2027 Summer Live Operations Intern

Butterball; Goldsboro (NC); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Butterball invites students to join a summer Live Operations Internship in Goldsboro, NC. Over 10–12 weeks, you will learn various aspects of Butterball Live Operations while supporting the team in farms, labs, and processing environments.

You will gain hands‑on experience across breeders, feed mills, production plants, and live operations. You should be pursuing a Bachelor’s in Animal Science or Poultry Science with a December 2027–June 2030 graduation window, possess a valid driver’s license,

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s in Animal Science, Poultry Science, or related field.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to work.
• Willingness to work both indoors and outdoors in farm environments.
• Commitment to a Monday–Friday work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Visit farms in NC divisions, with and without birds.
• Work with birds across ages (1–5 weeks, 5–20 weeks).
• Collaborate with flocks, supervisors, and farmers.
• Perform lab work for sample processing.
• Develop and conduct live operations research.
• Work with live animals in farm settings.

Skills

Teamwork

Problem solving

Valid driver's license

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science or Poultry Science (in progress)

Job description

Join Butterball, America’s favorite turkey brand, for an exciting summer internship!

Butterball, LLC, is one of America’s most iconic brands and the most loved and trusted brand of turkey in the United States. Known for helping consumers celebrate Thanksgiving, Butterball also brings delicious turkey products to tables around the world every day. Located in the thriving Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area, our business model gives us the opportunity to provide a diverse array of career opportunities and paths which include live operations, processing facilities, corporate functions and support offices. At Butterball, we aim to provide great-tasting foods that bring people together and inspire meaningful moments with the people who matter most.

Over the course of 10-12 weeks, as a Live Operations Intern, you'll work in our Goldsboro Live Ops facility located in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The Live Ops team works alongside all the Farmers & Growers, Feed Mills, Processing Plants located in the North Carolina region. The team also oversees the health and well-being of the turkeys and raised with the utmost care. The Live Operations Intern will work very closely with the team to learn various aspects of Butterball Live Operations.

The program’s primary objective is to grow future leaders by providing professional development and a series of assignments that align with professional interest within the processing and manufacturing industry.

What you’ll do:

• Farm visits in both North BBN and South BBS divisions with and without birds (empty farms waiting for birds).
• Working with birds of different ages and sizes: brooders of 1-5 weeks old and/or grow out of 5-20 weeks.
• Working closely with flocks, supervisors and farmers.
• Lab work with processing of samples.
• Develop and conduct live operations research.
• Work with live animals in a farm environment.

What you’ll get:

• Introduction to the whole process: breeders, feed mill, processing plant and live ops in general (farms).
• Hands‑on experience and professional development.
• Opportunities to network and learn from industry experts.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.

We're looking for awesome students like you!

Do you have a knack for problem‑solving and a passion for food? We're looking for creative minds who can help us make our food production process even better. You'll need to be a team player, ready to roll up your sleeves and get things done. Think you have what it takes to make a delicious difference?

• Pursuing a Bachelors in Animal Science, Poultry Science, or related field with an expected graduation date of December 2027 through June 2030.
• You are required to have a valid drivers’ license and reliable transportation to and from work.
• Ability and interest in both indoor facilities and outdoors with either hot or cold temperatures.
• Work Monday through Friday.
• Working knowledge of animal care and well‑being practices.
• Ability to follow animal care well‑being and bio‑security policies and procedures.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, reach, bend, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate equipment, computer, telephone, keyboard, and occasionally climb and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

• Work will be performed in a variety of conditions including a climate‑controlled office environment(s), outdoor farm locations, and in a manufacturing plant environment with varying conditions, such as cold areas, wet areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions.
• This position requires the individual to wear and work in personal protective equipment while in the manufacturing environment.
• The noise level of the office environment is usually moderate; the noise level in the manufacturing environment may exceed 85 DBA and require hearing protection.
• Travel is required.

Disclaimer

We embrace equal opportunity employment. Butterball is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

This position is deemed Safety Sensitive for purposes of Butterball’s Drug/Alcohol Screening & Testing Policy. Details will be provided to individuals who receive a conditional job offer, or upon request.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Join Butterball, America’s favorite turkey brand, for an exciting summer internship!

Butterball, LLC, is one of America’s most iconic brands and the most loved and trusted brand of turkey in the United States. Known for helping consumers celebrate Thanksgiving, Butterball also brings delicious turkey products to tables around the world every day. Located in the thriving Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area, our business model gives us the opportunity to provide a diverse array of career opportunities and paths which include live operations, processing facilities, corporate functions and support offices. At Butterball, we aim to provide great-tasting foods that bring people together and inspire meaningful moments with the people who matter most.

Over the course of 10-12 weeks, as a Live Operations Intern, you'll work in our Goldsboro Live Ops facility located in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The Live Ops team works alongside all the Farmers & Growers, Feed Mills, Processing Plants located in the North Carolina region. The team also oversees the health and well‑being of the turkeys and raised with the utmost care. The Live Operations Intern will work very closely with the team to learn various aspects of Butterball Live Operations.

The program’s primary objective is to grow future leaders by providing professional development and a series of assignments that align with professional interest within the processing and manufacturing industry.

What you’ll do:

• Farm visits in both North BBN and South BBS divisions with and without birds (empty farms waiting for birds).
• Working with birds of different ages and sizes: brooders of 1-5 weeks old and/or grow out of 5-20 weeks.
• Working closely with flocks, supervisors and farmers.
• Lab work with processing of samples.
• Develop and conduct live operations research.
• Work with live animals in a farm environment.

What you’ll get:

• Introduction to the whole process: breeders, feed mill, processing plant and live ops in general (farms).
• Hands‑on experience and professional development.
• Opportunities to network and learn from industry experts.
• Competitive compensation and benefits.

We're looking for awesome students like you!

Do you have a knack for problem‑solving and a passion for food? We're looking for creative minds who can help us make our food production process even better. You'll need to be a team player, ready to roll up your sleeves and get things done. Think you have what it takes to make a delicious difference?

• Pursuing a Bachelors in Animal Science, Poultry Science, or related field with an expected graduation date of December 2027 through June 2030.
• You are required to have a valid drivers’ license and reliable transportation to and from work.
• Ability and interest in both indoor facilities and outdoors with either hot or cold temperatures.
• Work Monday through Friday.
• Working knowledge of animal care and well‑being practices.
• Ability to follow animal care well‑being and bio‑security policies and procedures.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, reach, bend, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate equipment, computer, telephone, keyboard, and occasionally climb and lift up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

• Work will be performed in a variety of conditions including a climate‑controlled office environment(s), outdoor farm locations, and in a manufacturing plant environment with varying conditions, such as cold areas, wet areas, warm areas, chemicals, and other site conditions.
• This position requires the individual to wear and work in personal protective equipment while in the manufacturing environment.
• The noise level of the office environment is usually moderate; the noise level in the manufacturing environment may exceed 85 DBA and require hearing protection.
• Travel is required.

Disclaimer

We embrace equal opportunity employment. Butterball is committed to the fair and impartial treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without regard to gender, age, race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, military/veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law.

This position is deemed Safety Sensitive for purposes of Butterball’s Drug/Alcohol Screening & Testing Policy. Details will be provided to individuals who receive a conditional job offer, or upon request.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of what is required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not imply or establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.