Operational Excellence Intern Jobs in Missouri (NOW HIRING)

The Kraft Heinz US Manufacturing Internship Program is designed to grow the future supply chain manufacturing leaders of our company. Over 10 weeks, interns gain hands-on exposure to end-to-end supply chain execution, collaborate across plant teams and business partners, own their growth, and deliver meaningful results that improve how we make and deliver food and beverage at scale. The internship will be project based in nature supporting our manufacturing functions based in a manufacturing facility.
Program Location - Kirksville, Missouri
This opportunity is available at the following manufacturing locations:

• Kirksville, Missouri (This plant supports our Meats and Cheese portfolio)
• Our Interns will be provided with a one-time housing stipend.

What's on the Menu for the Manufacturing Internship Program?
The Kraft Heinz Manufacturing Internship Program is a 10-week Manufacturing plant based leadership development program allowing our interns to own manufacturing projects, develop and practice key leadership skills, and support critical work rooted in driving supply chain excellence through a manufacturing intern experience.
The 10-week Manufacturing Internship program includes:

• One week of immersive plant onboarding to learn about our business and prepare important skills for a successful summer project

• Training on the Kraft Heinz Management System (KHMS), the standard of supply chain excellence for Kraft Heinz globally
• Eight weeks dedicated to a project exploring unlocking creative solutions and exploring new opportunities in your manufacturing facility.
• One week of final presentations and celebrations with our executive leadership team and intern peers
• Weekly sessions to deep dive into our values, grow as leaders, and develop impactful skills for early career success.

Based on performance, interns will have an opportunity to return to Kraft Heinz in the 2028 Internship or our 18-month Global Manufacturing Trainee Programs. Throughout the program, Interns can also expect regular opportunities to meet with our business leaders, including the VP of North America Supply Chain; mentorship from previous GMTs and Operations leadership team members; participation in critical supply chain engagements; and curated learning experiences to help with grow as leaders and as cultural ambassadors of Kraft Heinz.
Our internship will run from June 7th 2027 to August 13th 2027.
What Manufacturing Interns Work On
Manufacturing Interns will spend their program in one of our US manufacturing facilities, partnering with plant teams to identify opportunities and deliver improvement projects that strengthen how we operate-enhancing ways of working, core processes, and supply chain performance. Interns typically own a defined project scope, collaborate cross-functionally (Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain), and share results through regular updates and an end-of-program presentation.
Project work may include:

• Continuous improvement & standard work: process mapping, SOP updates, line balance, shift handoffs, visual management

• Safety & ergonomics: hazard identification, risk reduction actions, safe work practices, ergonomic improvements

• Quality & compliance: defect/rework analysis, root-cause problem solving, first-pass quality improvements

• Line performance (OEE): downtime and loss analysis, bottleneck identification, changeover optimization, throughput gains

• Cost, waste & yield: scrap reduction, material yield improvement, loss elimination initiatives

• Maintenance & reliability: PM optimization, recurring downtime investigation, reliability improvement plans

• Inventory & execution: material flow improvements, cycle count support, schedule adherence, on-time production/shipping performance

We Are Looking For Candidates who...

• Are pursuing a Bachelors degree with anticipated graduation between December 1, 2027 and June 30, 2029
• Interested in growing your career in manufacturing plants
• Passionate about continuous improvement
• Creative problem solvers
• Ambitious and humble leaders
• A drive to make an impact
• Simplifiers
• Resilience in changing environments
• Champions of our culture and our values

The Recruitment Process
Internship program applications are accepted through October, 2nd 2026.

• Step 1: Application and Games-Based Assessment
• Step 2: Virtual Interviews with Business Leaders
• Step 3: Final Virtual Interview Day with Operations Leadership

New Hire Rate

• $28 USD per Hour ($1120 USD Weekly)

Our Values
Our Manufacturing Interns are expected to live out the Kraft Heinz values as cultural champions and future leaders at the organization. At Kraft Heinz- our values are:

• We are consumer obsessed
• We dare to do better every day
• We champion great people
• We demand diversity
• We do the right thing
• We own it

About Us
Kraft Heinz is a global food company with a delicious heritage. With iconic and emerging food and beverage brands around the world, we deliver the best taste, fun and quality to every meal table we touch. We're on a mission to disrupt not only our own business, but the global food industry. A consumer obsession and unexpected partnerships fuel our progress as we drive innovation across every part of our company.
Around the world, our people are connected by a culture of ownership, agility and endless curiosity. We also believe in being good humans, who are working to improve our company, communities, and planet. We're proud of where we've been - and even more thrilled about where we're headed - as we nourish the world and lead the future of food.
Why Us
We grow our people to grow our business. We champion great people who bring ambition, curiosity, and high performance to the table as the guardians of our beloved and nostalgic brands. Good isn't good enough. We choose greatness every day by challenging the ordinary and making bold decisions. All while celebrating our wins - and our failures - as we work together to lead the future of food.
Challenging the status quo takes talent. We invest in your purpose and potential by developing skills and nurturing strengths that leave a legacy on our business and a lasting impact on your career. Because great people make great companies, and we're growing something great here at Kraft Heinz.
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should contact NATAI@kraftheinz.com.
Location(s)
Kirksville Plant
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes