Emerge Program Associate - Operations / Technology

About the role

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Kennametal’s Emerging Leadership Program EMERGE is an early‑career leadership development program focused on building emerging leaders through diverse experiences to expand perspectives, develop functional expertise, and accelerate career development. The program equips participants with leadership, professional, and technical skills needed to drive performance and integrate across business functions. It is a 2‑year immersive experience with functional rotations in Operations, Technology, or Commercial tracks, requiring willingness to relocate or travel. Upon completion, participants are placed into a role aligned with their strengths, interests, and current business needs.

Requirements

• Completing final academic year in one of the following areas of study: STEM, Operational Excellence, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.2 preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong organization, facilitation, leadership, project management, and communication skills.
• Strong analytical approach to problem solving.

Benefits

• 1‑week corporate onboarding and assimilation including leadership series, philanthropic activities, introduction to professional development trainings, and plant site visits.
• Formalized mentorship program with a separate career and peer mentor.
• Robust and rewarding rotations within functional tracks (most rotations require both corporate and plant assignments).
• Ongoing learning journey to enhance technical, professional, and leadership acumen.
• Working side‑by‑side with professionals at various locations and levels of the organization to build a strong foundation and skillset.