Vegetables Seed Production Intern

Job Description

At Syngenta, our goal is to build the most collaborative and trustworthy team in agriculture, providing top-quality seeds and innovative crop protection solutions that improve farmers' success. We invite you to help shape the future of agriculture and play a role in safely feeding the world while caring for our planet.

Syngenta's SE Production Operations Team is seeking a Vegetables Seed Production Intern in Woodland, CA. This internship role will execute established Small Seed Vegetables (SSV) production activities to assure that Syngenta has a consistent, timely, and reliable supply of high-quality seed in the Cage Production and Commercial Open Field Program.

As part of Syngenta's Emerging Talent Program, you will gain hands-on experience, exposure to day-to-day business operations, and opportunities to apply your academic knowledge to real-world challenges while developing your professional skills.

Accountabilities:

• Foster an operational culture founded on adherence to all applicable HSE and other corporate policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Support Agronomists and Field Production Technicians in field-related activities as directed at the Woodland, California production site.
• Participate in accurate and timely crop scouting and data collection of emergence and vegetative growth stages, pollination dates, stand counts, and IPM scouting thresholds.
• Perform activities related to planting, scouting, weed and insect management, rouging, safety, training, harvesting, and reporting at the site.
• Perform a project to study potential production improvements. Present findings to the Field Production Team in Woodland, California.
• Ensure all clean-downs and changeovers are done correctly to eliminate any product mixture.
• Actively support an image that reflects the highest regard for cleanliness and organization.
• Perform other duties as required to meet field operations needs.
• Work alongside the Agronomist and Operations Teams to execute key projects/deliverables in the processing of vegetable seeds.
• Support field activities, such as trial coordination, rouging, disease and weed scouting, pollination, harvesting, threshing, drying, and delivery from grower to processing facility.
• Complete data validation and reports to support global and regional operations needs, comprising equipment run time and scheduling needs.
• Support Quality and HSE functions to drive key programs and targeted metrics.
• Cooperate with Field Quality and Production Research personnel to identify, develop, and implement projects to improve reliability, quality, and/or cost.

Qualifications

• A High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Enrollment in a Bachelor’s or advanced degree program in an applicable discipline (Agronomy, Agricultural Business, Plant Science/Biology, or another closely related major is preferred).

Desired Qualifications:

• Students with Sophomore or Junior class standing are highly encouraged to apply.
• Bilingual (English and Spanish) is ideal but not required.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Self-motivated, go-getter with a strong results orientation.
• The ability to analyze crops and communicate information (written and spoken) is highly desired in this position.
• Trusted: Will need to make sound judgment calls regarding seed quality management that are in the best interest of the company.
• Excellent computer skills, such as proficiency in both Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.
• Innovative: Always looking to improve work efficiency and field-related technologies.
• Detail/Accuracy-Oriented: All procedures and policies must be understood and followed.
• Ability to perform basic math functions.
• Valid driver’s license and personal transportation to and from the worksite (Woodland Site Office).
• Ability to build relationships and work well in a team-based environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage deadlines while maintaining focus on details.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to organize thoughts, data, etc.
• Ability to learn, willingness to ask questions, and ability to adapt to change.

Additional Information

Salary for this position ranges between $20 - $45 hourly.

What We Offer: 

• A culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members. 
• ⁠Competitive wages
• Ongoing career development resources
• The opportunity to work on meaningful, innovative projects that solve problems

Syngenta is committed to creating a culture that celebrates belonging and collaboration, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members 

Syngenta has been ranked as a top employer by Science Journal. Learn more about our team and our mission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVCN_51GbNI 

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

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