Graphic Design Intern

Buffalo Sabres; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 18,184 - 25,898; Part time

Job summary

Buffalo Sabres seeks a graphic design intern to help create graphics for marketing campaigns, digital and social media for the Buffalo Sabres, Bandits and KeyBank Center. You’ll work with a team of designers and report to the Creative Director to build design, communication and time management skills.

Please submit your portfolio. This in-person, 2026-2027 season internship is part-time (20–28 hours/week) and pays $16.00/hour; evenings and weekends may be required.

Qualifications

• Must be fulfilling an internship requirement at the collegiate level or post-graduation.
• Solid portfolio demonstrating modern design principles, versatility and creativity.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud—Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing and executing graphics for print ads, logos, web ads, infographics and social content.
• Follow brand guidelines and contribute to brainstorming sessions.
• Meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment and respond to feedback positively.

Skills

Portfolio review

Time management

Communication

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Internship requirement confirmed (college level)

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Photoshop

InDesign

Illustrator

After Effects

Cinema 4D

Job description

Summary

The graphic design intern will assist in producing derivative graphics for marketing campaigns, digital and social media posts, traditional advertisements and more for the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bandits and KeyBank Center. This intern will work closely with other team members in an effort to develop and hone design, communication, time management and interpersonal skills. Our team of graphic and motion designers will all assist in the mentoring of the intern. This position will report to the Creative Director.

Please submit your portfolio to be considered*

Duties & Responsibilities

• Under direction of the Creative Director, will perform job duties, provide support and service in all software applications in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Assist in the development and execution of a wide variety of deliverables including, but not limited to, print advertisements, logo development, web advertisements, infographics, presentations and social media content.
• Must be familiar with designing multi-layered graphics and able to keep up with contemporary design trends. Animation skills a plus.
• Must be willing to learn and be able to respond in a positive fashion to constructive criticism/critique, while working in a team-based setting.
• Must be able to follow brand guidelines as well as think outside the box when asked to participate in a brainstorm session.
• Must be able to adhere to deadlines in a fast-paced work environment, respond quickly and calmly to client requests.
• Perform other related duties as deemed necessary or requested.

Minimum Qualifications for the Position

• Must be fulfilling an internship requirement at the collegiate level or post graduation level, prior to obtaining a full time position in the design field.
• Solid portfolio of professional-grade work, which exhibits great competency in modern design principles, versatility and creativity.
• Above-average competency in Adobe Creative Cloud Software, most critically Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator
• Average competency in Microsoft Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams)
• Some knowledge of Motion Graphics (After Effects) and 3D Software (C4D) is a plus.

Critical Competencies

• Excellent work ethic, passion for design and a willingness to learn
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Time management: Ability to meet deadlines with composure and flexibility
• Collaborative and team oriented
• Must be available to work evenings, weekends and holidays if necessary.

Internship Program Benefits

• Monthly Professional Development Workshops focused on department overviews, workplace skills, and industry insights.
• Mentorship Program with the option to be paired with an organizational mentor for guidance and professional support throughout the internship.
• Job Shadowing Opportunities across departments to gain exposure to different roles and career paths within the organization.
• Career Preparation Resources: Resume reviews and mock interviews to strengthen job search and interviewing skills.

Compensation & Hours

This role pays $16.00 an hour. This is a part-time in-person role between 20-28 hours per week. Must have the flexibility to work extended hours, evenings, weekends and holidays. This is a temporary position for the 2026-2027 season.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This internship operates in both an office setting and in a live events setting. Live event coverage does consist of being around loud stadium noises and crowds.

Candidate must be able to perform physical tasks such as lifting and moving boxes up to 20 pounds.

Hockey Western New York, LLC is an equal opportunity employer