our team

Calling all college students! good phyte has teamed up with the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership to pair students across Virginia with paid internships. We are seeking two local students who are interested in gaining hands-on experience and being a part of a small team in a growing business. 

Both internship positions will be at our snack lab location at 1111 Rose Hill Drive in Charlottesville, VA. Start dates are immediate and duration of the internship is for 6 months. Each position is for 10-12 hours a week, and you will be compensated at an hourly rate of $17/hr.

Production Assistant Internship 

We are hiring a dedicated, reliable, and energetic Production Assistant (PA) intern to join the team in our kitchen. This internship is a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in the health food industry, including food production, ingredient preparation, and packaging, while learning about operational efficiency and quality standards.

Responsibilities:

• Count, label, and properly date bags for finished product. May assist in filling bags with finished product once trained
• Prepare vegetables for recipes (chop/roast/steam and weigh for storage)
• Assist the Production Manager and Supervisor with ingredient preparation (accurately weighing fruit, seeds, etc.)
• Assist in execution of recipes
• Assist in labeling, bagging, and properly storing finished product
• Aid in the proper storage and organization of ingredients and supplies
• Wash and appropriately store cooking appliances, instruments, utensils, cutting boards, and dishes; as well as properly cleaning food preparation areas according to established standards of hygiene
• Participate in maintaining the cleanliness of food preparation areas, including sweeping, mopping, and sanitizing surfaces

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in food production processes within a small health food business
• An understanding of health and safety standards in food preparation and storage
• Skills in teamwork, communication, and operational efficiency
• Exposure to the inner workings of a growing business in the health food industry

Requirements:

• Previous kitchen experience of some degree is preferred, but the most important assets are a passion for nutritious food, a willingness to learn, and attention to accuracy and consistency.
• This position requires the ability to stand for extended periods, and the ability to work collegially in a friendly team environment but also independently as needed.
• Must have good organizational skills and effective communication skills
• Must have transportation to the good phyte kitchen in downtown Charlottesville.

To apply: This internship is sponsored by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (VTOP.) Applications are managed through a third-party site called Handshake. To apply, click the button below and sign in to your Handshake account.

Front of House Internship

We are hiring a reliable, energetic Front of House (FOH) intern to join the team in our shared kitchen and shop with Homestead Oven. The Front of House Intern is responsible for the overall operation of the bakery’s front of house. You'll ensure that everyone who walks through the door has an enjoyable experience by providing excellent customer service, keeping the shelves properly stocked, conducting transactions, and maintaining a clean, visually appealing space. This is an excellent opportunity for someone to join a small health food business team with a part-time commitment.

Responsibilities

• Welcome, engage, and offer samples to customers, especially first-time visitors, introducing them to our major qualities (gluten-free, vegan, no added sugar, etc)
• Be trained and able to efficiently operate the Square point of sale (POS) system to conduct customer transactions
• Ensure that a high level of customer service is always maintained
• Ensure that the public shop area is clean, organized, and well-maintained
• Ensure that baked goods and all other products are adequately stocked, and that any remaining baked goods get returned to the fridge after closing
• Refer any customer concerns or questions that cannot easily be answered to a supervisor

Requirements:

• Experience in retail, food service, or customer service is preferred.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to handle cash with honesty and integrity and ensure that the cash box is locked at the end of every shift.
• Strong focus on customer service and satisfaction
• Ability to sweep, clean windows, and clean surfaces
• Must have transportation to the good phyte kitchen in downtown Charlottesville.
• Must be able to work at least two weekdays each week (exact hours to be negotiated), with possibility to work Saturday mornings at the IX Farmers Market.

To apply: This internship is sponsored by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (VTOP.) Applications are managed through a third-party site called Handshake. To apply, click the button below and sign in to your Handshake account.

A note from VTOP and iQuasar

iQuasar is supporting a statewide initiative to create more internships across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The VTOP Program (sponsored by the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia) is designed to create more paid internships. As part of this program, iQuasar is helping new employers’ onboard interns. Students participating in the internship program will be paid by iQuasar, but the internship will be facilitated by the employer: For more information on VTOP or UVA's relationship with the VTOP internship program, please contact David Lapinski (dal8d@virginia.edu).