Compost Production and Engineering Internship

Internship positions may include competitive hourly pay, hands-on industry experience, mentorship from experienced leaders, and exposure to professional projects in agribusiness operations. Students seeking academic credit are welcome. The company is willing to coordinate with the student’s college or university and complete any required paperwork to facilitate academic credit.

The Agricultural Engineering Intern will support the compost production team with a primary focus on windrow analysis, monitoring, and optimization. This internship provides hands-on experience in large-scale composting operations within a commercial gardening compost company. The intern will assist in evaluating compost windrows for temperature, moisture, oxygen levels, particle size, and overall biological activity to ensure compliance with operational standards and product quality goals.

This position is ideal for a student pursuing a degree in Crop and Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Conduct routine temperature monitoring of compost windrows in accordance with regulatory and operational requirements.
2. Assist with monitoring compost piles, including temperature tracking, moisture management, and turning schedules.
3. Maintain accurate records of windrow conditions and turning schedules.
4. Input and analyze data using spreadsheets or compost management software.
5. Assist in generating weekly and monthly performance reports.
6. Identify trends and recommend process improvements based on data analysis.
7. Evaluate aeration and moisture management strategies.
8. Participate in windrow turning and equipment observation.
9. Follow all safety procedures while working around heavy machinery and materials.
10. Perform site inspections to ensure environmental compliance

Competencies

• Understanding of composting science, soil biology, and organic matter decomposition.
• Ability to collect, interpret, and analyze quantitative field data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel or similar data analysis tools.
• Familiarity with environmental regulations related to composting (preferred but not required).
• Strong analytical thinking with attention to detail.
• Ability to clearly document findings and observations.
• Capable of presenting data summaries and recommendations to supervisors.
• Effective collaboration with operations staff and management.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position requires no supervisory responsibility.

Work Environment

This job operates in exposure to direct sunlight and weather 50% of the time. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration. The noise level in the work environment and job sites can be loud. This job also operates in an office and, in some cases, from a remote location. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, lift, push, pull, stoop, or bend. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift products and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds as needed and operate equipment.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is an internship position designed for the summer semester, 10-12 weeks is the expected duration. Days and hours can change at the discretion of the Senior Agronomist; though typical hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Expected Education and Experience

1. Customer Service experience
2. Ability to read and interpret general business periodicals and professional journals
3. Ability to solve practical industry related problems.
4. Professional or educational experience in Crop and Soil Science, Agricultural Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or a related field
5. Pre-employment background check and drug screening required.