Product Development & Innovation Intern - Summer 2026

The Suter Company Inc.; Illinois; On-site; USD 26,174; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Access To Onsite Fitness Center

Job summary

A food industry company is seeking a part-time PD&I Intern for Summer 2026 in Sycamore, IL, to support product development initiatives. Responsibilities include securing ingredients for kitchen batches, conducting product evaluations, and assisting with sensory data management. Candidates should be pursuing a degree in Food Science or a related field and should be a rising Junior or Senior. This position offers hourly compensation of $19 and includes benefits such as paid time off and access to an onsite fitness center.

Qualifications

• Currently working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Arts, or related field.
• Full-time college/university Junior or Senior in Fall 2026.

Responsibilities

• Support the Mission of the Company by accomplishing team goals.
• Secure ingredients and packaging for Test Kitchen batches.
• Conduct product evaluations and schedule internal tasting panels.
• Maintain organization of work area and supplies.
• Assist in preparation for production trials.
• Complete an assigned Summer project.

Skills

Reasoning

Mathematical skills

Organizational Skills

Communication

Technical

Professional

Physical Effort

Vision

Activity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field

Job description

Location:

Sycamore, IL (This internship role is onsite in Sycamore, IL, ~60 miles west of Chicago.)

Description

Core Hours

This role will be a 10-week, part-time position for Summer 2026. Intern will report three days a week, 7 am – 4 pm, for a maximum of 24 hours per week. This internship will begin the week of 6/1/26 and will be completed the week of 8/3/26.

Starting Pay:

The Internship will be an hourly paid position of $19/hour.

UNIVERSAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Mission of the Company by identifying and accomplishing team and individual performance goals that directly support the goals of the Company.
• Treat all co-workers, customers, and suppliers with respect and in accordance with the Company’s Code of Ethics.
• Follow all company GMPs and SOPs

GENERAL SUMMARY

The PD&I Intern at The Suter Company is a 10-week, part-time summer internship for Summer 2026. This role is responsible for supporting and assisting with projects led by the PD&I Team. This role will report to the PD&I Manager.

CORE HOURS

This role will be a 10-week, part-time position for Summer 2026. Intern will report three days a week, 7 am – 4 pm, for a maximum of 24 hours per week. This internship will begin the week of 6/1/26 and will be completed the week of 8/3/26.

COMPENSATION

The Internship will be an hourly paid position of $19/hour.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Secure the necessary ingredients and packaging from production for Test Kitchen batches.
• Make Test Kitchen batches with proper paperwork and logging into Test Batch journal and Ship Journal.
• Involvement in product evaluation and scheduling tasting panels for internal evaluation and record feedback (includes consuming meat and other potential food allergens).
• Fulfill sample requests:
• Label all samples clearly and accurately – recipe code, description, use by date
• Make test kitchen batches meeting deadlines
• Meet customer ship dates with secure refrigerated (avoid breakage, correct temperatures) and ambient packages
• Keep work area organized with only current (not expired) samples.
• Keep needed supplies in test kitchen, others organized on test kitchen pallet in cooler, dry storage or freezer, notify team of replenishment needs.
• Sample database – log all incoming samples with necessary information (lot code, supplier name, quantity, picture)
• Sourcing Library – keeping track of all requested items and a weekly audit of ingredient information entry
• Assist in preparation and involvement in production trials as needed.
• Complete Summer project to be determined based on department need.
• Assist with Sensory Program data management.
• Cross-department communication and project support with Packaging & Regulatory, Quality, Strategic Sourcing, Operations, and others.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the Product Development & Innovation Manager.

Requirements

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Currently working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Culinary Arts, Hospitality, Nutrition, Biology, Animal Science, or a related field.
• A full-time, rising college/university Junior or Senior in Fall 2026.

ABILITIES & SKILLS

• Reasoning – Comprehend several abstract and concrete variables; use logic or reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions or approaches to problems; consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Mathematical – Add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers and perform arithmetic calculations involving fractions, decimals and percentages quickly and correctly.
• Organizational Skills – Able to establish systems to projects and information well organized with timely follow up.
• Communication– Ability to communicate information and ideas in a professional manner by speaking or writing so others will understand; ability to gather and organize information to write reports; evaluate technical data; effectively relay information to small groups of people both internally and externally.
• Technical – Ability to operate and control office equipment; ability to monitor equipment to make sure it is running properly. Perform day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining files, spreadsheets, records and processing paperwork.
• Professional – Communicating with people inside and outside the organization; representing the company to vendors, suppliers and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, telephone or e-mail.
• Physical Effort – Sedentary work; exert a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly and up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Vision – Far, near and mid-range vision, depth perception, color identification, and field of vision.
• Activity – Regularly required to talk, hear, perform repetitive motions, use finger dexterity; occasionally stand, walk, and reach with arms and hands.

THE SUTER COMPANY BENEFITS (including, but not limited to)

• Paid Time Off
• Access To Onsite Fitness Center

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND ADA STATEMENT

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, temperature extremes and moderate noise.

This role description does not state that the above are the only duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as required.