Program Description
Our internship program is not about busy work, it’s about development.
We give students the opportunity to apply skills they learned in school to a real-world situation. We do this by aligning the talents and skills of our interns to a specific business need.
Although each experience is unique, all Butterball interns can expect to:
Gain industry knowledge while building relationships with leaders
Develop presentation skills by presenting project results to senior leaders
Build a strong network of industry professionals
And have some fun along the way too!
We recognize the value that innovative, talented problem solvers can bring to our team. We are looking for individuals with strong technical skills, balanced with personal integrity and effective communication skills. Additionally, success in our team environment requires the ability to show initiative, assume leadership, demonstrate a strong ability to work with others and get the job done – the Butterball Way.
Our most successful interns are asked to join the Management Development Program upon graduation.
The Management Development Program (MDP) is a project-based, rotational program spanning multiple functions of our business. Generally, MDP participants spend 18-24 months gaining well-rounded business and industry knowledge in several on-the-job experiences. These experiences allow MDPs to build a cross-functional network while contributing to key company initiatives to prepare them for a career with Butterball.
Andrew Priest
Management Development Associate; Summer Intern 2017
“During my summer internship at the Butterball Ozark location, I had the opportunity to train and work alongside leaders in production, maintenance and quality assurance from processing and packaging departments. The internship gave me a comprehensive knowledge of large scale meat production, and has provided me with the confidence and experience necessary to excel as a leader in the food industry.”
Will Eberwein
Summer Intern 2017 & 2018
“As a summer intern at Butterball, I had the excellent opportunity to work on a significant project and apply the skills I learned through my coursework. I thoroughly enjoyed working with a great team while learning about the poultry and food production industries. The internship allowed me to explore my career interests and meet a network of outstanding people.”
Eric Ewald
Management Development Associate
“The Management Development Program is such a rare and fantastic experience because of how much Butterball invests in you, with the intent of molding you into a great manager. This is not your classic "six weeks per department rotation program," it is much more of a project-based scenario where they give you the full responsibility and once complete, you get a new project in a different area. You don’t get these kind of opportunities anywhere else.”
Jacques Jandrain
Former Management Development Associate, promoted to R&D Food Scientist
“The Management Development Program is a great way to expand your professional development and global knowledge of a business as a whole. It is a program that continually challenges your learning and teamwork capabilities, and provides exciting opportunities for permanent positions as a Butterball team member.”
Will Walker
Former Management Development Associate, promoted to Corporate Industrial Engineer
“For the rest of my career, I may never get two years as full of opportunity and experience as my time in the Management Development Program. It is hard to imagine where I would be if I had done anything else.”
John Rankin
Former Management Development Associate, promoted to Operational Analyst
“Being an MDP provided me the opportunity to work on projects in multiple areas of the organization. With each new project, you work with an experienced Butterball team, ready to teach and offer insight based on their own industry experience.”
If you’re interested in career opportunities, but not ready to apply, join our Talent Network to stay connected to us and receive updates on the latest job opportunities and company news.
