Operations Manager Intern (Starting Summer 2027) Regional Distribution Center, Amsterdam, NY

Starting hourly rate $25.50 per hour. Additional compensation may include a shift differential ranging from $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 and programs 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 the Role

Experience firsthand what it’s like to lead a team within a Target Supply Chain Facility. This internship is a paid 40-hour-per-week, hands-on training program designed to develop and prepare you for operations leadership. As an Operations Intern, you’ll gain a realistic preview of life as an Operations Manager over a defined period.

You will work closely with managers and team members to understand how Target’s supply chain business operates and what it takes to excel in a management role. You’ll lead and support daily operations by working alongside your team, learning to lead, motivate, and influence others, including the opportunity to lead a department.

This program teaches individuals how to lead within a supply chain facility. You will work closely with a Mentor to learn how they effectively lead their department while gaining insight into different business areas and functions. Your development will be a priority, with ongoing conversations with your Mentor and Manager.

As an Operations Intern, you can expect to build and manage a team culture, develop problem-solving and change management skills, gain knowledge of retail business fundamentals, and set and plan department workloads to support business priorities. You will also manage a team of hourly team members and create business strategies and goals.

Departments within the distribution center you will learn about include Inbound, Outbound, and Warehousing.

Responsibilities

• Spend time on the facility floor helping to lead team members and align them with daily business priorities
• Work alongside team members to lead through 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 actions for consistent performance
• Carry out process improvement initiatives using methodologies like Gemba, Fish Bone Analysis, and 5 Whys to create a lean, defect-free operation
• Administer communication between IT and the Operations team to address system issues and conduct testing in the WMS
• Recruit and mentor team members to foster a continuous improvement mindset and guide them toward leadership roles
• Address team member concerns and remove operational hurdles to ensure smooth operations and goal attainment
• Lead daily meetings for the operational team to share pertinent company and site-specific information
• Lead or present at daily planning meetings with peers and leadership
• Plan daily goals and organize shift plans to achieve targets at the start of each shift
• Provide a summary of results around plan attainment, share hurdles, successes, and key learnings at the end of each shift
• Conduct audits around standard adherence with safety, quality, and productivity, and coach team members based on observations
• Conduct safety walks in the building to identify, resolve, and report findings
• Follow up on team member attendance and provide necessary coaching
• Partner with leaders regarding team member performance by teaching, coaching, training, and delivering timely feedback
• Provide new ideas and recommend solutions for business or team opportunities
• Take initiative to learn how to be a Target leader by seeking growth opportunities and continuously learning throughout the internship
• Commit to learning Target’s expectations of leaders and use them for personal development by asking questions and seeking feedback
• Actively participate in internship program training activities, developmental opportunities, and events
• Demonstrate a willingness to take risks and step out of your comfort zone
• Demonstrate a culture of ethical conduct, safety, and compliance, and hold others accountable
• Foster an inclusive, safe, and secure culture
• Carry out principal duties and responsibilities by department through internship rotations as trained
• Understand business reporting and guest insights to troubleshoot and follow up on opportunity areas
• Gain an understanding of all business areas to develop business acumen
• Work with building leaders daily to set goals and expectations

Requirements

• Participation in school or extracurricular activities with experience in leadership roles
• Strong interest in working in retail, specifically 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 up and down ladders
• Ability to scan, handle, and move merchandise efficiently and safely, including frequently lifting or moving merchandise up to 15 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds
• Flexible work schedule (e.g., nights, weekends, and holidays) and regular attendance are necessary

About Target

As a Fortune 50 company with more than 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. Caring for our communities is woven into who we are, and we invest in the places we collectively live, work, and play. We prioritize relationships, fuel and develop talent by creating growth opportunities, and succeed as one Target team. At our core, our purpose is ingrained in who we are, what we value, and how we work. It’s how we care, grow, and win together.