- Location
- Petersfield England UK
- Employment
- Contract
- Seniority
- Intern
- Department
- Manufacturing, Artisanal & Industrial Operations
- Industry
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Prestige Beauty
- Posted
- 16, 2026
About Estée Lauder Companies
The Estée Lauder Companies is a global leader in prestige beauty, founded in 1946 by Estée and Joseph Lauder and built on an enduring belief in creativity, high-touch service, and entrepreneurial spirit. As an employer, the Group offers talent the scale of an international house with the energy of distinctive brands across skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care. Its culture values innovation, inclusion, learning, and responsible growth, inviting professionals to shape consumer experiences from laboratory to counter, digital platform to boardroom. Employees join a purpose-led organization where heritage, artistry, and scientific excellence meet to define the future of luxury beauty.
Estée Lauder Companies seeks an Operational Excellence Engineer Intern for a 12-month fixed-term contract at Whitman Laboratories in Petersfield. The intern will embed Lean principles, improve manufacturing processes and KPIs, coordinate product-launch activities, and support operational decision-making and continuous improvement.
Role & Responsibilities
- Drive operational excellence and Lean standards in Assembly, standardising processes across Operations and embedding them within the Work Centre.
- Lead key routines focused on adherence to standards (SDCA) and develop plans to meet priorities (PDCA).
- Manage projects to improve KPIs, reduce process variation and enhance overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
- Support investment projects using Lean principles and coach employees to perform critical processes effectively.
- Prepare visual, concise and conclusive presentations to support strategic operational decisions.
- Coordinate RFT activities across NPP, QA, QE and Operations to ensure effective execution and integration of new product innovation and launches.
- Promote continuous improvement across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People.
- Lead workshops and coaching sessions to drive engagement and operational excellence.
- Participate in networking activities within and outside the ELC international group, sharing best practices to position the plant as a model site.
Qualifications
- Currently studying toward an undergraduate engineering degree or related subject and on track to achieve a 2:1 or higher; a chemical, industrial or mechanical engineering degree is preferred.
- Strong numerical and analytical skills, with excellent attention to detail.
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
- Strong organisational and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team and meet deadlines.
Skills
Education
Currently studying toward an undergraduate engineering degree or related subject and on track to achieve a 2:1 or higher; a chemical, industrial or mechanical engineering degree is preferred.
Workplace
This position is based in Petersfield, England, UK, within easy reach of Portsmouth.
Explore jobs in England or in the UK.
Culture
The Estée Lauder Companies fosters a collaborative, inclusive workplace where creativity, entrepreneurial thinking, and a passion for prestige beauty are deeply valued. As a global house of distinctive brands, it offers employees an environment that encourages innovation, professional growth, and a shared commitment to excellence and consumer inspiration.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Estée Lauder Companies, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Continuous Improvement Engineering Intern», «Lean Manufacturing Intern», «Process Improvement Engineering Intern», «Manufacturing Excellence Intern», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.