Innovation Marketing Internship

Position Title: Global Snacking - Innovation Marketing Intern

Position Type: Temporary - Full-Time ​

Grade: Grade 01 

Requisition ID: 41499 

Innovation Marketing Internship.

Oakbrook, IL

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role.

We are seeking an Innovation Marketing Intern to support our Global Snacking Innovation Marketing team for a 12-week internship beginning in May 2026. This role is designed for a curious, analytical, and future-focused marketer who is passionate about innovation, food trends, and retail strategy.

In this position, you will build critical strategic thinking skills required for a career in innovation marketing, brand management or consumer insights. You will gain hands-on exposure to how consumer and operator insights translate into innovation strategies, pipeline decisions, and retail-ready solutions that come to life in the marketplace.

A core focus of this role will be helping the team identify innovation white space opportunities in the retail channel across the globe by turning data into insights and insights into “jobs to be done”—ultimately helping McCain differentiate, grow, and win with consumers and customers.

What you’ll be doing:  

Innovation & Strategy Development

• Support the team in diving into McCain’s Global Snacking Innovation pipeline architecture, with a focus on Tastiez/Pickers platform
• Explore and evaluate Better-for-You (BFY) trends, Ethnic flavors and formats, and pack-size innovation to unlock new availability and retail opportunities
• Translate consumer, shopper, and operator data into actionable insights and “jobs to be done” that inform future innovation and renovation
• Identify white space opportunities that strengthen McCain’s retail differentiation

Retail Insights

• Develop a strong understanding of how insights drive strategy across the Retail channels
• Analyze how innovation shows up at shelf and on menu—linking consumer needs to retail execution
• Support projects that examine how to build the Tastiez/Pickers portfolio within the category

Data, Analytics & Insight Storytelling

• Build data analytics skills using external data sources such as NPD and IRI
• Mine insights from McCain’s Demand Landscape and Sub-Spaces to inform innovation priorities
• Participate in the creation and presentation of Key Insights and Strategic Recommendations for cross-functional partners

Learning & Collaboration

• Own real-world initiatives that evolve into strategies executed in the marketplace
• Gain exposure to brand marketing, communication development, and new product innovation
• Receive 1:1 coaching and mentorship from Innovation team members and cross-functional partners

What you’ll need to be successful.

• Currently working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or Business Strategy
• Strong curiosity—always asking why consumers behave the way they do and what’s next
• Interest in food, food culture, and emerging food trends
• Passion for innovation, retail strategy, and future-forward thinking
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• A self-starter who is comfortable working independently and collaboratively
• Analytical mindset with a love for digging into data and uncovering insights
• Ability to commute to the Oakbrook Terrace, IL office and work a hybrid schedule (3 days/week onsite)

About the team.

This intern will join the McCain Global Snacking Innovation team, comprised of 65 other marketing Innovation professionals in the US and Canada who serve as the lead on disruptive innovation planning and global pipeline architecture.

About McCain.

Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles.

At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

The McCain experience.

We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

Compensation Package:  $23.00 - $26.00 USD hourly wage equivalent,  paid as a non-exempt salary.

The above reflects the target compensation range for the position at the time of posting. Hiring compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education and training, and other organizational needs. This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Benefits: At McCain, we’re on a mission to create a winning culture that puts employee safety and well-being at the heart of what we do, every day. We understand and appreciate that each person’s needs are unique and ensure our benefits & well-being programs reflect that. Due to the duration of this role, you will not be eligible for traditional benefits through our programs. McCain's early careers programming offers a multitude of learning experiences aimed at advancing your career in the future.

Your well-being matters to us, and we’re here to provide you with the necessary resources to support you in being your best self at work — and at home.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know  and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions. 

Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain’s Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy, as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here. 

Job Family: Marketing      
Division: Global Snacking 
Department: ​Innovation - Snacking ​
Location(s): US - United States of America : Illinois : Chicago || US - United States of America : Illinois : Lisle || US - United States of America : Illinois : Oakbrook Terrace 

Company: McCain Foods USA, Inc.