Research & Development (R&D) Intern

Research & Development Summer Intern

Come join the Tillamook Team, one of the fastest-growing dairy brands in the US, where we Play to Win to create over 200 dairy products in 6 different categories: cheese, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter, and cream cheese. Our Uncompromising Quality has led us to become the #1 Cheddar, #2 Cream Cheese and #3 Family Size Ice Cream brand, but we’re not stopping there. We’re loading up for our best years to come and want you to join us. 

As a farmer-owned cooperative since 1909, we know that being Good Stewards for our stakeholders and doing a little extra always pays off. We’re looking for team members with a One Team and Genuine Care mindset who are inspired to share the delight of the Tillamook brand with each other and others every day. 

About the TCCA Summer Intern Program: 

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA)’s Summer Internship Program is a 10 to 12-week program for graduate and undergraduate students to join the Tillamook team to connect to our 115-year-old heritage. Our interns play a significant role in solving real-world business challenges and enjoy bites of our ice cream, cheese and beloved dairy products every step of the way. As a farmer-owned cooperative, we invite interns to visit the farms of our farmer-owners so they can see what cow care, environmental stewardship and the daily operations of a dairy farm look like, up close.  In addition to the farm tour, we host multiple enriching experiences throughout the duration of the program, that include being an honorary Tillamook taste bud for the day with our immersive cheese and ice cream tastings, “college-inspired” cooking class with our executive chef, resume & interview workshop, sales market tours and so much more! 

This role is based out of our Portland, Oregon office.

How this work makes an impact:

This internship directly supports Tillamook's Build a Better Future imperative by investing in the development of emerging talent while advancing key product innovation initiatives across the Cheese, Ice Cream, Cultured, and Product Excellence portfolios. Through ownership of meaningful project work, participation in sensory discovery, product development, and commercialization activities, the intern will contribute to projects that support future business growth, product quality, and consumer-focused innovation.
The internship also aligns strongly with Enable Each Employee to Flourish by providing hands-on technical experience, structured mentorship, and exposure to a broad range of R&D disciplines. The role is intentionally designed to accelerate professional growth through cross-functional collaboration, project ownership, problem-solving opportunities, and direct engagement with experienced leaders and subject matter experts. By combining strategic project work with practical laboratory, sensory, and product development experiences, the internship creates a meaningful environment for learning, skill development, and long-term career success.

The application window will be open until the position is filled or until we reach our cap of 100 applicants. We will review applications and move selected candidates through our interview process with the goal of having all interns identified no later than the end of the year.

What you will do:

• The R&D Intern will lead a primary innovation cheese development project as their capstone assignment. To broaden their technical and product development experience, they will also contribute to a cream cheese project shelf-life studies, and Product Excellence sensory discovery work.

• Additional development opportunities, pending project timing and business needs, may include application work for an Ice Cream and Cultured innovation. These projects will provide exposure to cross-category product development, testing, and commercialization activities.

Here’s a day in the life:

In addition to their primary project responsibilities, the intern will support a variety of smaller initiatives and technical activities designed to broaden their R&D experience. These may include:

• Product cuttings and evaluations

• Sample preparation

• Alternative ingredient assessments

• Cheeseperformance evaluations

• Other research, testing, and product excellence activities. 

These assignments will provide hands-on exposure to product development, sensory evaluation, ingredient functionality, and quality-focused decision making across multiple dairy categories.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Education level: Graduate student, Upper classman - undergrad

• Preferred fields of study: Food Science

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program and not due to graduate the semester prior to the internship.

We are committed to creating a diverse culture and inclusive conditions where all employees are heard, valued and feel a sense of belonging.  We rely on different perspectives, thoughts, backgrounds and cultures to inform our work, to help us be better as a brand and as an employer and to fuel our success.  We are seeking talent from a wide range of diversity, perspectives, and backgrounds to join our exceptional organization and help us build our future.   


 

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) is a Drug-Free Workplace.   EEO/AA

TCCA prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability status (including those related to pregnancy and childbirth), protected veteran status, membership/non-membership in a labor organization, or any other characteristic protected by law.