What are the responsibilities and job description for the Management Trainee Intern position at Columbia Forest Products?
Job Summary:
The Management Trainee Intern is a hands‑on, on‑site internship designed for a student interested in manufacturing operations, leadership development, and plant management. This role provides exposure to the day‑to‑day realities of running a plywood manufacturing operation, including safety, production flow, quality, labor coordination, and continuous improvement.
The intern will rotate through key operational areas, work closely with supervisors and plant leadership, and support improvement initiatives that strengthen safety, efficiency, and team performance. This internship is intended to build a strong foundation for a future career in operations, production supervision, or plant leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
Operations & Production Exposure
- Spend time on the production floor learning core processes, workflows, and equipment used in plywood manufacturing
- Shadow supervisors and leads to understand shift handoffs, staffing, and daily production priorities
- Observe and assist with production meetings, start‑up checks, and end‑of‑shift reviews
Safety & Quality Support
- Participate in safety walks, hazard identification, and daily safety conversations
- Assist with documentation and follow‑up of safety observations or near‑misses
- Observe quality checks and help identify trends, defects, or process issues
Leadership & People Management Exposure
- Learn how supervisors coach, train, and communicate with hourly production teams
- Assist with onboarding activities, job instruction reviews, and training support
- Observe how performance expectations, accountability, and teamwork are reinforced on the floor
Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement
- Support improvement projects related to safety, productivity, quality, or workflow
- Assist with data collection, observations, and documentation for improvement initiatives
- Participate in problem‑solving efforts using basic Lean or root‑cause techniques
Project & Administrative Support
- Complete a defined summer project aligned with mill priorities
- Prepare simple reports, summaries, or visual boards to communicate findings
- Present project outcomes and learnings to mill leadership at the end of the internship
Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a degree in Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or a related field
- Strong interest in manufacturing, leadership, and plant operations
- Willingness to work on‑site in an industrial environment
- Strong communication skills and comfort interacting with employees at all levels
- Curiosity, initiative, and a hands‑on mindset
What You’ll Gain
- Real‑world exposure to manufacturing leadership and plant operations
- Hands‑on experience working in a plywood mill environment
- Direct mentorship from experienced plant leaders and supervisors
- Experience with safety culture, production management, and continuous improvement
- A strong foundation for future roles in operations leadership, management trainee programs, or supervision
Details:
- Duration of internship will be from June 1st to August 14th.
- Paid up to 40 hours per week
- CFP’s goal is to promote academic, career and personal development