2027 Summer Food Safety and Quality Assurance Intern

About the role

Butterball, LLC, is one of America’s most iconic brands and the most loved and trusted brand of turkey in the United States. Known for helping consumers celebrate Thanksgiving, Butterball also brings delicious turkey products to tables around the world every day. Located in the thriving Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area, the business model provides a diverse array of career opportunities across live operations, processing facilities, corporate functions, and support offices. Butterball aims to provide great‑tasting foods that bring people together and inspire meaningful moments with the people who matter most. As a Food Safety & Quality Assurance Intern you will spend 10‑12 weeks at the Mount Olive processing plant in Mount Olive, NC. The quality assurance team provides oversight, inspection, and guidance for food production processes to ensure products meet customer expectations and USDA food safety regulations, maintaining the trust consumers place in the brand. The program’s primary objective is to grow future leaders by offering professional development and a series of assignments aligned with professional interests in the processing and manufacturing industry.

Responsibilities

• Work with FSQA and Operations to validate antimicrobial intervention efficacy, continuously improve quality associated parameters, and identify additional process improvements.
• Perform data collection, trend quality metrics, and communicate results.
• Work with FSQA and Operations teams to ensure sample collection.
• Work with Laboratory staff to understand sampling and analysis process.
• Record/report data and results.
• Support various teams to ensure that the manufacturing process is consistent, compliant, and adheres to good manufacturing practices (GMP) requirements.

Qualifications

Pursuing a Bachelors or Master in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Safety, biological sciences or a related field with an expected graduation date of December 2027 through June 2029.

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to and from work.
• Ability to lift up to 50‑75 lbs to move turkey and product as required (tools provided when necessary).
• Ability to work in various environmental conditions (cold, hot, wet).
• Physical demands: regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, reach, bend, stoop, kneel, use hands and fingers to operate equipment, computer, telephone, keyboard; occasionally climb and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities: close vision, distance vision, depth perception, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill with Excel formulas to extract