Associate Marketing Brand Manager - Intern Summer 2026

Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Full time

Job summary

A leading chocolate brand in Kansas City is offering a summer internship for an Associate Marketing Manager. This role involves supporting marketing initiatives, conducting research, and collaborating with teams to enhance brand effectiveness. Candidates should be pursuing a Bachelor's degree in business or marketing, possess excellent communication skills, and show eagerness to learn. This internship will provide hands-on experience within a supportive environment and the chance to make a real impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in progress with graduation between December 2026 and June 2028.
• Must be curious, proactive, and eager to learn.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to take initiative.

Responsibilities

• Support department projects that contribute directly to business goals.
• Conduct research and prepare summaries or recommendations.
• Assist with day-to-day tasks within the team.

Skills

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Communication skills

Teamwork

Problem solving

Education

Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in business or marketing

Job description

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

Join us for an eleven‑week summer internship where you’ll gain hands‑on experience, contribute to meaningful projects, and learn from teams across one of America’s most iconic chocolate brands. At Russell Stover, you’ll build real‑world skills, grow your network, and make an impact in a supportive, collaborative environment.

A day in the life…

As an Associate Marketing Manager, you will play a key role within the Marketing team by supporting a wide range of brand‑building initiatives. Projects will include: performing business analyses to strengthen brand’s integrated marketing programs and initiating as well as evaluating market research to enhance overall marketing effectiveness. You will also coordinate package and product improvements, contribute to the development, implementation, and assessment of strategic business‑building projects, and assist in creating and executing marketing plans that drive brand volume and profitability. Additionally, you will support the development of compelling advertising copy, media plans, and fully integrated marketing campaigns.

What you will be doing…

• Support department projects that contribute directly to business goals
• Conduct research, analyze data, and prepare summaries or recommendations
• Assist with day‑to‑day tasks and operations needs within your team
• Collaborate with cross‑functional partners on assigned initiatives
• Participate in weekly check‑ins with your manager
• Attend professional development workshops and networking events
• Deliver a final presentation showcasing your project outcomes and learnings

If visiting our manufacturing plants, you will be expected to:

• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives
• Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non‑conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities
• Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Do you have what it takes?

(Basic Qualifications)

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or related field with a graduation between December 2026 and June 2028.
• Proficient using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Curious, proactive, and eager to learn
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to take initiative
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation

Do you stand above the rest?

(Preferred Qualifications)

• Interest in the consumer packaged goods or manufacturing industry
• Project management and leadership skills
• Confident problem solver/ solution‑driven individual
• Able to thrive in a fast‑paced collaborative environment
• Displays a commitment to continuous self‑improvement to develop critical marketing management skills

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal‑opportunity workplace.

We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I‑9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.