Packaging Intern

Lactalis American Group is currently seeking candidates to join our Packaging team in Buffalo, NY or Chicago, IL.

Lactalis, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to nurturing the future by providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. We produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together every day. We offer an enviable range of dairy brands including Galbani, President, Kraft Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Parmalat, Siggi's, and Stonyfield Organic in addition to several brands imported from our affiliates in Europe.

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to building a safe, diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE! You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.

From your PASSION to ours

Working closely with Marketing, Research and Development, Plants, Engineering, and Purchasing the Packaging Co-Op/Intern is responsible for understanding and contributing to sustainability goals, providing recommendations to meet those goals and execute projects. Projects will include testing of current packaging, exploring new packaging, creating specs, managing specs, collecting data for CSR reporting, and analyzing packages with our sustainability tool. This position is located in either the Chicago LHD office, which is the headquarters for the Lactalis Heritage Dairy (LHD) division, or the Buffalo LAG office, which is the headquarters for the Lactalis American Group (LAG) division, but this position will support the entire Lactalis USA business. This includes the brands Kraft, Cracker Barrel, Galbani, President, and Breakstones. This is a paid co-op.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Analyze current packaging using our sustainability tool to create a priority list of sustainability projects.
• Validate and update packaging drawings to the new format and add them to the new system. Work toward gaining an understanding of the portfolio and improving the process.
• Work with cross-functional teams (Marketing, R&D, Quality, Plants, CSR, Engineering and Purchasing) to develop, design, test, and make packaging recommendations for new and existing (line extensions) products.
• Support spec and data input across zones to analyze the current sustainability footprint and find the largest impact projects.
• Assist other packaging engineers with plant/supplier/DC visits, inspections, and trials.
• Test packaging, in partnership with product R&D, may include shelf life and light studies.
• Develop an understanding of the packaging production machinery used at each plant.
• Create cost requests for procurement to analyze savings projects.
• Travel and/or extended or off-work hours may be required.
• This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone, and/or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

• Working towards a Bachelor's degree in Packaging Science or related field

Experience

• Packaging related Internship or other work experience

Specialized Knowledge

• Packaging terms and a basic understanding of general food packaging
• OSHA, Food Safety, FDA, and USDA awareness
• Computers and Systems (Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel)

Skills / Abilities

• Effective and proficient communicator, written and verbal
• Business acumen, including problem solving and analysis
• Able to manage time through efficient planning and organizing
• Ability to travel