RD&A Intern (Food Science)

Job Description

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About the Job: Nourish Your Future with Kerry!

Are you an ambitious student with a passion for food and a drive to make a real impact on global nutrition? At Kerry, we are obsessed with food and committed to providing 2 billion people access to more sustainable nutrition. This isn’t just a ‘typical’ internship program; it’s an opportunity to contribute to solving some of the most pressing food challenges of our time.

If you’re looking for significant responsibility, exposure to meaningful, global projects, and possess an open and flexible approach, then a career journey with Kerry could be perfect for you. Join us in our mission to help customers create better food, in a better way, for a better future.

The Opportunity: 11-Week Summer Internship Program

Immerse yourself in the ever-growing food industry with our intensive 11-week summer internship program. You will gain invaluable experience working in real, impactful roles within a global company that boasts numerous manufacturing facilities across North America. The program is scheduled from June 1, 2026, to August 14, 2026, offering a comprehensive learning and development experience.

Where You’ll Work: The Kerry Center in Beloit, Wisconsin, US

Your journey will take place at the state-of-the-art Kerry Center in Beloit, Wisconsin, US – a pivotal hub for our global operations. This location is a leader in taste and nutrition for the global food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, housing approximately 700 dedicated employees. Here, you’ll find a diverse range of critical functions including Research & Development (RD&A), finance, procurement, supply chain, and customer care. The Beloit Center is conveniently commutable from major metropolitan areas such as Milwaukee, Madison, Rockford, and Chicago. If you’re eager to build a dynamic career in RD&A and thrive within a collaborative and fun team environment, this is the place for you!

Key Responsibilities: Innovate and Impact in RD&A

As an RD&A Intern, you will play a crucial role in our innovation pipeline, with hands-on involvement in product development and improvement:

• Drive Innovation: Actively participate in proactive innovation projects within the dynamic RD&A team.
• Research Support: Provide essential support to our scientists by executing research activities and ensuring the timely completion of project deliverables.
• Product Enhancement: Apply core scientific principles to research and enhance existing products across a diverse range of markets, including Beverage, Meals, Snack, Bakery, Meat, Dairy, and emerging Plant-Based Food sectors.
• Hands-On Development: Conduct practical, hands-on lab work to meticulously develop, rigorously test, and comprehensively evaluate new product concepts.
• Technical Solutions: Translate evolving customer needs and market insights into tangible technical solutions and impactful product improvements.
• Ideation & Brainstorming: Engage in stimulating brainstorming and ideation sessions, contributing fresh perspectives to generate innovative product concepts.
• Product Conceptualization: Contribute significantly to the conceptualization, development, detailed specification, and efficient processing of cutting-edge new products.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with the RD&A Manager and various cross-functional teams to achieve strategic project objectives.

Qualifications: What We’re Looking For

• Academic Pursuit: Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university in Food Science or a related technical science, with an anticipated graduation date between December 2026 and May 2027.
• Scientific Acumen: Possess a solid understanding of fundamental food chemistry, sensory evaluation, microbiology, food packaging, systems, and food engineering principles.
• Technical Knowledge: Demonstrate applicable knowledge of food processing technology and statistical process control.
• Work Authorization: Must have legal authorization to work in the U.S. Please note: Sponsorships will not be provided for early career roles, now or in the future.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Geographical Flexibility: All candidates must be geographically flexible and willing to relocate for this valuable internship opportunity.
• Project Management: Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Problem-Solving: Strong, demonstrated problem-solving abilities.
• Technical Proficiency: Excellent technical skills relevant to food science and product development.

Competencies: Your Strengths for Success

• Practical Mindset: A hands-on approach with a strong practical mindset.
• Adaptability: Flexible and resilient, with an openness to constructive feedback and continuous improvement.
• Teamwork: Exceptional ability to work effectively within diverse cross-functional teams.
• Accountability & Communication: Highly responsible for assigned work, coupled with excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).

Compensation & Application Details

The starting wage for this internship is $20.00 an hour. Actual offers may vary based on several factors, including education, relevant work experience, certifications, and location. We are accepting applications on a continuous basis until the 2026 cohort is fully established, with an estimated application expiration date of April 1, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer & Important Information

Kerry is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ individuals who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. For additional information on workplace rights, please refer to Know Your Rights Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).

Important Note: Sponsorships will not be provided for early career roles, now or in the future.

We leverage artificial intelligence tools to support the initial review and assessment of applications, as well as to assist with scheduling interviews. However, it is crucial to understand that we do not use AI to make any final decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and ultimate hiring decisions are made thoughtfully and personally by our dedicated recruitment and leadership teams.

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