2027 Long-Term Merchandise & Licensing Intern

About the role

The USGA is a mission-based golf organization whose purpose is to unify the golf community through handicapping and grassroots programs; to showcase the game’s best talent through the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and 13 other national championships and our museum; to provide unbiased global governance with The R&A through the playing, equipment and Amateur Status rules; and to advance issues important to golf’s future, with a focus on driving sustainability, accessibility and inclusion. As a nonprofit association, our work and our team are driven to act for the good of the game. The USGA’s headquarters are located in Liberty Corner, NJ, with a recently opened campus in Pinehurst, NC.

We're looking for Long-Term Merchandise & Licensing Interns to join our team! The interns will support the Merchandise and Licensing department, gaining an inside look at the lead up to Championship season and more closely, the experience on-site at the U.S. Open Championship and/or the U.S. Women’s Open. This is a great opportunity to learn about the lifecycle of an elite sports event, as well as gain a better understanding of the different merchandise & licensing roles within the department.

Responsibilities

• Early January – April (approx. 40 hours/week; Liberty Corner, NJ)
  • Cross-functional exposure to the USGA and our strategy & approach towards our Merchandise & Licensing functions
  • Opportunity to learn and contribute to a variety of aspects within the Merchandise & Licensing department (Merchandise Volunteer Program, Merchandise Vendor Relations, Merchandise Operations, Merchandise Services, Marketing, Licensing Programs, etc.)
  • Specific responsibilities will include work across the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open
  • Organization of samples and merchandise showroom
  • Maintaining documents and assisting with mailing projects
  • Assisting with building presentations
  • Creating a “go-to” guide for the short-term interns
  • Other smaller miscellaneous duties with other individuals on the team
• Mid-April – Early May (approx. 40 hours/week; Pebble Beach, CA and Toledo, OH)
  • Assist with on-site office set up and organizational projects
  • Assist with receiving incoming merchandise for the U.S. Open and/or the U.S. Women’s Open in the merchandise compound (moving boxes, counting product, loading/organizing boxes onto trucks)
  • Work with over 50 merchandise brands such as Peter Millar, G/FORE, Ralph Lauren, etc., and representing the USGA well
• Mid-May (approx. 50 hours/week)
  • Assist the merchandise staff in the on-site office (maintaining the office, assisting with on-boarding of short-term interns, helping receive smaller orders, assisting with merchandise volunteer packets, vendor credentials, and more)
  • Assist with U.S. Open Volunteer Orientation / Training Sessions
  • Assist with Volunteer Apparel Exchange Program (setting up Volunteer and Marshal Apparel at an off-site location for size changes prior to the event; service continues on-site once the championship is underway)
• Late May (including Memorial Day Weekend) (approx. 60 hours/week)
  • Assist with merchandise set-up and visual displays in the Merchandise Tents (working with vendors to move product into the tent, organizing back-stock, visual merchandising, cleaning/moving fixtures, and other various jobs in preparation for the Grand Opening)
• Early June (approx. 70 hours/week)
  • Assist in the final preparations for the Merchandise Pavilion and Satellite Tent (creating signage, organizing POS stations, helping visual merchandiser dress mannequins, etc.)
  • Help with a variety of PR projects, promotions, and mailings to promote pre-championship merchandise opening
• Mid/Late June (U.S. Open) (approx. 90–105 hours/week)
  • Assist full-time merchandise staff in running the Merchandise Pavilion for the U.S. Open and/or U.S. Women’s Open (assigned shifts throughout the day)
  • From customer service to inventory management, help maintain the Pavilion and Satellite Tents
  • Work beside over 1,200 volunteers in various areas of the merchandise operation; manage a group of volunteers to ensure each area runs efficiently
  • Assist Merchandise Volunteer Chairman with check-in
  • Assist with checking in replenishment orders on the dock during the event; prepare products as necessary prior to hitting the sales floor (applying/removing barcodes, removing packaging)
• Late June – Late September (approx. 40 hours/week)
  • Assist with the breakdown of the merchandise operation (post-event sales and ending inventory procedures)
  • Help with coordinating donation program
  • Work closely with fixture company and help pack trailers
  • Coordinate any staff sale activities upon return to Liberty Corner

Schedule

This role will be based at our Liberty Corner, NJ campus on a hybrid schedule. Employees are expected to spend 5 days per week working in the office, between Monday – Thursday. Housing is not provided for interns in the NJ office.

When traveling for USGA business, all housing, meals, and transportation will be provided and/or reimbursed by the USGA. Extensive travel is required during Championship weeks in May and June. When traveling on-site, team members will surpass 70+ hours per Championship week. Travel may be continuous for multiple weeks, including weekends and holidays.

Pay

$20.00/hr., subject to applicable overtime laws.

Internship dates

January 2027 through early September 2027

Qualifications

• Teamwork – Communication is the key to being successful in this role. Working together with fellow interns to execute daily tasks is one of your main responsibilities.
• Leadership – Opportunity to lead volunteers and become a resource for the Merchandise Staff to communicate to vendors and other USGA Staff. Play a huge role as eyes and ears of the operation.
• Creativity – Freedom to create and take ownership of a project. Great opportunity to present new ideas. Influence on Visual Merchandising during tent stocking.
• Flexibility – Ability to jump from task to task quickly as well as picking up where someone left off on any given project. In this role, you will learn flexibility is key, in order to adjust the plan under different circumstances to achieve the same goal.