Operational Excellence Intern – Fort Dodge, Iowa (Summer 2027)

Elanco in; Fort Dodge (IA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing support

Mentorship

Networking events

Job summary

Elanco Animal Health is seeking a Summer 2027 Operational Excellence Intern at the Fort Dodge, IA manufacturing plant. You will join the global OpEx team delivering projects that improve manufacturing and quality operations by applying Lean Six Sigma methods.

You will support cross‑functional teams, analyze data, and help identify cost savings and efficiency gains. This internship runs May–August 2027 with mentoring, housing assistance, and potential full‑time opportunities.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in engineering, science, or data analysis field.
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Excel/PowerPoint) desirable.
• Interest in reviewing and improving processes and data.

Responsibilities

• Assist Lean Six Sigma initiatives to drive OpEx improvements.
• Work on projects to optimize workflows and reduce waste.
• Use data analysis to establish process improvements.
• Identify ideas for cost savings and time management.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in a pharmaceutical setting.

Skills

Microsoft Suite

Willingness to learn

Process improvement

Education

Enrollment in engineering/science/data analysis

Job description

Operational Excellence Intern – Fort Dodge, Iowa (Summer 2027) (Maintenance)

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you'll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals' lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role: Operational Excellence Intern – Fort Dodge, Iowa (Summer 2027)

As a Summer 2027 Operational Excellence Intern with Elanco Animal Health, you will be part of the global operational excellence team at our Fort Dodge, Iowa manufacturing plant , delivering projects that make the manufacturing and quality organization run efficiently. In this role, you will be assisting the global team with implementing Lean Six Sigma methodologies and other best practices to drive operational excellence ( OpEx ) initiatives.

Your Responsibilities:

• Assist in Lean Six Sigma methodologies and other best practices to drive operational excellence ( OpEx ) initiatives
• Work on projects focused on optimizing workflows, eliminating waste, and enhancing overall productivity.
• Utilize data analysis to establish process improvement methods
• Investigate ideas for cost-savings and time management.
• Work within cross-functional teams to implement process improvements within a pharmaceutical space.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Education : Currently enrolled in engineering, science, or data analysis field.
• Top S kills : Experience in Microsoft Suites , a willingness to learn , and interest in reviewing and improving processes, data, and statistics.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

• Prior internship or professional experience in process improvement and optimization
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Must be able to work exceptionally well independently and with minimal supervision

Additional Information:

• Travel: 10% - to corporate facility in Indianapolis, IN for opening/closing
• Location: Fort Dodge Manufacturing Plant, Fort Dodge, IA

Elanco's Internship Program

Our internship program is designed to give students meaningful, hands‑on experience as they kickstart their careers. Internships are project‑based and focused on business‑critical needs, giving every intern the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on Elanco's success over the summer. At the heart of the experience is our belief that making life better for animals makes life better.

Internship Dates: May 1 7 th – August 6 th , 2027

Competitive S alary: $20-$40/hour (dependent upon major and year in school)

Professional Development: Networking events , assigned mentors, and learning resources are provided.

Housing: Financial support and help securing housing is available

Future opportunities: High‑performing interns may be considered for full‑time roles or additional internships, based on business needs.

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.