Job Description

At Frontier cooperative our vision is “Leading the way to develop generational success”.  Due to our unique structure, we benefit from having farmers as, customers, employees, neighbors, family members, friends, board members, owners, and residents of the communities we serve.  We feel that farmers and the cooperative system are special, and we strive to be the model for what the future of agricultural cooperatives look like for future generations.  We also feel it’s crucial to set the example for how to successfully bring multiple (vastly different) generations together, facilitating conversations, providing resources and promoting growth and advocating for change.  None of this is ours, we don’t own anything.  For agriculture and the cooperative system to be sustainable forever, everything is owned by the next generation, we are just temporary stewards. 

That is a big vision, where would an organization even start on something like that?  It begins by creating opportunities, which is one of our Core Values here at Frontier Cooperative.  Our internship program is designed to do exactly that.  It’s an opportunity for a student to learn and experience each business unit and understand why each is necessary for Frontier to be successful. 

People Engagement (Human Resources) Internship

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed. This job description is not intended to be all inclusive of qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

HR Intern will work under the supervision of the Assistant Vice President of People Engagement & Safety to provide administrative support to the People Engagement department. They post and remove job advertisements as needed, schedule interviews with shortlisted candidates, proofread People Engagement and Safety documents, update employee records, field phone calls, assist with new employee orientation, assist with various events and employee training & development.

The People Engagement Intern will directly assist the Assistant Vice President, People Engagement with a wide range of projects related to People Engagement (Human Resources) recruiting, onboarding/orientation, employee benefits, and training and development programs. This internship is designed to be both educational and practical. In this position, the intern will learn how to take skills she or he may have acquired in school related to his or her areas of interest and apply them in a professional setting. He or she will gain a better understanding of the role that Human Resources can play in a non-profit setting and be better prepared to work in the arena of human resources and the nonprofit sector. The candidate will also have opportunities to network with the programs, finance, and development staff.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS AN PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT INTERN

You should keep abreast of the latest developments in labor legislation to determine how company HR policies may be affected. Ultimately, an outstanding HR Intern should be detail-oriented and able to demonstrate excellent administrative and organizational skills. You should also be able to draft employee communications notifying staff of policy and procedural changes.

Operate safely and efficiently office equipment, such as desktop computers, printers, photocopiers and scanners, phone and voice mail systems, two-way radio system; cash register; credit card machine; postage machine; grain weigh scale and probe and the forklift. 

Open, sort and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.

Protect the cooperatives values by keeping all employee and customer data confidential.

Part of this internship will include spending time at one or more Frontier Coop locations.  While at a location an intern will be trained and asked to perform grain scale duties by entering data into the company software program for incoming and outgoing grain trucks and fertilizer tanks; performs grain probe test for moisture levels; visually inspects grain for foreign material; creates weigh tickets for drivers, customers, and the Grain Division.

An internship at Frontier Cooperative will provide a full and realistic view of the work involved in a career in agriculture specifically at a coop.  Our program integrates learning and experiences with practical application and skill development in the workplace.  All interns are provided with a mentor and opportunities in self leadership training and various workshops when available.

All interns will identify a project to focus on during their time at Frontier.  Those projects will be presented in front of our Senior Leadership Team at one of their weekly meetings.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• An interest in Agriculture
• Pursuing a degree in Business, Human Resources, or an agriculture related field.
• A willingness to spend time learning about each business unit of our Cooperative.
• An above basic knowledge and experience with technology i.e., Microsoft office suite.
• Flexibility to work overtime when possible.  The understanding that as an intern there are some things that are a priority above your time at Frontier.
• Ability to repetitively bend, kneel and walk long distances while working in a non-climate-controlled environment and outside in inclement weather.
• The ability to work in a professional office environment is also necessary.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Organization and time management skills
• Must be collaborative, results oriented and possess strong critical thinking skills.
• Ability to adjust to multiple demands, shifting priorities, ambiguity, adversity, and constant change.
• Analytical problem-solving skills
• Ability to travel within our business footprint.

Physical Demands

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an intern to successfully perform the essential functions in the assigned business unit/role. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions.  While performing the duties, an intern must have the ability to regularly use arms, hands, and fingers to handle, feel, reach, grasp, turn, lift, move, twist or bend.  This position frequently requires the ability to sit for long period of time and occasionally stand, walk, balance, stoop, kneel, or crouch.  Depending on the business unit, an intern may need to occasionally lift and/or move between 50 to 75 pounds, frequently lift and/or move between 10-50 pounds. 

Work Environment

While performing the responsibilities of the job, these work environment characteristics are representative of the environment the intern will encounter.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.  While performing the duties of this job, this position may be exposed to moving mechanic parts, dirt, dust, wet, dry, hot, and cold weather conditions. In addition, the intern may have the opportunity to observe work in high precarious places, closed in surroundings, and/or with fertilizers and chemicals.  The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate levels.