Temporary Food Systems Internship: Farm to Early Care and Education

Posting Number:

PG195759TM

Position Number:

11ASO3653

Position Type:

Temporary

Essential Job Duties:

Internship Overview:For summer 2026, we are looking for student interns interested in agriculture and local food purchasing and promotion, to work with the child care community in six locations across the state. Interns will support the testing, implementation, and evaluation of the Farm to Early Care and Education local food pathways and support local food programming in the centers.
Examples of food systems intern projects include:

• Farmer outreach
• Development and implementation of ECE food service requirements and local food procurement practices
• Local food distribution routes and logistics
• Local food purchasing data collection
• Recipe and cost analysis for child care meals
• Creation and/or management of online order systems
• Customer outreach and relationship building with child care programs and local community partnerships
• Help child care programs reach their goals in local food purchasing, garden building and cooking activities with children
• Work with NC Cooperative Extension to provide technical assistance to child care programs
• Social media and website management
• Development of policy around ECE food procurement
• Outreach to families

Interns will be placed at NC Partnership for Children Offices, EQuIPD at UNC Greensboro, and Appalachian State University.Interns in Asheville, Goldsboro, Raleigh, and Sanford will be placed at The Partnership for Children, a nonprofit organization that provides services, advocates, and collaborates with others to ensure the wellbeing of children, ages birth to five, so they can reach their health, developmental, and educational potential. Greensboro’s intern will be placed at Education, Quality Improvement, and Professional Development (EQuIPD), whose mission is to nurture and empower early care and education professionals and programs with tools to support and sustain success. Boone’s intern will be placed at Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management.All interns will facilitate the building of local food food systems for child care sites they serve. This cohort of food systems interns will participate in weekly meetings with each other and CEFS Farm to ECE program managers to share, ask questions, and learn from each other as they build local food and ECE connections.
Preference will be given to students that meet the following criteria:

• A current resident of the county in which they will be working, or nearby
• Experience with technology and online platforms
• Good communication skills and self-directed
• Knowledge of, or experience working with farmers and communities

Relevant Skills:

• Preferred experience/study in agriculture, food systems, ag business, or economics
• Experience or knowledge of child care or educational systems in NC
• Familiarity and comfort around young children
• Familiarity or willingness to learn about online sales platforms
• Experience with social media including basic analytics
• Good communication skills
• Preference given to students who live or attend school in communities in close proximity to the host organization of their choice

Requirements for Interns:

• Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree program at any North Carolina university, college, or community college, or have graduated within 6 months of the start of the internship
• Enthusiasm for local foods and a respect for farmers and producers from varied rural and urban communities
• Must attend an orientation on May 18, 2026
• Must hold a drivers license and have access to transportation to the host site
• Must be able to pass a drug screening and background check

Program ComponentsActivities will be organized into five main program elements including:

1. Introductory “Varied Communities and Agriculture across NC” Tours: Two 2-day farm tours and other day trips visiting various agroecosystems and communities throughout NC. These tours are important for students to understand the unique agricultural challenges facing varied producers and communities across NC and the role of cooperative extension.
2. Mentorship and hands-on job training: Each student will be matched with a host site (e.g., Partnership for Children office) and mentor. Mentors will oversee the student on a day-to-day basis, as well as mentor the student in a specific summer project.
3. Professional skills development and agriculture career exploration: All students will participate in professional development activities throughout the summer. These professional development activities will likely include: leadership training, racial equity, understanding agriculture career pathways, and networking opportunities.
4. Professional presentation opportunity: Students will be required to give a professional presentation of their summer project and experiences at the conclusion of the internship.
5. Participation in cohort of summer food systems interns: The cohort of food systems interns will participate in weekly meetings with each other and CEFS Farm to ECE program managers to share, ask questions, and learn from each other as they build local food and ECE connections.

Work Schedule – 40 hours per week for 10 weeks. May 18th – July 24th, 2026

Is Time Limited:

No

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits:

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:

• Health Insurance for Temporary Employees
• Enhance your career with LEAD courses
• Attend non-revenue generating sporting events for free.
  
  

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare discounts, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Job City & State:

Various

Department:

CEFS

Classification Title:

Temporary-Technical/Paraprofessional

Working Title:

Temporary Food Systems Internship: Farm to Early Care and Education

Work Schedule:

40/hrs per week for 10 weeks (05/18-07/24/2026)

Other Work/Responsibilities:

• n/a

Minimum Experience/Education:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree program at any North Carolina university, college, or community college, or been enrolled in the last 6 months
  
  

Department Required Skills:

• Enthusiasm for local foods and a respect for farmers and producers from varied rural communities
• Must attend an orientation on May 18, 2026
• Must hold a drivers license and have access to transportation to the host site

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education:

• A resident of the region they will be working
• Experience with technology and online platforms
• Good communication skills and self-motivated
• Knowledge of, or experience working with farmers and rural communities
• Personal laptop use

Required License or Certification:

• Valid driver’s license

Valid NC Driver's License required?:

No

Commercial Driver's License Required?:

No

Anticipated Hiring Range:

$18/hr

Job Open Date:

02/04/2026

Quick Link:

https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/227126

EEO:

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.