Sales Intern

Kerry; Beloit (AL); On-site; USD 29,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Living allowance

Job summary

Kerry invites driven undergraduates to join the 2027 summer internship within our Commercial Development & Sales teams in the United States. You will support day-to-day activities, manage your own projects, and collaborate with marketing, business development and R&D to build selling skills.

Responsibilities include lead follow-up, sales funnel development, and market research alongside experienced colleagues. Eligible interns receive a housing-related living allowance during the program.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university (Science, Business, Marketing, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain) with expected graduation Dec 2027–May 2028.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across all levels of an organization.
• Dynamic presentation abilities and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; basic analytical and statistical understanding preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support with account meetings and lead follow-ups within 12 hours.
• Help build sales funnel through outreach via email and calls.
• Assist in marketing launch plans and developing commercial summaries.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Marketing, B.D. and R&D.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Analytical thinking

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

SPSS

Job description

At Kerry we’re obsessed with food and an ambition to provide 2 billion people access to more sustainable nutrition. Kerry is the world’s leading taste and nutrition company for food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers’ most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

The food industry is ever-growing, and we pride ourselves in helping customers make better food, in a better way for a better future. Kerry is a global company with several manufacturing facilities across North America. Through the 12-week summer internship program, you will have the opportunity to work and learn in real, impactful roles. The program dates May 24 to August 12, 2027.

Sales Overview

You will be working with some of the world’s largest Food manufacturers and/or Foodservice brands.

There are assignments available on several teams within the Commercial Development & Sales function. Possibilities include

• Global CPG
• Regional CPGs
• Kerry Brands
• Food Service
• Various end-use market teams (e.g., Meals, Snack, Beverage, Supplements, etc.)

Responsibility from day 1, you will not only support your colleagues in day-to-day business, but you will also manage your own projects and accountabilities. You will develop a broad set of commercial development and selling skills through collaboration with the wider Kerry sales network and cross-functional teams. You will also work with stakeholders from many other functions, including Marketing teams, Business Development and R&D.

Look behind the curtain of food manufacturing and keep up with the latest market trends that are shaping the food and beverage products of tomorrow.

Key Responsibilities

What you'll do

Sales Support & Lead management

• Collaborate with Kerry marketing, business, and RD departments in preparation for account meetings (internal and external) and supporting activities associated with account meetings.
• Follow-up on incoming leads within 12 hours and liaise with leads/new points of contact with respective account team or as assigned.
• Support the build of sales funnel including outreach via email, cold-calls, and further developing leads into opportunities.
• Execute marketing launch plans to selected client partner lists establishing new leads and/or further engagement.
• Research, Learn, & Report on select customer or end use market organizations, priorities, and company hierarchy identifying new connections and/or new opportunities; and compiling commercial summaries.
• Manage multiple day-to-day follow-up activities including sample requests, quality/regulatory review, past due activities (internal and external).

• Actively live the Kerry values of Courage, Ownership, Inclusiveness, Open-mindedness, & Enterprising Spirit

Other Assignments

• Review and trend sales and service performance on accounts and against targets.
• Act as project manager when needed.
• Observe, support, and practice Kerry’s selling skills
• Identify potential weakness within Kerry’s portfolio or within the customer’s portfolio and bring forth suggested solutions and identified opportunities.
• Support the building of Kerry’s brand reputation and awareness within select category markets or customers.
• Develop an understanding of Kerry’s portfolio and help define points of difference to our competitors.
• Identify and summarize competitive intelligence, market trends, customer feedback.

• Support the execution of the end use market strategies or account plan strategies for target technologies or target customers, and with input from activation marketing, central marketing, commercial teams, and business development.
• Represent best-in-class customer engagements through timely and complete communications, diligent follow-through, and excellent attention to detail in execution against customer requests.

Qualifications and Skills

What you'll need to be successful

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university in a Science-related field (e.g. food science, biology, chemistry), Business, Marketing, Economics, Finance, Supply Chain, or related with expected graduation date between December 2027 – May 2028
• Strong interpersonal skills with the proven ability to communicate effectively to all levels of an organization.
• Dynamic presentation skills
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent project streams, with a track record of getting things done at a high level of quality.
• Excellent critical thinking skills, with an ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team to achieve goals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Curious Mindset
• Minimum basic understanding of analytical and statistical processes a must – experience with Q or SPSS applications preferred.
• Exceptionally organized, deadline driven, goal-oriented, and high energy.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills a plus.
• Experience in sales, recruitment, or fundraising a plus.

At Kerry, we want our interns to focus on learning, growing, and making an impact. Eligible interns who relocate more than 50 miles for their internship will receive a $3,500 living allowance to help cover housing and other living expenses during the summer program.

Compensation Data

The pay rate for this position is $21.00 per hour. Accepting applications on a continuous basis until 2027 cohort is full. This job posting is anticipated to expire on March 31, 2027.

We may use artificial intelligence tools to support the review and assessment of applications and assist with scheduling interviews. We do not use AI to make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams.

Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. Additional information can be found at Know Your Rights Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).