Operations Manager Intern (Starting Summer 2027) Regional Distribution Center, Newton, NC

Starting hourly rate: $23.50 per hour. Additional compensation may include a shift differential of $2.00 to $3.50 per hour based on eligibility. Pay is determined by factors such as labor markets, education, work experience, and certifications.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits for eligible team members and their dependents, including medical, vision, dental, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Employee discount
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid sick leave
• Paid national holidays
• Paid vacation

About Target

As a Fortune 50 company with over 400,000 team members worldwide, Target is an iconic brand and one of America’s leading retailers. Working at Target means helping all families discover the joy of everyday life. We invest in our communities and prioritize relationships, talent development, and teamwork. Our purpose is to care, grow, and win together.

About the Supply Chain Operations Internship

This paid, 40-hour-per-week internship provides hands-on training to develop leadership skills within a Target Supply Chain Facility. As an Operations Intern, you’ll gain firsthand experience leading a team, supporting daily operations, and learning how Target’s supply chain business works. You’ll work closely with managers and team members to understand what it takes to excel in an operations leadership role.

During the program, you’ll:

• Lead and support daily operations by working alongside team members
• Learn to lead, motivate, and influence a team, including leading a department
• Work with a Mentor to dive deeper into leadership and gain exposure to different business areas
• Problem-solve, conduct real-time observations, and drive results while prioritizing safety and productivity
• Step into leading your Mentor’s work center with guidance and support
• Receive ongoing developmental conversations and extensive training

This internship will help you build skills for a career, including:

• Building and managing a team culture
• Problem-solving and change management
• Retail business fundamentals
• Planning daily/weekly workloads and managing teams to deliver goals
• Creating business strategies and goals
• Understanding departments within the distribution center, such as Inbound, Outbound, and Warehousing

Responsibilities

• Spend time on the facility floor leading team members and aligning daily priorities
• Maintain high standards of quality and inventory accuracy through process standardization and employee accountability
• Track KPIs such as safety, teamwork, quality, and productivity to identify gaps and drive improvements
• Carry out process improvement initiatives using methodologies like Gemba, Fish Bone Analysis, and 5 Whys
• Facilitate communication between IT and operations teams to address system issues and conduct WMS testing
• Recruit and mentor team members to foster a continuous improvement mindset and leadership development
• Address team member concerns and remove operational hurdles to ensure smooth operations
• Lead daily meetings to share company and site-specific information
• Plan and organize shift goals to achieve targets, and summarize results at the end of each shift
• Conduct audits for safety, quality, and productivity, and provide feedback to team members
• Conduct safety walks to identify, resolve, and report findings
• Follow up on team member attendance and provide coaching as needed
• Partner with leaders on team member performance through teaching, coaching, and feedback
• Provide new ideas and recommend solutions for business opportunities
• Seek growth opportunities and continuously learn throughout the internship
• Demonstrate ethical conduct, safety, and compliance, and hold others accountable
• Foster an inclusive, safe, and secure culture
• Carry out principle duties through internship rotations as trained
• Understand business reporting and guest insights to troubleshoot and follow up on opportunities
• Develop business acumen by learning about all business areas
• Set daily goals and expectations with building leaders

Requirements

• Participation in school or extracurricular activities with leadership experience
• Strong interest in retail, particularly within supply chain facilities
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively
• Problem-solving skills and strong initiative
• Team-oriented thinking with enthusiasm for continuous learning
• Ability to access all levels and areas of the facility to respond to team member issues
• Ability to understand instructions, reports, and information
• Ability to climb ladders and safely scan, handle, and move merchandise, including frequently lifting up to 15 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds
• Flexible work schedule (e.g., nights, weekends, and holidays) and regular attendance