Consumer Connections Intern

Why Hershey:

At The Hershey Company, our culture is rooted in purpose and inspired by Milton Hershey’s enduring vision that business should create opportunity for others. Through our commitment to corporate philanthropy, we create positive impact by supporting communities, helping children thrive, and operating as a business for good. This includes our deep and long standing partnership with Milton Hershey School, where we invest in education, workforce readiness, and hands on engagement to help students succeed beyond the classroom. Supported by strategic grantmaking, product donations, cross brand collaboration, and strong employee volunteerism, Hershey offers a place to work where making a difference—locally and globally—is part of how we do business every day.

Location: Hershey, PA (Hybrid)
Duration: 10–12 weeks (Summer Internship)
Function: Marketing | Consumer Connections

About the Role

This is not a traditional marketing internship.

As a Consumer Connections Ecosystem Incubator Intern, you will work at the center of how Hershey’s connects with consumers across culture, content, media, and platforms. You’ll partner with brand and marketing teams to explore where traditional approaches fall short—and help shape modern, consumer‑first ideas designed for how people engage today.

Throughout the summer, you’ll focus on a single, meaningful business challenge, developing a strategic recommendation that brings together consumer insight, cultural relevance, and brand storytelling.

What You’ll Do

Explore Real Brand Challenges

Collaborate with brand and marketing teams to understand business goals and consumer barriers

• Identify opportunities where current marketing approaches may not fully connect with younger audiences
• Translate complex inputs into clear, consumer‑first insights

Develop a Modern Content‑Led Idea

Design a culturally relevant, platform‑appropriate concept (e.g., social‑first content, creator collaborations, or digital experiences)

• Consider how the idea could live within a broader marketing ecosystem
• Work with internal partners to understand feasibility, brand standards, and execution considerations

Build a Strategic Recommendation

Connect your idea to brand objectives, consumer engagement, and long‑term growth

• Think through success metrics and how impact could be measured
• Incorporate feedback from strategy, media, content, and agency partners

Present to Marketing Leadership

Deliver a final presentation to Consumer Connections and Brand leaders

• Clearly articulate the consumer insight, strategic idea, and recommendation
• Participate in an executive‑level discussion about next‑step considerations

How You’ll Work

Embedded within the Consumer Connections Strategy team

• Gain exposure to:

o        Communications and ecosystem strategy

• Social, creators, and earned media
• Integrated and retail media
• Content production and agency collaboration
• Receive structured mentorship and regular feedback throughout the program

Capstone Experience

At the conclusion of the internship, you’ll present a comprehensive recommendation for a future‑facing Hershey’s brand opportunity.

Select ideas may be:

• Considered for further exploration or development
• Used as internal case studies
• Referenced as part of your professional portfolio experience

Who We’re Looking For

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree, MBA, or master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field
• Strong interest in consumer behavior, culture, and digital platforms
• Ability to synthesize information into a clear, compelling narrative
• Comfortable collaborating across teams and sharing ideas
• Curious, thoughtful, and eager to learn how modern brands are built

Prior CPG experience is not required.

Why This Internship Is Different

• Focus on one impactful project, not a list of tasks
• Exposure to senior marketing leaders and real business decisions
• Experience working at the intersection of strategy, content, and culture
• Portfolio‑worthy work that reflects how brands operate today

About Consumer Connections at Hershey

Consumer Connections is responsible for how Hershey’s brands show up across content, media, platforms, and culture. We design audience‑first marketing ecosystems that connect brand storytelling, creators, and moments—moving beyond traditional advertising toward modern brand engagement.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
 
The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.  

You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability.
You can request an accommodation via phone or email.  

To request an accommodation via phone, please call +1 877-804-1794 and leave a voicemail with your contact information.  You may also email a request for accommodation to [email protected]. Please be sure to include “Accommodation Needed” in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request.