Project Management Intern (Summer 2027)

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions is seeking a Project Management Intern for Summer 2027. You will support a strategic product innovation project within Drinking Water or Filtration, working with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing and Operations to drive milestones and improve processes.

You will gain hands‑on experience in new product development, cross‑functional leadership, and continuous improvement, with exposure to executive leadership and a Stage‑Gate framework.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s in business, engineering, PM, or related field.
• Strong academic performance and leadership experience.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist and lead defined projects across Product Mgmt, Engineering, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain.
• Support Stage‑Gate product development process and milestone tracking.
• Prepare updates and executive summaries for leadership.

Skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Communication

Leadership

Analytical

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, engineering, project management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Project Management Intern (Summer 2027)

The Company Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We’re a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow. Named by Newsweek as One of America’s Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today’s leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions. Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe. We hope you’ll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com.

The Project Manager Intern will play a key role in supporting and leading a strategic product innovation initiative within Zurn Elkay’s Drinking Water or Filtration business. This internship is designed to provide hands‑on experience in new product development, cross‑functional project leadership, and continuous process improvement. Working closely with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain teams, the intern will lead a defined innovation project from concept through key development milestones while gaining exposure to the company’s Stage‑Gate product development process. The intern will also evaluate the effectiveness of the current innovation process and recommend improvements that enhance speed, efficiency, collaboration, and execution. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful business impact while developing project management, leadership, analytical, and product development skills. Reports to: Director, Filtration Product Management & Drinking Water Project Management.

Key Focus Areas

• Lead a strategic innovation project within the Drinking Water or Filtration business unit.
• Define project objectives, deliverables, timelines, risks, and success metrics.
• Coordinate activities across Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, Quality, Operations, and Supply Chain teams.
• Track project progress and communicate updates to stakeholders and leadership.
• Identify risks, obstacles, and opportunities and develop mitigation plans.
• Present project recommendations, business cases, and outcomes to leadership teams.
• Learn and actively participate in the company’s Stage‑Gate product development process.
• Attend gate reviews, project meetings, and innovation planning sessions.
• Document process observations, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Analyze project workflows, decision points, and team interactions.
• Benchmark best practices and recommend enhancements to improve project execution, speed to market, and cross‑functional alignment.
• Support the implementation and testing of approved process improvements.
• Build project management capabilities through real‑world project ownership.
• Develop executive presentation and communication skills.
• Gain exposure to product strategy, innovation management, and business operations.
• Partner with mentors and business leaders for coaching and career development.

Learning & Development Opportunities

• Successful leadership of a defined product innovation project.
• Executive presentation summarizing project outcomes and recommendations.
• Assessment of the current Stage‑Gate process.
• Identification and recommendation of process improvement opportunities.
• Implementation plan for one or more Stage‑Gate enhancements.
• Final business impact report highlighting project results, lessons learned, and future opportunities.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, engineering, project management, or other related field.
• Strong academic performance and demonstrated leadership experience.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to lead projects and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPoint.

Salary Range – $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

What happens when two remarkable sustainability leaders come together as one? A sustainability powerhouse is born, making a splash in the markets they serve and saving the planet one innovative installation at a time. In early 2022, Zurn Water Solutions Corporation, a market leader in smart, sustainable water solutions, and Elkay Manufacturing, a commercial drinking water solutions leader, agreed to combine their two exceptional firms to become a single water solutions powerhouse. Together, the combined company offers a comprehensive package of innovative, sustainable, specified, engineered water solutions and sustainable plumbing products that provide water safety, water quality, and water conservation through critical service environments, while delivering total building solutions for new construction and retrofit applications around the globe. Our innovative solutions enable customers to advance their ESG initiatives and reduce operating costs while providing students, patients, patrons, and people within public and private spaces a safe, clean environment and access to fresh, pure, potable water – the essence of life itself.

What makes Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation special is our people and our culture. While playing a leading role in sustainability and water access are remarkable, what makes Zurn Elkay’s story so compelling is the alignment of the two well‑respected companies with powerful legacies and a combined 224‑year company history and shared values and cultures where people matter most. Sustainably inspired, the company has a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, water, and environmental stewardship, and giving back to the communities where we live, work and play. Our powerful legacy of caring and commitment is made possible by the exceptional people that embody Zurn Elkay’s values. We are looking for innovative, energetic people who want to help solve tomorrow’s challenges today. Our Total Associate Engagement core value means we work hard to ensure our associates have opportunities to grow and an inclusive culture in which to thrive. From formal training to on‑the‑job development and exposure to new businesses, when you join Zurn Elkay, you will join a collaborative organization that will give you opportunities to thrive and grow.