Operations Intern Jobs in Iowa
Operations Intern jobs in Iowa are concentrated in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, where supply chain, agricultural processing, and insurance operations anchor consistent intern hiring. Large employers with deep Iowa roots, including Principal Financial Group, Collins Aerospace, and Hy-Vee, run structured intern programs that expose candidates to logistics coordination, process improvement, and vendor management. Demand is especially strong for interns with analytical and project coordination skills who can support lean operations teams. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 39+ Operations Intern jobs
National Carwash Solutions has grown over the past 50 years to become North America’s largest equipment, service, and cleaning solutions provider in the car wash industry. Our world-class brands are backed by the largest service network in the country with more than 300 dedicated service professionals and growing! Come join us for an extraordinary career in a high growth, team-oriented company!
Job Summary:
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Operations Management Intern to join our team. This role offers hands-on experience in production planning, process improvement, inventory and materials flow, and operational reporting. The ideal candidate will support the Operations Manager and cross-functional teams in improving efficiency, on-time delivery, quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness while learning how a manufacturing operation runs day to day.
Job Duties:
- Supports production scheduling and monitors work-in-process status across fabrication, welding, and assembly
- Assists with documenting and implementing standard work in both assembly and welding
- Assists with tracking and analyzing production metrics (throughput, cycle time, downtime, labor efficiency, and on-time completion)
- Assists with inventory control, cycle counts, and materials replenishment
- Reviews and analyzes manufacturing functions, submitting suggestions to improve efficiency, quality, safety and cost
- Reviews cost savings or any type of other suggestions submitted by employees pertaining to the manufacturing process; participates in investigation and responding to the suggestions
- Acts as a liaison between operations, production, purchasing, supply chain, and engineering to communicate schedules, constraints, and priorities
- Prepares routine operational reports, dashboards, and KPI summaries in Excel
- Supports make-vs-buy and capacity analyses, including gathering cost and lead-time data
- Supports continuous improvement projects (lean, Kaizen events, root-cause analysis)
- Coordinates with purchasing and supply chain on material availability and shipping and receiving schedules
- Participates in daily production and safety meetings and helps track action items
- Maintains SOPs and other operational documentation
- Participates in quality checks and documents nonconformances
- Assists with the organization and good housekeeping of the NCS facility (6S Practices)
- Complies with all applicable OSHA, EPA, DOT, local regulatory laws, and company safety policies
- Management retains the discretion to add or change the duties of this position at any time
Qualifications
- Pursuing Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
- Candidate in Sophomore, Junior or Senior year
- Required to use basic math and writing skills
- Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, with working knowledge of Word and PowerPoint
- Preferred: exposure to lean, 6S, or ERP/MRP systems
- Preferred: prior manufacturing, warehouse, or logistics experience
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift medium weight up to 40 lbs.
- Must have adequate sight to read drawings and other documents
- May stoop, bend, reach, walk; perform repetitive motions using hands to grasp, push, pull or do fine manipulations
- Ability to climb ladders safely
- May sit or stand for prolonged periods of time
Activity
None
< 3 hours/day
3 -6 hours/day
> 6 hours/day
Stand
X
Walk
X
Sit
X
Use hands to finger, handle, & feel
X
Reach with hands & arms
X
Stoop, kneel, crouch
X
Climb
X
Balance
X
Talk or hear
X
Look at a computer screen
X
Lift up to 40 lbs.
X
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Management retains the right to change job duties and responsibilities at any time, based on business need.
National Carwash Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
National Carwash Solutions has grown over the past 50 years to become North America’s largest equipment, service, and cleaning solutions provider in the car wash industry. Our world-class brands are backed by the largest service network in the country with more than 300 dedicated service professionals and growing! Come join us for an extraordinary career in a high growth, team-oriented company!
Job Summary:
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Operations Management Intern to join our team. This role offers hands-on experience in production planning, process improvement, inventory and materials flow, and operational reporting. The ideal candidate will support the Operations Manager and cross-functional teams in improving efficiency, on-time delivery, quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness while learning how a manufacturing operation runs day to day.
Job Duties:
- Supports production scheduling and monitors work-in-process status across fabrication, welding, and assembly
- Assists with documenting and implementing standard work in both assembly and welding
- Assists with tracking and analyzing production metrics (throughput, cycle time, downtime, labor efficiency, and on-time completion)
- Assists with inventory control, cycle counts, and materials replenishment
- Reviews and analyzes manufacturing functions, submitting suggestions to improve efficiency, quality, safety and cost
- Reviews cost savings or any type of other suggestions submitted by employees pertaining to the manufacturing process; participates in investigation and responding to the suggestions
- Acts as a liaison between operations, production, purchasing, supply chain, and engineering to communicate schedules, constraints, and priorities
- Prepares routine operational reports, dashboards, and KPI summaries in Excel
- Supports make-vs-buy and capacity analyses, including gathering cost and lead-time data
- Supports continuous improvement projects (lean, Kaizen events, root-cause analysis)
- Coordinates with purchasing and supply chain on material availability and shipping and receiving schedules
- Participates in daily production and safety meetings and helps track action items
- Maintains SOPs and other operational documentation
- Participates in quality checks and documents nonconformances
- Assists with the organization and good housekeeping of the NCS facility (6S Practices)
- Complies with all applicable OSHA, EPA, DOT, local regulatory laws, and company safety policies
- Management retains the discretion to add or change the duties of this position at any time
Qualifications
- Pursuing Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
- Candidate in Sophomore, Junior or Senior year
- Required to use basic math and writing skills
- Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, with working knowledge of Word and PowerPoint
- Preferred: exposure to lean, 6S, or ERP/MRP systems
- Preferred: prior manufacturing, warehouse, or logistics experience
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift medium weight up to 40 lbs.
- Must have adequate sight to read drawings and other documents
- May stoop, bend, reach, walk; perform repetitive motions using hands to grasp, push, pull or do fine manipulations
- Ability to climb ladders safely
- May sit or stand for prolonged periods of time
Activity
None
< 3 hours/day
3 -6 hours/day
> 6 hours/day
Stand
X
Walk
X
Sit
X
Use hands to finger, handle, & feel
X
Reach with hands & arms
X
Stoop, kneel, crouch
X
Climb
X
Balance
X
Talk or hear
X
Look at a computer screen
X
Lift up to 40 lbs.
X
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Management retains the right to change job duties and responsibilities at any time, based on business need.
National Carwash Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
See All 39 Operations Intern Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Operations Intern JobsOperations Intern Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Operations Intern Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Agriculture & Farming
- Distribution & Wholesale
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in operations intern jobs across Iowa.
- Currently enrolled in a business, supply chain, or industrial engineering undergraduate program
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and operational reporting
- Ability to work on-site at Iowa facilities for the full internship term
- Familiarity with process improvement frameworks such as Lean or Six Sigma basics
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional team coordination
- Experience or coursework in project management, logistics, or business operations
Operations Intern Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a operations intern in Iowa?
Operations intern roles in Iowa do not require a state-issued license or certification. The standard path is enrolling in a business administration, supply chain management, or industrial engineering program at an Iowa university such as the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, or the University of Northern Iowa, then applying to structured internship programs during your sophomore or junior year through campus recruiting or employer career fairs.
Which companies hire operations interns in Iowa?
Iowa operations intern roles are posted by AgVantage FS, Heartland Co-op, and Landus and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Iowa's concentration of insurance, agricultural processing, and aerospace manufacturing employers means operations intern openings appear across a broad range of industries beyond what many other Midwest states offer.
Which Iowa cities have the most operations intern jobs?
Des Moines, Fairfield, and Okoboji have the most operations intern openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives the largest share because it is home to major insurance and financial services headquarters, while Cedar Rapids draws hiring from aerospace and food manufacturing employers, and Iowa City benefits from University of Iowa health system and research operations.
Are there remote operations intern jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of operations intern openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, facility-based nature of most operations roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements are data analysis, procurement coordination, and process documentation work within larger corporate operations teams.
How can I get hired as a operations intern in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to structured intern programs run by large Iowa employers such as Principal Financial Group, Collins Aerospace, and John Deere, which regularly hire candidates without prior operations experience. Campus recruiting events at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa are where these employers most actively source candidates. A completed coursework portfolio in supply chain or business process, or a student organization role in operations or logistics, gives candidates a visible edge.
Where can I find and apply to operations intern jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to operations intern jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and availability, and apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 39 Operations Intern Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Operations Intern Jobs