Research & Development Intern

Running with Sasquatch is more than just a clever marketing campaign. As a Jack Link’s team member, Running with Sasquatch means we roll up our buffalo plaid sleeves and do the hard work first. We don’t shy away from challenges. In fact, we push hard and take risks. True to our North Woods roots, we're a bunch of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things by driving results with innovation, creativity and a clear sense of urgency. Like our awesome protein products, we have an unwavering passion for quality, and you won’t find anything artificial here. What you see is what you get…authentic, humble and fun people who Run with Sasquatch!

Running with Sasquatch takes a team. We invite you to run with us, succeed with us, and celebrate with us. Most importantly, Feed Your Wild Side® with us on our journey to be the dominant global leader of branded protein snacks!

Jack Link's Protein Snacks is a global leader in snacking and the No. 1 meat snack manufacturer worldwide. Still family-owned and operated with headquarters in Minong, Wisconsin, Jack Link’s also has a large corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, and operates a total of 11 manufacturing and distribution facilities in four countries. Jack Link’s produces high-quality, great-tasting protein snacks that feed the wild sides of consumers around the world. Jack Link's Protein Snacks family of brands includes Jack Link's, LK, World Kitchens Jerky, Bifi and Peperami.

Join our team as a Research & Development Intern during the summer of 2026 and Feed Your Wild Side! Your internship will be based in 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, 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.

 From concept to commercialization, R&D Meat and Food Scientists are the leaders and drivers of new product development at Jack Link’s. As a Meat/Food Scientist Intern you will join us in a highly collaborative role, working closely with the R&D team, operations, food safety & quality (FSQ), business management, marketing, sales, consumer insights, and procurement; in order to run pilot plant tests, execute plant trials, and to effectively launch new protein snacks.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Provide hands on support in determining root cause and finding solutions for problems in food products such as sensory, quality, or processing issues. Participate on cross-functional teams to identify areas of opportunity in cost reduction, yield improvement, and formulation/process improvement and efficiencies.

• Support the design and execution of appropriate testing methodologies to validate changes to raw materials, formulations, and process. Coordinate testing plans with food safety, regulatory, quality and operations. Generate written reports, interpret results, and make next step recommendations.

• Some travel may be required

Minimum requirements:

• Working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Meat Science, Food Science, or related field

• Proficient written and oral communication skills

• Comfortable in a fast paced, changing environment

• Must be able to communicate effectively with various manufacturing and marketing functional groups at various levels

• Must be flexible and able to work well in a team environment

• Express a strong work ethic and execute responsibilities in a professional manner

• Comfortable working in refrigerated environments while performing tests, though vast majority of work will be in standard office setting

Preferred Qualifications:

• Junior or Senior Status in degree program. 
• Meat processing industry knowledge and experience

JACK LINK’S CORE VALUES:

Company values: Be Real, Speed Matters, Stewardship, Relationship Driven, Self-Discipline, and Show Awesome Character.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member 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 Team Member is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The Team Member is occasionally required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms. The Team Member 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 a Team Member 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.

Additional Information:

The hiring range for this role is $22 to $24 per hour for a Bachelor's degree candidate and $30 per hour for a Master's degree candidate. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Jack Link’s provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

E-VERIFY:
Jack Link’s is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees.  For information about the E-Verify program, please visit:  http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.