Packaging Co-op Intern

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis USA, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Packaging Co-Op Internship. This position can be based either in Buffalo, NY or Chicago, IL. 

The Packaging Co-Op will be required to work a minimum of 25 weekly hours, preferred 40 hours per week for 6-months duration. The intern will work closely with Marketing, Research and Development, Plants, Engineering, and Purchasing and will be 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 is a paid co-op supporting our wonderful brands that may include: Kraft, Cracker Barrel, Galbani, President, and Breakstones

We are targeting this position to begin in December, 2026!

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Analyze current packaging using our sustainability tool to create priority list of sustainability projects.
• 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 current sustainability footprint and find 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.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education and Experience:

• Working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science or related field
• Packaging related Internship or other work experience preferred

Specialized Knowledge

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

Skills/Abilities

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

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. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.