Marketing & Employee Communications Intern

We're looking for someone who can create content people actually want to engage with, whether that's employees checking internal updates or customers learning about what we do. If you can make an internal newsletter feel less like a chore and more like something worth reading, we should talk.

But wait. Will you like it here? We won't make you read an entire job posting to determine that. Take a look at dozens of current and former employees to see if our "vibe" works for you.

Double wait. How much will we pay you, and when can you start? Great questions. The higher-ups tell us the appropriate range is $18-25 per hour based on your relevant experience, education, and demonstrated competencies (and they do their research on this stuff)! AND if you work over 40 hours, you get some extra $$$ (aka this is a non-exempt position and you're eligible for overtime pay if you work over 40 hours per week). We're looking for someone to start...well, as soon as we find you! So, no need to wait for the summer for this internship!

Lastly, before we get to the good stuff, where do you work? We are looking for the best fit for this role (based on creativity, collaboration, and communication skills). We realize that, while we're located in Mundelein, Illinois (and a hybrid situation would be ideal), we're open to remote work anywhere in the US (preferably in Central or Eastern Time Zones). You must also be legally authorized to work in the United States, and we're unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

What You'll Actually Do

This isn't about making tacky posters or graphics for social media that never actually get posted. You'll work on real projects that matter to real people—both inside and outside MacLean-Fogg.

Internal Communications

• Develop content for employee-facing channels, including newsletters (we ❤️ Workshop), intranet updates (we tolerate SharePoint), and company announcements.
• Write in a way that keeps people informed without putting them to sleep.
• Help craft messages that land consistently across all our locations (Bonus: If you're interested in learning about how translation works, we'll train you! We ❤️ Smartcat.)
• Support initiatives that drive genuine employee engagement and alignment with company goals.
• Maintain our brand voice across all internal platforms.

External Marketing

• Create content for social media, digital campaigns, print collateral, and email marketing.
• Write and optimize blog posts for SEO to drive organic traffic and improve search visibility (this is a big one for your future resume)!
• Design materials that work across multiple formats and channels while maintaining brand consistency.
• Partner with our external marketing agency (❤️ Grey Matter) to support project execution and task completion.
• Analyze social media (e.g., LinkedIn) and website performance to identify trends, measure engagement, and provide actionable insights.
• Support product launches, trade shows, and customer-facing campaigns that strengthen our market presence.
• Manage content calendars and coordinate cross-channel campaigns.

You Should Have

• Currently pursuing a degree in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, Journalism, or a related field.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) and/or Canva.
• Strong grasp of design principles, typography, color theory, and branding.
• Understanding of social media platforms, content management, and analytics tools.
• Familiarity with AI tools (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude) and how to leverage them strategically for content ideation, research, workflow efficiency, and more than just making your emails sound slightly more professional.
• Ability to write for different audiences while maintaining voice and brand consistency.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects independently.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

What You'll Actually Learn

• How to develop and execute communication strategies that drive measurable engagement for both internal and external audiences.
• Content creation and management across various platforms and channels, from social media to internal intranets.
• How to use analytics to measure impact, identify patterns, and translate data into strategy.
• Real-world collaboration with external agencies and internal stakeholders to deliver integrated campaigns.
• SEO fundamentals and how to write content that performs in search while staying readable and relevant.
• Project management skills in a manufacturing environment where clarity, precision, and timing matter.
• How to balance competing priorities without dropping all the balls (okay, maybe one or two).

Typically, we don't like the idea of having two managers, but in this case, it works pretty great. Fair warning: one dresses up her 🐈 cat in sweaters, and one is obsessed with his 🐩 poodle. Meet Camilla and Nick! 👋🏻