Materials Developer, Footwear

General Summary

The Materials Developer, Footwear 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 KEEN Headquarters product teams and our established international material sourcing teams.

Essential Responsibilities

• Drives consensus and challenges the design and creative teams by proposing material solutions that improve product quality and margin optimization.

• 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.

• Leads and manages multiple product development projects within regards to materials throughout the development process in line with the agreed corporate calendar.

• Utilizes the Centric (PLM) operating system to manage the materials library. Provides support, manages and communicates materials details to Centric data entry team.

• 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.

• Partners with Product teams to ensure margins, market needs and end-use needs are met.

Background, Experiences and Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent in related field.

• A minimum of 4 years of applicable experience.

• Experience working and communicating with international based offices, tanneries and mills.

• Fundamental understanding of, leather, textiles, synthetics, components and what the market wants with regards to materials.

• Strong understanding of footwear manufacturing and footwear development processes preferred.

• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills with an advanced ability to communicate new concepts and ideas.

• In-depth knowledge of material applications, material costing, lead-times and minimum order quantity (MOQ) implications

• Exceptional follow-through skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to travel nationally and internationally on development trips and/or material shows.

Travel Required

Up to 20% of work time will involve travel

Base Salary: $85,265 - $93,266 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.