Safety Intern

Perdue Farms; Rockingham (NC); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Job summary

Perdue Foods invites students to join as a Safety Intern for 10–12 weeks, gaining hands-on experience in safety practices, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in a food production setting. You’ll support the Safety Team across plant operations and contribute to meaningful projects.

The role requires rising sophomore to senior pursuing a bachelor’s in Occupational Safety or related field, with a 3.0 GPA, proficiency in Microsoft Office, and strong analytical, communication, and

Qualifications

• Must be a rising Sophomore, Junior or Senior pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, or related field.
• Must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Must be proficient at Microsoft Office and able to learn new software.
• Possess strong analytical, communication and time management skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work independently or effectively in a team environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in conducting safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments across departments.
• Support incident investigations and root cause analyses.
• Help develop and deliver safety training materials for associates.
• Participate in ergonomic assessments and hazard identification.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement corrective actions.
• Present findings and recommendations to site leadership at the end of the internship.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Time management

Leadership

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Safety/Industrial Hygiene/Environmental Science

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive.

That’s Perdue.

Summary

Join our team as a Safety Intern and gain hands‑on, real‑world experience with Perdue Foods! This 10‑to‑12‑week internship offers an inside look at safety practices, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement in a food production environment. You will support the Safety Team in executing initiatives across plant operations, contributing to meaningful projects while learning how safety drives operational excellence and protects people, products, and processes.

• Competitive Pay
• Exciting Social, Philanthropic, and Networking Events with other Perdue Interns
• Hands‑On, Real World Work Experience and a Dedicated Summer Mentor
• Learning Workshops
• Travel to Perdue Locations Such as our Innovation Center, Perdue Learning University and Live Production Farms
• Interaction with Senior Leadership
• Housing Stipend

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist in conducting safety audits, inspections, and risk assessments across departments.
• Support incident investigations and root cause analyses.
• Help develop and deliver safety training materials for associates.
• Participate in ergonomic assessments and hazard identification.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to implement corrective actions.
• Present findings and recommendations to site leadership at the end of the internship.

Minimum Education And Experience

• Must be a rising Sophomore, Junior or Senior currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at an accredited university in Occupational Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental Science, or related field.
• Must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Must be proficient at Microsoft Office and able to learn new software.
• Possess strong analytical, communication and time management skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work independently or effectively in a team environment.

Preferred Education And Experience

• Strongly prefer a rising Junior or Senior who has completed at least 2 college‑level communication courses.

Physical Requirements And Environmental Factors

• Ability to work for 8 hours or more in a stationary position or travel on wet, moist, dry, greasy floors which may include metal or plastic grating surfaces with up to 4 hours in a single interval.
• Ability to work from various types of ladders and/or stairs.
• Exposure to and work in temperatures of less than -40 degrees and 75 degrees with ambient humidity.
• Noise exposure of 110 db, and light intensity range of 50-to-100-foot candles.
• Bending, twisting, lifting up to 50 lbs, reaching, sitting, and grasping varies in repetitions, distance, degrees, angle, weight, heights, longest interval of time, objects grasped, and body positions depending upon the maintenance task required.
• Exposure to chlorinated water (50 ppm, ammonia vapors) 5 ppm, dry ice, caustic detergents, lubricating oils, hydraulic oils, and other chemicals found in a poultry processing plant.
• Must use and/or wear protective and safety equipment required for the job.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.