Horticulture Intern

Peckham, Inc.•Grand Rapids, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Horticulture Intern supports daily greenhouse operations while gaining hands-on experience in high-tech greenhouse production. Working under the guidance of horticulture professionals, this entry-level role assists with plant health monitoring, environmental systems observation, irrigation support, data collection, and routine greenhouse maintenance to support efficient and high-quality plant production. The internship provides practical exposure to automated greenhouse technologies, research activities, and agricultural safety practices while developing foundational skills in commercial horticulture.

Requirements

High School (HS) Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
Enrolled in or recently graduated from a Horticulture or applicable Biological Science program.
Ability to adhere to and apply Agricultural Safety Practices
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in English in order to follow cleaning schedules, safety guidelines, Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), and complete logs accurately
Access to reliable transportation
Ability to work independently
Must be willing to work in an environment with extreme temperatures ranging from 37F to 110F

Nice To Haves

Experience with greenhouse growing and/or production
Experience with Irrigation Management
Experience with Equipment Maintenance
Experience with Pest Control

Responsibilities

Assist with monitoring and managing plant health to ensure optimal growth.
Assist with gathering plant, media, and water samples for laboratory analysis.
Record greenhouse production date for review by leadership.
Provide clinical consultation to staff for the purpose of effective service plan development, progress tracking, and achievement of desirable outcomes.
Assist in research and development activities, including plant variety trials.
Periodically seed plug trays and transfer germinated trays to growing areas.
Clean and sanitize nursery growing areas and transfer germinated plug trays into those areas.
Conduct weekly inventory counts of seeds, plug trays, fertilizers, chemicals, and other inputs.
Scout for insect infestations and disease infections, applying bio-rational pest and disease control methods as directed.
Comply with all written Good Manufacturing and Agricultural Practices (GMPs/GAPs) at all times, including but not limited to, personal clothing, personal hygiene, food safety attire, and proper food handling and sanitation.
Populate multiple logs and records for regulatory and operational purposes.
Assist other greenhouse or operational teams with seasonal projects, special initiatives, or facility activities as needed.
Provide observations or feedback to supervisors regarding greenhouse processes, equipment, or workflows to support continuous improvement.
Participate in training, safety meetings, or educational opportunities related to horticulture, greenhouse technology, or agricultural practices.
Complies with all policies and standards.
Assist in maintaining organizational wide quality standards.
Promote Peckham’s vision, value, culture, and commitment to excellent customer services to all team members, staff, customers and stakeholders.
Maintain a safe and clean work environment.
Other related duties as assigned.