Operations Project Manager Internship

International Business Machines Corporation; United States; Remote; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

IBM Research is seeking a motivated Project Management Summer Intern to support internal projects and operations within IBM's Research organization. You will coordinate projects, develop plans, dashboards, and communicate with cross-functional teams across researchers, leaders, and support staff.

This internship offers hands-on experience in project management, business operations, and exposure to an innovative research environment where collaboration drives outcomes.

Qualifications

• Current pursuit of a bachelor's or master's degree in Business, Operations, Project Management, Engineering, Information Systems, Data Analytics, or a related field.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects or priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Comfortable working independently while also collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information, identify issues, and develop practical solutions.
• Curiosity about research, technology, and how organizations operate.

Responsibilities

• Support the planning, coordination, and execution of internal projects and operational initiatives.
• Develop & maintain project plans, timelines, action-item trackers, and status reports.
• Coordinate meetings, prepare agendas & materials, document decisions, & track follow-up actions.
• Work with cross-functional stakeholders to gather information, identify dependencies, and help keep projects on track.
• Assist with process improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to make research operations more efficient.
• Collect, organize, & analyze information to support operational & project-related decisions.
• Create presentations, dashboards, reports, & other materials for project teams & leadership.
• Help document business processes, workflows, & standard operating procedures.
• Support communications & change-management activities associated with internal initiatives.
• Take on additional projects and operational assignments based on organizational priorities.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Multi-project management

Attention to detail

Independent work

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Curiosity

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in a related field

High School Diploma/GED

Job description

Introduction

Seeking a motivated and organized Project Management Summer Intern to support the operations and execution of internal projects within IBM's Research organization. This role provides an opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in project management, business operations, and working with cross‑functional teams in a research environment. The intern will help coordinate projects and operational activities that enable researchers, leaders, and support teams to work effectively. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem‑solver who is comfortable managing multiple priorities, communicating with diverse stakeholders, and bringing structure to complex projects.

Your role and responsibilities

The ideal candidate is curious, organized, resourceful, and eager to learn. You don't need to be an expert in project management—the most important qualities are the ability to take initiative, ask thoughtful questions, communicate clearly, and turn ambiguous assignments into organized, actionable work.

• Support the planning, coordination, and execution of internal projects and operational initiatives.
• Develop & maintain project plans, timelines, action-item trackers, and status reports.
• Coordinate meetings, prepare agendas & materials, document decisions, & track follow‑up actions.
• Work with cross‑functional stakeholders to gather information, identify dependencies, and help keep projects on track.
• Assist with process improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to make research operations more efficient.
• Collect, organize, & analyze information to support operational & project‑related decisions.
• Create presentations, dashboards, reports, & other materials for project teams & leadership.
• Help document business processes, workflows, & standard operating procedures.
• Support communications & change‑management activities associated with internal initiatives.
• Take on additional projects and operational assignments based on organizational priorities.

Required education

High School Diploma/GED

Preferred education

High School Diploma/GED

Required technical and professional expertise

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in Business, Operations, Project Management, Engineering, Information Systems, Data Analytics, or a related field.
• Strong organizational and time‑management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects or priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Comfortable working independently while also collaborating with cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze information, identify issues, and develop practical solutions.
• Curiosity about research, technology, and how organizations operate.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Previous internship, project, leadership, or extracurricular experience involving project coordination or operations.
• Experience creating project plans, presentations, dashboards, or process documentation.
• Experience with project management or collaboration tools is a plus.
• Familiarity with Agile, Lean, or other project management methodologies.
• Experience working with data or business analysis. - Interest in research, science, engineering, or technology organizations.

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines 'What's Next in Computing' to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large‑scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on‑going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can‑do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

Supplemental 1 employees may be eligible for up to 8 paid holidays, minimum of 56 hours paid sick time and the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan. IBM offers paid family medical leave and disability benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law.
This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 15 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.
We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full‑time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job‑related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro‑rated for those who start working during the calendar year.