Operational Excellence Intern

An Operational Excellence Intern will support Interstates with a variety of improvement initiatives, gaining hands-on experience in process analysis, business operations, and strategic transformation. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to real-time problem-solving and improvements within a collaborative team environment. Interns will assist with project execution, process documentation, and data-driven decision-making, gaining exposure to cross-functional teams and interacting with stakeholders across various departments-including IT.

This is an excellent opportunity to learn about continuous improvement, change management, data analysis, project management, and technology-enabled solutions, all of which are instrumental in developing a well-rounded business skillset.

Primary Duties:
* Process Mapping & Documentation - Help identify and map out key business and operational processes.
* Project Support - Assist with planning, coordination, and communication on internal improvement projects (e.g., software evaluations, workflow improvements, system rollouts).
* Data Activities (in collaboration with IT):
* Collect and organize operational data to support decision-making
* Assist with light data analysis and visualization in Excel, Power BI, or internal tools
* Support creation and maintenance of performance dashboards or reports
* Meeting Facilitation Support - Help prepare agendas, track actions, and document outcomes from improvement meetings or workshops.
* Professional Communication - Use various platforms (Teams, Outlook, etc.) to collaborate effectively across departments.
* AI Projects - Support internal AI initiatives by helping with our AI projects to gather use cases, test tools, document outcomes, and communicate findings with stakeholders.
* AI Exploration - Assisting with the exploration and implementation of AI tools to improve productivity and decision-making.

Secondary Duties:
* Job Shadowing/Field Exposure - Participate in site visits or team meetings to observe how process improvements are applied in real operational settings.
* Internal Networking - Engage with professionals across Interstates to understand the broader organization and career opportunities in operational and technical roles.
* Other duties as assigned - The intern may be asked to support various ad hoc tasks and cross-functional initiatives that arise during the internship.
Focus Areas May Include:
* Process Optimization - Identifying opportunities for reducing waste, improving quality, or increasing efficiency
* Digital Tool Adoption - Supporting the rollout and user experience feedback of internal tools or platforms
* Data Governance/Quality - Helping ensure accuracy and consistency in shared data used for decision-making and future AI adoption
* Change Management - Supporting communication and engagement activities during transitions or implementations

Preferred Skills:
* Strong communication (verbal, written, and listening) and teamwork skills
* Curiosity and a mindset for continuous improvement
* Comfort working with data, technology tools, and basic project management techniques
* Interest in manufacturing, industrial operations, or organizational development
* Ability to work with diverse teams including engineers, IT professionals, project managers, and field personnel

Education and/or Experience:

• 0-4 years of experience in business, computer science, operations, project management, or related fields.
• Actively pursuing a degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Data Analytics, Computer Science or a related program.

Travel:
Travel may be required depending on project assignments or team needs and will vary according to business requirements.