2025 Product Design Co-op Job at Colgate-Palmolive Company in Topeka

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition, we sell our products in more than 200 countries and territories under brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso, Tom's of Maine, EltaMD, Filorga, Irish Spring, PCA SKIN, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Speed Stick, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Pet Nutrition.

We are recognized for our leadership and innovation in promoting sustainability and community wellbeing, including our achievements in decreasing plastic waste and promoting recyclability, saving water, conserving natural resources and improving children's oral health.

If you want to work for a company that lives by their values, then give your career a reason to smile and join our global team!

Our internships are unique in that you will work on a substantial project with one-on-one guidance from one of our many experts in the Animal Health research field. You will have the opportunity to network with other students in our program as well as get exposure to senior leaders in our company and our parent company, Colgate-Palmolive. And you'll get paid while you learn! In your downtime, learn how to network and ask our leaders about their experiences to gain greater perspective and learn how you can fit into our family.

Education / Experience Requirements

Minimum 3.0 overall GPA

Must be current Junior or Senior

Degree focus in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemistry, or related field

Ability to work in the United States on a permanent and unlimited basis

Mobility and ability to relocate to Topeka, Kansas for the semester

The Hill's Product Development Interns will work closely in a cross functional team with Sensory, Packaging and Product Development scientists. Our interns will contribute to building a database for our products and support effective decision making regarding product design of food that continues to delight our pets and Pet parents.

Potential projects include:

Working cross functionally to develop an ingredient dosing capability tool for scientists to utilize while formulating. This tool should require little to no ongoing maintenance to keep it relevant to current plant capabilities.

Researching and potentially qualifying new protein ingredient options for our formulation arsenal.

Considerations should include, but not be limited to, animal health, cost, availability (near and long term), sustainability (carbon footprint), nutrition and physical characteristics.

Analysing product stability using both accelerated aging and ambient studies to determine the optimum product design, shelf life and packaging for our products.

Pay is based on multiple non-discriminatory, individualized factors including but not limited to experience, job-related knowledge and education, skills and office/market location. In addition to base salary, salaried employees are eligible for annual discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing and, for Executive-level (salary grade 16 and above) roles only, long-term incentives in the form of Restricted Stock Units and/or Stock Options.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable benefits plans then in effect, all salaried employees are also eligible for a competitive benefits package which includes:

* Insurance: Employees (and their eligible dependents) are eligible to participate in Company-sponsored Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Disability insurance plans.

* Retirement Plans: Employees are eligible to enroll in Colgate's 401(k) plan, which provides for company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements

* Vacation/PTO: Employees receive a minimum of 15 days of vacation/PTO leave annually

* Paid Holidays: Employees receive a minimum of 13 paid/floating holidays annually

* Paid Sick Leave: Based on location and consistent with applicable state and local law, employees receive a minimum of 40 hours of paid sick leave on January 1st of each year

* Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees may take up to eight weeks of paid parental leave and 12 weeks of unpaid leave (varies for employees with fewer than 12 months of service and is subject to hours worked requirements)

Our Commitment to Sustainability

With the Colgate brand in more homes than any other, we are presented with great opportunities and new challenges as we work to integrate sustainability into all aspects of our business and create positive social impact. We are determined to position ourselves for further growth as we act on our 2025 Sustainability & Social Impact Strategy.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our purpose starts with our people - ensuring our workforce represents the people and communities we serve -and creating an environment where our people feel they belong; where we can be our authentic selves, feel treated with respect and have the support of leadership to impact the business in a meaningful way.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please contact Application_Accommodation@colpal.com with the subject "Accommodation Request" should you require accommodation.

For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please click