Summer Administration & Business Support Intern

Farming Smarter; Lethbridge; On-site; CAD 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Farming Smarter is seeking a Summer Administration & Business Support Intern for 2027. The role offers hands-on experience across administration, ag-business, finance, HR, client service, and research program support.

The intern will support the Executive Director and teams, keeping day-to-day operations organized, providing responsive client and stakeholder support, and contributing to efficient systems and program delivery.

Qualifications

• Enrolment in, or completion of, a post-secondary program in a related field.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills.
• Professional written and verbal communication.
• Attention to detail and confidentiality.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Comfortable working independently and with multiple teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications (Word/Excel/Outlook/PowerPoint/Teams).

Responsibilities

• Provide executive & administrative support to the Executive Director and team.
• Assist with scheduling, meeting prep, correspondence, and document preparation.
• Organize records and support internal communications and special projects.
• Assist with routine operational processes, purchasing, inventory, and vendor coordination.
• Support basic financial administration: receipts, invoices, expense docs, data entry.
• Support research program administration and reporting documentation.

Skills

Organization

Written & verbal communication

Attention to detail

Time management

Independent & collaborative work

Microsoft 365 proficiency

Education

Post-secondary program in Business Admin/Ag-Business/Finance/Accounting/Human Resources/Office Administration/Agriculture/Communications

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

Term: April 26 – August 27, 2027(adjustable based on school schedules)

Hours: Monday – Friday, 40 hours/week (someovertime may be required)

Compensation: $19–$23 per hour

Buildpractical business experience while supporting agricultural innovation.

Farming Smarter is seeking an organized, service-oriented,and motivated student to join our team as a Summer Administration &Business Support Intern for 2027. Farming Smarter is an independent,producer-driven agricultural research and knowledge transfer organization. Thisposition offers hands-on experience in administration, ag-business, finance,human resources, client service, and research program support.

Workingacross the organization, the intern will support the Executive Director,Knowledge & Network Team, and research programs. The successful candidatewill help keep day-to-day operations organized, provide responsive support toclients and stakeholders, and contribute to efficient systems and successfulprogram delivery.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Executive & Administrative Support

• Aidin scheduling, meeting prep, correspondence, document preparation, filing, andfollow-up support to the Executive Director.
• Prepareagendas, meeting packages, notes, presentations, reports, and other businessdocuments.
• Organizeelectronic and paper records in accordance with established procedures.
• Supportinternal communications, team coordination, and special projects as assigned.

Operations, Finance & Human Resources Support

• Assistwith routine operational processes, purchasing, inventory, office supplies, andvendor coordination.
• Supportbasic financial administration, including organizing receipts, invoices,expense documentation, purchase records, and data entry.
• Identifyopportunities to improve administrative workflows, templates, and internalsystems.

Research Program Administration

• Provideadministrative support to research programs, project leads, and seasonalresearch activities.
• Assistwith project files, agreements, timelines, budgets, contact lists, data-entrytasks, and reporting documentation.

Skillsand Qualifications:

• Strongorganizational, administrative, and time-management skills.
• Professionalwritten and verbal communication skills.
• Excellentattention to detail and commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, and dependablefollow-through.
• Abilityto prioritize multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and adapt to changingneeds.
• Comfortableworking independently and collaboratively across multiple teams.
• Proficiencywith Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint,and Teams.
• Abilityto learn new software, databases, and administrative systems.

Requirements:

• Enrolmentin, or completion of, a post-secondary program in Business Administration,Ag-Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Office Administration,Agriculture, Communications or a related field.
• ValidClass 5 driver’s licence with a clean driver’s abstract and access to reliabletransportation.
• Abilityto attend occasional activities outside regular office hours.

Assets:

• Previousexperience in an office, customer service, finance, human resources,agriculture, or non-profit environment.

Why Join Farming Smarter?

Join asupportive, collaborative workplace that values curiosity, practicalproblem-solving, innovation, and continuous learning.

GainBroad Business Experience

Developtransferable skills across administration, ag-business, finance, humanresources, client service, project coordination, and research program delivery.

Contributeto Meaningful Work

Help anindependent, producer-driven organization deliver practical research andknowledge to farmers and agricultural partners.

BuildYour Network

Work withproducers, researchers, agronomists, industry representatives, funders, andcommunity partners while learning how an agricultural non-profit operates.

AboutFarming Smarter:

FarmingSmarter exists to drive agriculture innovation at the farm level. We support acommunity of innovators through independent agronomic testing, appliedresearch, scientific knowledge, and meaningful industry connections. We are atrusted source for the regional adaptation of profitable and resilient crops,cropping systems, and management practices. Our culture is practical,farmer-focused, and grounded in real-world results. We encourage curiosity,creativity, and continuous learning, recognizing that innovation requirestesting new ideas, learning from setbacks, and adapting to change. As aflexible and responsive organization, we are committed to helping farmersremain competitive and successful in an increasingly complex agriculturallandscape.