Summer Hourly Intern - Processing

Mountaire Farms; Siler City (NC); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Mountaire Farms is offering a summer internship focused on processing operations improvement. The intern will analyze water usage and packaging waste, work with Processing, Operations, Engineering, and Sustainability teams, and develop recommendations to save costs and promote environmental stewardship while maintaining product quality.

You will present a data-driven project at the end of the program and gain exposure to the poultry manufacturing industry through mentorship and real-world

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled and pursuing a degree in Poultry Science, Animal Science, Agribusiness, or related field.
• Demonstrated work ethic through academics, activities, or employment.
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze data to support process improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Effective communication and collaboration across teams.
• Self-motivated, dependable team player focused on safety and excellence.
• Valid Driver's license and ability to pass Mountaire MVR check.
• Proficiency in Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Analyze water consumption and packaging waste data to identify opportunities for conservation and savings.
• Evaluate processing and packaging operations to develop practical improvement recommendations.
• Collaborate with Processing, Engineering, and Operations to gain hands-on experience.
• Develop and present data-driven recommendations that support sustainability and efficiency.
• Present project findings during the end-of-program presentations in Millsboro, DE (Aug 2-6, 2027).

Skills

Data analysis

Data collection

Communication

Collaboration

Self-motivation

Driver's license

MS Office

Education

Poultry Science

Animal Science

Agribusiness

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Description

This internship will support Processing Operations by evaluating opportunities to reduce water usage and packaging waste within the facility. Working closely with Processing, Operations, Engineering, and Sustainability teams, the intern will analyze current processes, identify areas of inefficiency, and develop recommendations that support continuous improvement, cost savings, and environmental stewardship. The project will focus on improving resource utilization while maintaining operational performance and product quality.

Project Highlights

• Analyze water consumption and packaging waste data to identify opportunities for resource conservation, cost savings, and continuous improvement
• Evaluate processing and packaging operations to develop practical recommendations that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and support sustainability initiatives.
• Collaborate with Processing, Engineering, and Operations teams to gain hands‑on experience solving real‑world manufacturing challenges.
• Develop and present data‑driven recommendations that contribute to environmental stewardship and operational excellence.
• Gain meaningful exposure to the poultry manufacturing industry through mentorship, professional development, and project ownership. Mountaire invests in its interns with the goal of building future talent pipelines and creating opportunities for students to return after graduation and build long‑term careers with the company.

Qualifications

• Must be currently enrolled and pursuing a degree in Poultry Science, Animal Science, Agribusiness, or related field with an interest in poultry processing and manufacturing operations.
• Strong work ethic demonstrated through academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, leadership experiences, employment, or other responsibilities.
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze data to support process improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with attention to detail.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work across operational teams.
• Self‑motivated, dependable team player with a commitment to continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.
• Valid Driver's license.
• Must pass the Mountaire Motor Vehicle Record check.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications including Word and Excel.

Internship Program Requirements

• Complete assigned project identified by department mentor.
• Attend weekly seminar series across different Mountaire facilities.
• All interns must be able to travel to Delaware during the last week of the program for final presentations (August 2-6, 2027).
• All interns are required to complete a 10-minute presentation on their project at the conclusion of summer. Presentations will take place in Millsboro, DE at the Administrative Building during the week of August 2-6.
• All interns must complete a mid‑way evaluation (week 5) along with a final evaluation (week 10).

About Us

Are you looking for more than just a job? The culture at Mountaire is one of our greatest strengths and most valued assets. We maintain the same core values and family‑focused work environment that we’ve operated with since day one. You will find that your peers, supervisor and team members are genuinely committed to, not only your success, but also working together to provide high‑quality products to our customers. We are a service to one another and to our customers, demonstrating operational excellence and outstanding performance.

Mountaire Overview

Mountaire Farms is an agricultural food production and processing company providing work for over 10,000 people at facilities in Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Now the fourth largest chicken company in the United States, we are still family owned and fully committed to giving back to the communities where we do business. At Mountaire Farms, our culture is what defines us. It sets us apart from our competition and reinforces what we stand for. Supporting each other, uplifting each other, and helping each other succeed -- that’s the Mountaire way! Our vision is to provide growth, stability, and opportunities for our people, our customers, and our communities by profitably delivering wholesome quality chicken.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Mountaire Farms is an agricultural food production and processing company providing work for over 10,000 people at facilities in Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Now the fourth largest chicken company in the United States, we are still family owned and fully committed to giving back to the communities where we do business. At Mountaire Farms, our culture is what defines us. It sets us apart from our competition and reinforces what we stand for. Supporting each other, uplifting each other, and helping each other succeed -- that’s the Mountaire way! Our vision is to provide growth, stability, and opportunities for our people, our customers, and our communities by profitably delivering wholesome quality chicken.

Total Compensation

Mountaire also offers an amazing total compensation package! A few examples of our benefits that may be offered to you are:

• eight paid holidays
• Medical Plans with free onsite Health and Wellness Centers
• Dental and Vision Programs
• Employee Assistance Program for you and your family
• Retirement Planning with 401(k)
• Profit Sharing
• Employee Discounted Chicken Sales
• Employee Discounts with partners (Car Purchase, Phone Plans, & Shopping)
• Tuition Reimbursement and many exciting career development programs!