Jack Link's isn't made up of a bunch of button-up, corporate types. Like our beef jerky, we believe in being authentic and genuine. Life's too short to be artificial. We've never done things the way everyone else does. Over the years, it's always been more than just a way of doing business. It's a way of life. We push hard and take risks - with the unwavering passion to get done what we've set out to do. All backed up by an unflinching eye on quality. So when you picture the people who make North America's best-selling brand of beef jerky, you'll find we're just a bunch of regular folks, inspired to make the finest beef jerky possible, every single day. We're just lucky enough to have the whole world asking for a taste.

The story of Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a story of family traditions. It began with treasured family recipes that were passed from generation to generation, ultimately transforming a small North Woods business into one of the fastest-growing meat snack manufacturers in the world. Today Jack Link's sells more than 100 different meat snack products in more than 40 countries. More than a century has passed, but the Link family principles and traditions remain the same: hard work, integrity and a commitment to earn consumer respect by delivering the best-tasting meat snacks in the world.

Packaging Engineer Intern

POSITION SUMMARY

Join our team as a Packaging Engineer Intern during the summer and Feed Your Wild Side! Your internship will be based in Downtown Minneapolis, MN. You will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through formal and informal training, managing projects, attending events, networking with fellow interns, and working with key Jack Link's leaders and team members. At the completion of your internship, you will conduct a final presentation on your internship experience.

This individual will play a key role in the development and execution of corporate research, development, and innovation initiatives including new product innovation, product and process improvement, quality, and food safety. This position will play a major role in helping the company achieve its aggressive growth objectives through appropriate uses of technology and innovation in new product development, packaging, quality control, and operations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work cross functionally, both internally and externally, to develop packaging for new product development and cost saving initiatives.
• Identifying and researching potential new platform opportunities as part of the new product development team.
• Provide necessary input for new product cost analysis.
• Manage individual projects as assigned
• Collaborate with Operations, QA, and other R&D staff to schedule and execute plant trials.
• Log and maintain records of test procedures and net outcomes.
• Document and maintain packaging specifications and pallet patterns.
• Document and maintain finished good specifications.

Measurable output:

• Co-op/intern will develop a final presentation on their experience; highlighting project work, accomplishments, and insight on Jack Link's as a company.
• Completion of individual internship project: Summer 2018- The impact of bulk transport on primary package quality

• Work with primary and secondary production facilities to optimize distribution between plants, document any packaging failure, and present prospective solutions

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Requirements:

• Work towards Bachelor of Science degree in Packaging Engineering/Science.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable in a fast paced, changing environment.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with various manufacturing and corporate functional groups.
• Must be flexible and able to work well in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Junior or Senior Status in degree program.
• Understand CAD drawings for packaging materials and machine tooling.
• Experience with flexible film.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or more up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant / office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet / slippery floors. However; the vast amount of work is conducted in a climate controlled office. Travel may be required.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.