Summer Internships Science Jobs in Asheville, NC

Company Overview

Who is Costa Farms? We’re one of the world’s largest horticultural growers—but without an ego to match our acreage. Our headquarters are in Miami, Florida, where we were founded in 1961. Costa Farms started on just 30 acres, and over the last 60 years, we’ve grown to more than 5,000 acres around the world. We have farms in North and South Carolina, Central and South Florida, and the Dominican Republic, plus an office in China. Costa Farms now employs nearly 6,000 people: engineers, marketers, accountants/analysts, human resources professionals, and of course, growers and plant scientists!

Here at Costa Farms, we live by the values of H3: being Humble, staying Hungry, and always Hustling. The team rallies to the mission of being a lean, green, growing machine dedicated to enriching the world by bringing plants into everyone’s life.

True to that mission, we grow more than 1,500 plant varieties. Driven by the spirit of innovation, the team is always testing new plants and developing new solutions to make it easier for retailers and plant parents to enjoy plants. We’re also continuously testing different ways of growing our plants to increase quality and improve their ecological footprint as one aspect of our many sustainability efforts.

We cultivate plants, as well as a winning culture. Join the team, and you’ll find opportunities to learn and grow. You’ll collaborate with other driven, determined people who together keep Costa Farms an industry leader. You’ll support and be supported by a team that cares about each other, our customers, our consumers, and our community.

You’ll also find right away that Costa Farms is committed to providing a diverse environment. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, military status, marital status or veteran status, or any other group status protected by federal, state, or local law.

DESCRIPTION:

Being a Costa Farms intern means you get an immersive experience with the rest of the organization. Working in a project team setting with your peers, you’ll learn all about our business while solving real-world challenges. Your internship as an Engineer will expose you to the Costa Production System (adopted from the Japanese Toyota Production System). If you successfully complete the program, you may receive a contingent offer of employment to return as a full-time employee upon graduation from college.

As an Engineering Intern at Costa Farms your responsibilities may include:

· Leading process improvement projects in a manufacturing facility aiming to increase productivity using Toyota Production System and Lean Manufacturing tools and practices

· Studying and analyzing a production unit’s performance to improve efficiency following DMAIC methodology

RESPONSIBILITIES

• A rising Senior (graduating by the Summer of the following year)
• Be able to attend in-person for 9 weeks at our farm in Leicester, NC (just a few minutes from Asheville)
• Include a resume and cover letter with your application
• Be a resourceful team player who manages ambiguity and is able to adapt to different situations and people
• Demonstrates our humble, hungry, and hustle culture

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3.0 GPA
• Knowledge or courses taken in the area of discipline
• Member of school club(s)
• Comfortable with public speaking
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies

Physical Demands

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body Primarily involves sitting, with occasional requirements to stand, walk, or lift objects to a certain weight.

• Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects,

Work Environment:

The role involves utilizing standard office equipment, such as computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, telephones, and other essential digital tools required for daily tasks.

• Indoor Office Environment: The role is primarily office-based, which may include open spaces with background noise from conversations, office equipment, and phone calls. Occasionally, tasks may require working outdoors in various weather conditions.

• Outdoor Work Environment: Ability to work outdoors in fluctuating weather conditions, including exposure to sunlight, rain, wind, and temperature changes (hot, cold, rainy, windy). Tasks often involve manual labor or physical effort.

SKILLS

COMPETENCIES

• Ensures Accountability
• Action Oriented
• Collaborates
• Communicates Effectively

Paid Internship - $20.00/hr

No housing provided

All applicants must be work-authorized.

Costa Farms will not sponsor any visa for this position.

After applying, follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on what’s happening around Costa Farms and to start becoming part of our family. Come Grow with Us™!

Costa Farms offers competitive wages and benefits, including:

• 401(k) Plan
• Company 401(k) Matching Contributions
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, and Dependent Care
• Telemedicine/ Mental Health Services
• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Supplemental Insurance (Aflac)
• Growth Opportunities
• Challenging and exciting work environment
• Costa Farms Scholarship
• Employee discounts on plants

Costa Farms headquarters also has:

• On-site gym with showers
• Subsidized on-site cafeteria, a quiet room, and indoor games
• Love Where You Work activities throughout the year