engineering, Fashion Design, or a related field.
Be enrolled in an accredited college or university at the junior, senior, or graduate level, or have recently graduated from an accredited college or university.
Be eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
Commit to the 10-week program from mid-June through mid-August and work 40 hours per week during the standard Monday–Friday work week.
Be available to work onsite at the Portland headquarters five days per week.
Plan no more than four total vacation days during the internship.
Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, including Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
Be able to learn and adapt quickly to new software and tools.
Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail when preparing presentations, reports, and materials.
Demonstrate strong organization skills and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
Be able to work independently and collaborate with a team.
Be able to perform the essential functions of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation, including using a computer for extended periods.
Show creativity, curiosity, initiative, problem-solving ability, and interest in sustainability, footwear, or the outdoors.

Responsibilities

Research trends and create material mood boards.
Maintain and organize the material library.
Translate design ideas into technical specifications.
Document seasonal material specifications.
Source and develop selected materials and upper components.
Collaborate with suppliers by providing direction and monitoring progress.
Test materials against QPS standards to ensure quality and performance.
Participate in a group project with other interns.
Travel occasionally in and around the larger Portland area to support activations.