R&D Packaging Intern

Job Description

Did you know that there is a dedicated team into the Research & Development department in charge of the development of the packaging materials to be used in our products?... so now you know it. The R&D Packaging team is in charge of developing the right packaging materials that will deliver the right level of barrier to protect the product and guarantee its shelf life, good performance and runnability in our packaging lines, the right costs with the right quality, as well as complying with all the regulations and sustainability requirements. Wait, it is not just about the consumer unit itself, the packaging team has also the responsibility of developing the secondary and tertiary packs as well as pallet configuration to guarantee the product arrived to the shelf in perfect conditions and ready to delight our consumers.

Will you feel proud to see on the shelf of a supermarket a product which packaging you help to develop? If so, join us as R&D Packaging Intern at our international Tech Center in Utrecht, starting in September 2024.

In this internship, you will become part of the JDE R&D Packaging team, working on current and new packaging development projects. During the development work you will contribute and learn how conduct packaging tests in a fast-moving consumer goods company, interpretating sealing curves, hot tack and SIT during heat sealing tests on polymeric materials, vibration and drop tests, leakage test and transportation tests and simulations. Perform life cycle assessments to look at the carbon footprint of our packaging materials, learning about the science behind different types of packaging materials like aluminium, flexibles, glass, rigid plastics and corrugated cardboard; gathering and analysing data to draw conclusions on the hypothesis built. You'll present results with supervisors and teams to build up your communication skills and support factory trials to gain insight into multidisciplinary projects.

Your key activities will be:

• Support the organization and analysis of packaging material tests
• Development of test methodologies or protocols, when required.
• Collect and analyse data to draw conclusions and provide technical recommendations
• Support factory trials and coordinate external tests
• Use background knowledge to recommend opportunities of improvement.

You will be able to:

• Apply and improve your science background knowledge.
• Understand the development process in a FMCG company.
• Understand the relevance and contribution of Packaging into a Research & Development department.
• Apply design thinking
• Critically assess our processes.
• Learn about our factory processes.
• Learn how to approach packaging design with the lowest impact in the environment.
• Work and learn from packaging engineer experts.

Supported by a commendable 4.5 Glassdoor rating and 94% intern recommendation score, we pledge to provide you with a unique learning journey as part of our Global R&D team, where you'll gain valuable insights into packaging tests, data analysis, project management and performing product presentations.

What's in it for you?

• A monthly internship allowance of €525 (full-time)
• Travel compensation if you don't have a free public transport card
• Paid holidays for each internship term
• Two weeks of remote working anywhere in Europe (EEA)
• The chance to learn from the best R&D professionals out there!

Qualifications

Are you bursting with fresh ideas and a hunger for learning? We want you!

Here's what we're looking for:

• Academic Program: You are enrolled in a bachelor or master's program for the entirety of the internship, preferably in Packaging, Sustainable Development, or Economics with a focus on Sustainability
• Skillset: You possess strong MS Office skills and fluent proficiency in speaking and written English – Having some similar hands-on experience with food research activities is always a benefit.
• Personal traits: You have a structured approach, a driven and energetic personality, excellent communication and people skills, and the ability to work both in a team and independently.
• Commitment: You are ready to dedicate at least 5 months to this internship, preferably from September 2024 to February 2025.
• Availability: You can join the internship for 5 days per week, including three days in-office and one or two days remotely, ensuring an ideal balance between collaboration and independence.

As we hope to have piqued your interest, please ensure you also meet the eligibility criteria and academic requirements:

• Your internship should be included in your study curriculum and directly contribute to your academic results.
• Your educational institution is willing to sign a collaboration agreement with JDE Peet's and when joining our Research departments, also sign an NDA agreement for internships.
• You are either an EU(EEA) student residing in the Netherlands during the internship or a Non-EU(EEA) student enrolled and living in the Netherlands during the internship.