Quality Intern

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream•Bakersfield, CA

About The Position

The Quality Intern supports the Quality team in ensuring ice cream products meet food safety, regulatory, and company quality standards. The role assists with inspections, documentation, testing, and continuous improvement activities to maintain product integrity and compliance. The intern will gain practical experience with food safety systems such as HACCP, GMP, and SQF/BRC; learn ice cream manufacturing processes including mixing, pasteurization, freezing, and packaging; develop quality data analysis and reporting skills; and learn to work in a regulated food production environment. The role also supports production and business goals by following production plans and standard operating procedures, helping reduce downtime and waste, maintaining an organized workstation, and using materials and equipment responsibly. The intern is expected to follow safety, food safety, hygiene, allergen-control, environmental, and company policies, and to contribute to a safe, collaborative, and continuously improving workplace. The pay is $25 per hour. Visa sponsorship and immigration support are not available; applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a degree in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
Strong attention to detail and an analytical mindset.
Ability to work in a cold and fast-paced production environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and basic data analysis.
Legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future; visa sponsorship and immigration support are not available.

Nice To Haves

Basic knowledge of food safety principles.

Responsibilities

Assist with routine quality checks on raw materials, in-process products, and finished goods.
Support sensory evaluations of ice cream products, including taste, texture, and appearance.
Participate in GMP and sanitation audits on the production floor.
Help monitor critical control points (CCPs) and document compliance with HACCP plans.
Collect and analyze microbiological and physical test samples.
Assist with investigations of quality deviations, including root cause analysis.
Support documentation and maintenance of quality records, logs, and reports.
Collaborate with production teams to reinforce food safety and quality standards.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, such as reducing defects, waste, or complaints.
Meet daily production targets by operating efficiently and following production plans and instructions.
Report issues promptly to help reduce downtime and keep the production line running smoothly.
Use raw materials, packaging, supplies, and equipment responsibly to avoid waste or damage.
Maintain an organized and efficient workstation and follow standard operating procedures.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.
Follow GMPs, quality checks, testing, and documentation requirements; stop and escalate when product quality is incorrect.
Help ensure products meet safety, quality, and environmental standards at every stage, including by following sanitation and allergen controls.
Participate in audits, inspections, and quality improvement efforts.
Follow safety rules, support team members, communicate clearly, and report hazards, near misses, or unsafe behaviors.
Participate in required training and development and meet attendance, punctuality, and teamwork expectations.
Comply with company policies and regulatory, environmental, and food safety standards; support sustainability efforts by minimizing waste, recycling where required, and using resources efficiently.
Demonstrate ownership, sound judgment, transparency, continuous improvement, openness to feedback, inclusion, fairness, and respect.