Projects & Operations Intern

Location: Ankara, Dogantepe (on-site, with regular time at our warehouse office)

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

About OTTAN

OTTAN transforms food waste and agricultural by-products, such as eggshell, hazelnut, pistachio and walnut shells, into sustainable, aesthetic and durable solid surface panels. These are used in interiors for wall cladding, furniture, countertops and tabletops.

About the Role

OTTAN is looking for a Projects & Operations Intern to help connect our clients, sales team and production operations. Based in Ankara and working alongside our UK-headquartered team, you’ll support our clients’ experience with our products, from first inquiry through to project completion, while learning how a project moves from a client’s drawings to a finished delivery.

Working between sales and production, you’ll help keep client communication clear and our records accurate, support the technical side of the sales process, and spend time at our production site and warehouse to coordinate samples and stay close to production runs. It’s a varied, hands-on role that suits someone who is comfortable reading project drawings, communicates clearly, and is keen to build their technical knowledge of our materials along the way.

What You’ll Work On

Client Communication & CRM

• Respond to client emails promptly and professionally (within two working days at most), with accurate product information.
• Follow up on ongoing conversations so clients stay informed and opportunities don’t stall.
• Keep the CRM accurate and up to date, recording where each client conversation stands, what was agreed, and the next step.
• Check in with clients after delivery to confirm they’re happy with the materials and to collect feedback.

Technical Sales Support

• Review client project drawings and specifications to understand what each project requires.
• Translate project requirements into our standard sheet sizes: calculate quantities, plan how pieces fit onto sheets, and flag any sizes, finishes or details that need special attention.
• Prepare clear material take-offs and order summaries for the sales team and operations.
• Communicate technical requirements to operations so that what is produced matches what was specified.
• Build in-depth knowledge of OTTAN’s materials, including properties, finishes, sizes and applications, so you can answer client questions with confidence.
• Support the preparation of product information documents and technical materials.

Samples & Logistics

• Arrange and coordinate client samples, from selection and preparation through packing and dispatch.
• Track sample requests and deliveries, and record them in the CRM so sample activity is linked to each opportunity.
• Help with shipments and other on-site logistics as needed.

On-Site Point of Contact During Operations

• Act as the team’s point of contact at the facility during production runs, especially for special or client-specific projects.
• Check that manufactured materials meet the agreed specifications and quality expectations, and report issues early.
• Share photos, progress updates and quality notes with the sales team and clients so everyone stays aligned.
• Follow special projects from start to finish and help track each stage of the process.

Growing With OTTAN

OTTAN is a growing startup, and everyone here contributes beyond their core role. You’ll also:

• Take on research tasks and report back with findings that help the team make decisions.
• Help improve how we work across Notion, Google Drive, Slack and the CRM, as well as in physical production operations.
• Handle on-site, ad hoc tasks as they come up.

What We’re Looking For

• A final-year student or recent graduate in Interior Architecture, Architecture, Industrial Design or a closely related field.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings for interior projects. Familiarity with AutoCAD or similar software is a strong plus.
• Good numerical skills and attention to detail, especially for quantities, dimensions and sheet layouts.
• Strong written and spoken English, since client communication and meetings are often in English. Fluent Turkish is needed to work with the production team.
• Clear, professional communication, with the ability to adapt how you communicate for clients, colleagues and production staff.
• Organised and able to switch between very different tasks while keeping quality consistent across all of them.
• Reliable: you respond on time, follow through on what’s assigned, and are open about how work is progressing.
• Proactive, and willing to take ownership and see things through.
• A genuine interest in materials, manufacturing or sustainability.
• Based in Ankara with easy access to the warehouse at Dogantepe. A driving licence and a car for the commute are a plus.

Working Conditions

• On-site role in Ankara, with regular time at the production facility, office and warehouse.
• Schedule set to overlap with both Turkish and UK working hours to support our international operations.
• You’ll work as part of a multinational team reporting into our UK headquarters.

Why OTTAN?

• Join a purpose-driven company that turns waste into low-carbon materials.
• Get hands-on experience across technical sales, client relations and production, a combination few internships offer.
• Learn how a product moves from client drawing to production and the warehouse, through to finished installation.
• Work closely with a small, committed team where your contribution is visible and valued.
• Gain broad exposure to how a growing company works, alongside a London-headquartered team.