Summer 2026 Food Bank Orchard Assistant

Chatham University • Matthews, NC

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank (GPFB) is seeking students to assist in managing their orchard located on the Eden Hall campus of Chatham University. This role involves weekly orchard monitoring, reporting findings to GPFB staff Laura Livingston and Marc Rattay, observing precipitation trends, and irrigating trees as needed. Students will utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices and scouting materials for orchard management. Following these tasks, the student will submit an email detailing the IPM report, irrigation hours, and other important information. The position offers valuable learning experiences in orchard management, specifically covering IPM, phenology, and irrigation. Students will develop skills in observing fruit trees and weather conditions across the growing season, focusing on insect, disease, weed pressures, and beneficial populations. An optional opportunity to visit the GPFB and shadow Marc Rattay is available for further organizational learning.

Requirements

• Must be certified to drive university vehicles
• Must be above the age of 20
• Have a valid driver’s license
• Pass the university driving approval process
• Current student employees should notify their other manager(s) if working multiple jobs on campus at the same time
• May not work more than 20 hours per week (combined between all campus jobs) during the academic year
• May not exceed 980 work hours per calendar year

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing the orchard located on the Eden Hall campus of Chatham University
• Monitor the orchard weekly
• Report findings to Laura Livingston and Marc Rattay of the GPFB
• Observe prior and prospective weekly precipitation trends
• Irrigate the trees accordingly
• Use Integrated Pest Management practices (IPM) and scouting materials
• Send a short email with the IPM report, irrigation hours, and any other important details to Livingston and Rattay

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees