Sr. Materials Developer

Posted by KEEN Footwear on 11/14/2024

Job Basics

Industry Sector: Outdoor

Job Categories: Materials

Company Type: Accessories, Apparel/SoftGoods, HardGoods/Equipment, Retailer

State: OR

City: Portland

Country: United States

Required Experience:

Job Type: Full Time

Salary: $120,000-$130,000

Required to Relocate: Yes

Required to Travel: No

Employee May Telecommute: No

Job Seeker Must Live Within: 25 miles

Job Description & Requirements

Job Summary

The Senior Materials Developer is responsible for delivering new materials to the aesthetic and technical needs for the product creation team. The role will serve as the liaison between headquarters product teams and established international material sourcing teams. This role is the subject matter expert for materials development function and is the lead developer for the materials development team.

 

Essential Functions

• Oversees digital transformation initiatives by creating and maintaining digital materials libraries. Enforces SOPs, processes and procedures are followed throughout the full materials lifecycle.
• Establishes reporting for all categories that helps leadership make decisions around material complexities.
• Develops new materials ensuring an optimum balance of design aesthetics while meeting physical property, cost, and manufacturing requirements. Builds and maintains a user-friendly virtual and physical materials library. Creates and manages seasonal materials charts from concept through commercialization.
• Monitors material deliverables from first round of samples through salesman samples and commercialization.
• Partners with Product teams to establish seasonal material direction. Develops materials to required technical standards for product categories.
• Drives consensus and challenges the design and creative teams by proposing material solutions that improve product quality and margin optimization.
• Utilizes the Centric (PLM) operating system to manage the materials library. Provides support, manages, and communicates materials details to Centric data entry team.
• Partners with Product teams to ensure margins, market needs and end-use needs are met.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in materials engineering, textiles engineering, product development, or related field is required.
• Minimum six years of applicable experience.
• Experience working and communicating with international based offices, tanneries, and mills.
• Strong understanding of footwear manufacturing and footwear development processes preferred
• Basic understanding of, leather, textiles, synthetics, components and what the market wants with regards to materials.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite, PLM systems, and CAD programs
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills with an advanced ability to communicate new concepts and ideas.

 

Base Salary: $120,000.00 - $130,000.00 yearly

This range represents the low and high end of the anticipated base salary range for this position. The actual base salary will depend on numerous factors such as: experience, knowledge and skills, and location. Our base salary is just one component of our competitive total rewards strategy which includes numerous benefits and perks as well as specific health and welfare benefits.

 

Why Work at KEEN:  Driven by a passion for life outside, KEEN is a values-led, independently owned brand from Portland, Oregon, that’s on a mission to create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN launched a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport adventure sandal, and has donated more than $18 million to non-profit organizations and causes around the world to promote responsible outdoor recreation, including conservation efforts to protect open spaces. KEEN strives to show the world through its products and its actions that a business for good can actually be good for business. By giving back, reducing impact, and activating communities and individuals to protect the places where we work and play, KEEN puts its values in motion and takes action to leave the world a better place.  

At KEEN, we believe in a more just and equitable future for all people. As a global brand, we acknowledge that our business, buildings, and daily lives exist within the traditional territories of indigenous peoples. We strive for a future that recognizes the knowledge, rights, and resilience of these peoples.

KEEN Footwear is an equal opportunity employer.  We value an inclusive and diverse community. Qualified candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.

About KEEN Footwear

Driven by a passion for life outside, KEEN is a values-led, independently owned brand from Portland, Oregon, that’s on a mission to create original and versatile products, improve lives, and inspire outside adventure. Founded in 2003, KEEN launched a revolution in the footwear industry with the introduction of the Newport adventure sandal, and has donated more than $18 million to non-profit organizations and causes around the world to promote responsible outdoor recreation, including conservation efforts to protect open spaces. KEEN strives to show the world through its products and its actions that a business for good can actually be good for business. By giving back, reducing impact, and activating communities and individuals to protect the places where we work and play, KEEN puts its values in motion and takes action to leave the world a better place.