R&D Packaging Co-Op at Land O'Lakes, Inc. in ARDEN HILLS, Minnesota

Job Description:

R&D Packaging Co-Op

When you intern at Land O'Lakes, you're joining a Fortune 250 agribusiness and food production leader with more than 100 years of operations as a farmer-and member-owned cooperative. With business units spanning crop insight and inputs, animal nutrition, dairy foods, and sustainability solutions, you will get a hands-on, purpose-driven internship experience.

You'll have opportunities to network with industry leaders, view our state-of-the-art facilities, and be challenged with a business-critical project, all while gaining the skills necessary to be successful as you continue your career trajectory. Launch your career with us by applying to a co-op with one of the nation's most well-known cooperatives.

Position Duties

As a student in the Dairy Foods Packaging Engineer Co-op, you will have the opportunity to support and lead packaging projects across our Dairy Foods business portfolio comprised of Butter & Spreads, Cheese, Retail Sweet Snacks, Vermont Creamery, and Dairy Powders product categories. Projects may include the development of new packaging designs, optimization of existing packaging designs and operational processes, cost savings initiatives, and work to advance progress of our packaging sustainability goals. The co-op is a full time 6-month program starting on May 19, 2025.

Typical Project Focus Areas:

• Vendor qualifications
  
  


• Test method development
  
  


• Distribution hazard analysis and testing
  
  


• Cost savings identification
  
  


• Sustainability: foundational research and material evaluations
  
  


• Shelf-life studies
  
  


• Sensory testing
  
  


• Competitive product analysis
  
  


• Quality investigations and root cause analysis
  
  


• Foundational research and literature reviews
  
  


• Specification and drawing development
  
  

General Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Packaging, Engineering, or related fields of study
  
  


• Completion of 100 & 200 level Major Studies courses preferred by time of internship
  
  


• A minimum GPA of 3.0
  
  


• Experience in leadership roles in school, academic, or industry-related clubs or activities
  
  


• Ability to relocate to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area during the co-op period
  
  


• Some travel to plant facilities may be required
  
  

Physical Qualifications

When working in a laboratory environment, you may be required to:

• Walk, stand, and engage in movement throughout the day
  
  


• Occasionally lift items weighing up to 50 lbs.
  
  


• Perform a variety of physical activities including standing, bending, lifting, turning, twisting, pushing, and pulling
  
  


• Work in a production pilot plant environment
  
  

You may need to wear personal protective equipment such as:

• Safety glasses
  
  


• Safety gloves
  
  


• Hearing protection
  
  


• Protective footwear
  
  


• Protective clothing or uniforms
  
  

The ability to perform these requirements is necessary to successfully perform this job's essential functions.

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources. Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O'Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.

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