Summer 2026 Intern – R&D Strategy & Operations

Summer 2026 Intern – R&D Strategy & Operations

The Project Management Summer Intern will support the R&D Strategy & Operations team by assisting with project tracking, portfolio reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives across the R&D organization. This internship offers hands‑on exposure to real R&D projects, portfolio‑level reporting, and governance processes in a fast‑paced, cross‑functional environment.

The intern will work closely with Program Managers and R&D leaders to help ensure accurate project data, clear reporting, and effective team coordination.

Shift/Schedule:

• The KDP 2026 internship program will run from June 1 – August 7, 2026
• Full-time; 40 hours per week
• Monday-Friday
• In-person in our Frisco, TX R&D facility

As an R&D Strategy & Operations Intern you will work on:

Project & Portfolio Support

• Assist with updating project schedules, milestones, and status trackers
• Help maintain project and portfolio data in shared tools (Excel, SharePoint, Planner, Power BI inputs)
• Support tracking of key actions, risks, issues, and dependencies across R&D initiatives

Reporting & Dashboards

• Support preparation of weekly and monthly project status summaries
• Assist with validating and organizing data used in R&D portfolio dashboards
• Help ensure consistency and data quality across reports and trackers

Process & Continuous Improvement

• Support R&D intake and governance processes by capturing data for new work requests
• Assist with documenting processes, templates, and standard definitions
• Participate in small process improvement or reporting enhancement initiatives

Meeting & Communication Support

• Help prepare meeting agendas, slide content, and status summaries
• Capture notes, action items, and follow‑ups from project and portfolio meetings
• Coordinate with stakeholders to gather updates and information as needed

What You’ll Learn

• How R&D projects move from intake through execution and launch
• How cross‑functional teams collaborate within a large R&D organization
• Practical application of project management fundamentals

Success Looks Like

By the end of the internship, the intern will have:

• Contributed to live R&D projects and portfolio reporting
• Gained hands‑on experience with project management tools
• Built a foundational understanding of R&D new product development processes
• Delivered tangible outputs such as reports, trackers, or documentation

Elements of the KDP 2026 Intern Program include:

• Engaging and partnering on innovative projects to gain experience in a fast paced, cross functional team environment
• Receive mentor support for your professional development
• Participate in meet & greets and lunch & learns with KDP executives and other organization leaders
• Receive professional development training such as networking, professional skills development and presenting
• Complete a project from start to finish and present it and your takeaways to your team, department, and senior leaders to highlight your project work and impact on the business

• $31.00/ hour
• Paid bi-weekly
• $2,500.00 Sign-on Bonus, paid within first 30 days of employment

Requirements

• Undergraduate currently enrolled in a full time academic program from an accredited college or university, majoring in Business, Engineering, Project Management, Operations, or another related field
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Preferred (Nice to Have)

• Interest in project management, new product development or cross functional business roles
• Familiarity with basic project concepts (milestones, timelines, risks)
• Exposure to Microsoft Project or Planner or other project management
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize requests, and meet deadlines
• Strong communication skills including excellent listening, written, and verbal abilities
• Ability to work cross-functionally, be independently driven, and adapt to changes
• Strong skills in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint 
• Technical skills (basic engineering knowledge), analytical and problem solving skills (data collection and analysis, troubleshooting), and digital and software skills (auto cad, technical drawing interpretation) are preferred

Please note: You must be work authorized in the United States on a full time basis without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future. The Company cannot offer employment to F-1 (student) visa holders who require employer sponsorship in the future or cannot work now on a full time basis. 

We incorporate HireVue, an automated interview tool, into our campus recruitment process. Please visit this link to learn more about HireVue and how to prepare. *We recommend checking with your campus career center for additional preparation resources such as InterviewStream, Big Interview and more.

Keurig Dr Pepper (Nasdaq: KDP) is a leading beverage company with more than 150 owned, licensed and partner brands that meet a wide range of needs and occasions. Our North American refreshment beverage business holds leadership positions across carbonated soft drinks, water, juice and mixers with a portfolio of iconic brands such as Dr Pepper®, Canada Dry®, Mott’s®, A&W®, Peñafiel®, GHOST®, 7UP®, Snapple®, Clamato® and Core Hydration®. Our global coffee business spans more than 100 markets and includes the leading Keurig® single‑serve brewing system in the U.S. and Canada, along with powerhouse brands such as Peet’s, L’OR and Jacobs, and other regional coffee leaders. Our more than 50,000 employees aim to enhance the experience of every beverage and coffee occasion while making a positive impact for people, communities and the planet.

We strive to be an employer of choice, providing a culture and opportunities that empower our team to grow and develop. We offer robust benefits to support your health and wellness as well as your personal and financial well-being. We also provide employee programs designed to enhance your professional growth and development, while ensuring you feel valued, inspired and appreciated at work.

Whatever your area of expertise, at KDP you can be a part of a team that’s proud of its brands, partnerships, innovation and growth. Will you join us?

Keurig Dr Pepper is an equal opportunity employer and recruits qualified applicants and advances in employment its employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or association with a person with a disability, medical condition, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

A.I. Disclosure: 
KDP uses artificial intelligence to assist with initial resume screening and candidate matching. This technology helps us efficiently identify candidates whose qualifications align with our open roles.  AI does not make hiring decisions; all decisions throughout the hiring process are made by talent acquisition team members.  If you prefer not to have your application processed using artificial intelligence, you may opt out by emailing your resume and qualifications directly to kdpjobs@kdrp.com in lieu of clicking Apply. In order for your application to be considered and opted out of AI, you must include the words "AI Opt-Out" and either job title and location or Job ID # in the email subject line in your email application.