Product Development Intern

Sargento; Elkhart Lake (WI); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Lead real projects

Mentorship and career development

Volunteer in community service

Job summary

Sargento is seeking a Product Development Intern to support research and development of dairy products at our Wisconsin location. You’ll perform experiments, assist with sensory testing, and contribute to product improvements under close supervision.

Ideal candidates are pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in food science, with strong MS Office skills and the ability to present data. We offer a hybrid onsite/remote option, relocation and housing assistance, and exposure to cross-functional

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in food science or related field with junior status or above; or pursuing a master’s degree in food science.
• Ability to effectively present information to peers and colleagues
• Ability to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and handle variables
• Proficiency in MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
• Valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and vehicle required

Responsibilities

• Under close supervision, executes experiments in the research and development of products using established laboratory/pilot plant procedures.
• Conduct sensory evaluations including descriptive, discrimination, and acceptability to support research and development, quality, and marketing initiatives.
• Implements descriptive panel trainings and methods to support product evaluations for the company.
• Performs routine scientific tasks that provide experience across functional areas.
• Learns methods to improve flavor, color, texture, nutrition, convenience, or composition of foods and applies to projects.
• Studies food standards, safety and sanitary regulations, GMPs and supply specifications to ensure projects meet standards.
• Evaluates food products, processes, and packaging, and develops production methodology under test conditions.
• May assist plant scale-up of products and processes into manufacturing.
• Seeks information from internal and external experts to resolve issues.
• Maintains written technical documentation, and product and process specifications.

Skills

Communication

Critical Thinking

Collaboration

Cross-Functional

Professionalism

Leadership

Technology

Time Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science

Master's degree in Food Science

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Are you passionate about food science and curious about the magic behind delicious, high-quality cheese at Sargento? We’re on the hunt for a Product Development Intern to help us push the boundaries of dairy deliciousness! You are enthusiastic, creative, analytical, collaborative and goal driven. You will provide technical support and project execution. You have a fundamental understanding of food science principles, practices, and procedures. You will apply scientific and engineering principles in research, development, production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and utilization of foods by performing assigned duties as outlined in this job description.

Your Story.

Are you passionate about food science and curious about the magic behind delicious, high-quality cheese at Sargento? We’re on the hunt for a Product Development Intern to help us push the boundaries of dairy deliciousness! You are enthusiastic, creative, analytical, collaborative and goal driven. You will provide technical support and project execution. You have a fundamental understanding of food science principles, practices, and procedures. You will apply scientific and engineering principles in research, development, production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and utilization of foods by performing assigned duties as outlined in this job description.

Your Passion. Our Culture.

At Sargento, you work for a company you believe in, with a family of people who believe in you. Our culture stems from a simple premise: Hire good people and treat them like family. At Sargento, you can make decisions based on how they affect people as well as the long‑term health of our company. You will be encouraged to make a meaningful difference in the community, in the company and in your career. With diverse experiences and tools to learn and develop, you can transform your aspirations into reality. If you’re ready for the right place to belong and grow your career, you can find it here.

Benefits That Set Us Apart.

• Lead and own real and relevant projects aligned with business objectives
• Gain valuable skills and experiences to be prepared for entry level opportunities
• Mentorship and career development to learn and grow personally and professionally
• Volunteer in community service activities
• Social professional networking experiences
• Flexible work week onsite Mondays through Thursdays and optional remote Fridays; plus, half day Fridays
• Nationally competitive compensation
• Paid relocation and housing
• 5 unpaid days off for interns and 10 unpaid days off for co-ops
• 401(k) employer contribution top 1% in the nation
• Discounts at the company cheese store and local attractions/events

Skills You Will Develop.

• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Collaboration
• Cross-Functional
• Professionalism
• Leadership
• Technology
• Time Management

What You Do.

• Under close supervision, executes experiments in the research and development of products using established laboratory/pilot plant procedures.
• Conduct sensory evaluations including Descriptive, Discrimination, Acceptability in support of research and development, quality, and marketing initiatives.
• Implement descriptive panel trainings and methods to support product evaluations for the company.
• Performs a variety of routine scientific tasks that provide experience and familiarization with technical and other functional areas using the methods, practices, and programs of Sargento Foods, Inc.
• Learns methods to improve quality of foods such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, convenience, or physical, chemical, and microbiological composition of foods and applies to assigned projects.
• Studies food standards, safety and sanitary regulations, good manufacturing practices and supply specifications to ensure projects meet applicable standards.
• Evaluates food products, processes, and packaging, and develops specific production methodology under test conditions.
• May assist plant scale-up of products and processes into the manufacturing plant.
• Seeks information from internal (process engineers, marketing, quality systems) and external (suppliers, consultants) functional experts to resolve issues.
• Maintains written technical documentation, and product and process specifications.

Your Education And Qualifications.

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in food science, food process engineering or related with a junior status or above; or pursuing a master’s degree in food science with at least the first year of course completed.
• Ability to effectively present information to peers and colleagues
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables
• Proficiency in MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
• Valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and vehicle required. There is no mass/public transit system to/from corporate housing location to company locations

Our Story.

With over 2,400 employees and net sales of $1.8 billion, Sargento Foods is a family‑owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years. We created the world’s first, successful pre‑packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses. Sargento is based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where we manufacture shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces. Sargento is known for the exceptional quality of our products and for product design, packaging and merchandising innovations that have transformed our industry.

To learn more about our culture and values, please visit our website at https://careers.sargento.com/us/en.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.