Operations Internship (Summer 2027)

Cardinal Health; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Paid time off plan

Access to wages before pay day with my

myFlexPay

Job summary

Cardinal Health’s Summer Internship Program is a 10–12 week, hands‑on experience for undergraduates entering their senior year, focused on real business impact in the healthcare industry.

Location: Waukegan, Illinois; Start Date: May 17 or 24, 2027; 40 hours/week; warehouse operations exposure and mentoring opportunities with leadership exposure across the company.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business/ops fields, expected graduation 2027–2028.
• Knowledge of supply chain principles; Lean Six Sigma preferred.
• Willing to work in a warehouse environment; strong leadership and communication.
• Unlimited work authorization in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Partner with site leaders to identify, analyze, and implement new or improved processes.
• Document and present solutions to site leadership to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Develop, optimize, measure, and maintain performance and productivity metrics.
• Assist and collaborate with leaders in receiving, picking, packing, shipping, and related teams.
• Support daily warehouse operations and help increase productivity.
• Process orders with accurate picking, QC, sorting, packaging, and shipping prep.
• Cross‑train in multiple warehouse areas and participate in projects.
• Analyze KPI data and help design workflows for operational effectiveness.
• Develop reporting capabilities and data visualization to analyze metrics.
• Participate in Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Logistics, Management, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or related field

Job description

Summer Internship Program Overview

Cardinal Health’s Summer Internship Program is a structured 10-12 week experience designed for undergraduate students who will be entering their senior year and are eager to make an impact. As an intern, you’ll work on meaningful, business-critical projects that contribute to real outcomes while gaining exposure to the healthcare industry.

What you’ll gain

• Hands‑on experience through impactful projects
• Exposure to Cardinal Health’s business and culture
• Development of leadership and professional skills
• Networking opportunities with peers and leaders
• A chance to interview for full‑time roles upon successful completion

Who we’re looking for

Undergraduate students graduating between December 2027 and June 2028

Program Highlights

Real‑World Experience Interns collaborate with Cardinal Health professionals, business partners, customers, and vendors on impactful projects and daily responsibilities. Each intern also serves on a planning committee to enhance leadership skills and concludes the summer by presenting their work to business leaders.

Professional Development Interns participate in a formal mentoring program, connect with employees across the organization, and attend workshops to strengthen business acumen. The program also provides opportunities to explore full‑time career paths.

Networking Opportunities Through the Executive Speaker Series and various networking events, interns engage with senior leaders and build relationships with professionals across the company.

Community & Camaraderie Interns participate in social, team‑building, and community service events designed to build a strong peer network and enrich the overall internship experience.

Job Description Summary

Location: Waukegan, Illinois

Start Date: May 17 or 24, 2027

Hours: Approximately 40 hours a week for a minimum of 10 weeks

As an Operations Intern, you could potentially support the organization in several of the following ways:

• Partner with site leaders to identify, analyze, and implement new or improved processes
• Document and present solutions to site leadership to make our processes more efficient, consistent and cost effective
• Develop, optimize, measure, and maintain performance and productivity
• Assist and collaborate with leaders in functional teams such as receiving, picking, packing, shipping, staging, transporting, storage, delivery, etc.
• Assist in the management of daily warehouse operations, optimizing workflow and increasing productivity
• Exposure to processing orders including accurately picking, performing quality control checks, sorting, consolidating freight, building, and wrapping pallets, packing, loading, and preparing orders for shipment
• Cross‑training in multiple areas of the warehouse and participating in projects as needed
• Analyze existing key performance indicators (KPI)
• Design and document workflows to ensure operational effectiveness
• Identify and develop reporting capabilities and data visualization tools to analyze metrics and ensure operational effectiveness
• Participate in a Kaizen event and other continuous improvement initiatives
• Work directly on the warehouse floor each day to observe, support, and improve operational processes while gaining firsthand experience in warehouse and supply chain operations.

Accountabilities in this role

• Demonstrate strong analytical skills and attention to detail in all tasks
• Communicate effectively across all levels of the organization
• Maintain a proactive, results‑oriented approach to work
• Prioritize tasks efficiently, recognize urgency, and consistently meet deadlines
• Work independently with moderate guidance, showing initiative and ownership
• Adapt quickly to changing priorities and evolving business needs

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Logistics, Management, Supply Chain, OperationsManagement, or related field, preferred
• Expected graduation between December 2027 and June 2028, preferred
• Knowledge of supply chain principles, Lean Six Sigma or other improvement techniques, preferred
• Comfortable working in a warehouse environment
• Demonstrated leadership, communication and analytical skills
• Participation in extracurricular activities, community organizations and/or professional associations
• Must have unlimited work authorization in the UnitedStates without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future

Please note, applicants may redact any age‑related information.

Pay and Benefits

Pay rate: $23.00 per hour

Bonus eligible: No

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off plan
• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay

Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day.

Cardinal Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for healthcare facilities. We are a crucial link between the clinical and operational sides of healthcare, delivering end‑to‑end solutions and data‑driving insights that advance healthcare and improve lives every day. With deep partnerships, diverse perspectives and innovative digital solutions, we build connections across the continuum of care. With more than 50 years of experience, we seize the opportunity to address healthcare's most complicated challenges — now, and in the future.

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