Store Executive Intern (Store Leadership Intern) – Southern San Diego, CA (Starting Summer 2027)

Pay is based on several factors including labor markets, education, work experience, and certifications.

Pay

The pay range for this role is $28.50 per hour.

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

This internship is a paid 40-hour-per-week, hands-on training program designed to develop and prepare you for store leadership. As a Stores Executive Intern, you will gain a realistic preview of the Executive Team Leader role (Assistant Store Manager) over a defined period. You will work closely with managers and team members to understand how Target’s retail business operates and what it takes to excel in a management role.

The majority of your time will be spent leading the team, identifying and working toward store priorities, and delivering great guest service. The program is designed to teach you how to lead within a retail store, including:

• Learning how to drive guest experience and impact your store’s financial, team, and operational performance
• Working alongside a mentor to learn effective leadership within the store
• Stepping into leading your mentor’s departments with guidance
• Leading and motivating a team, driving sales results, merchandising products, and providing an exceptional guest experience
• Ongoing development conversations to prioritize your growth
• Supporting daily operations by building culture and guiding your team to achieve goals

Responsibilities

• Spend time on the sales floor and in the backroom leading team members and aligning them on daily business priorities
• Work alongside your Executive Team Lead (ETL) mentor and other leaders to understand their roles
• Lead daily priorities such as stocking shelves, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment, building displays, and assisting guests
• Partner with leaders on team member performance through teaching, coaching, training, and delivering feedback
• Address team member concerns and remove hurdles to ensure smooth operations and goal attainment
• Lead and present at daily huddles with the leadership team
• Plan daily goals and organize operational plans within the store
• Provide summaries of results and priorities to the leadership team
• Set daily goals and expectations with store leaders
• Review business reporting and guest insights to troubleshoot and follow up on opportunities
• Deliver an exceptional guest experience by empowering team members to resolve guest issues
• Provide new ideas and recommend solutions for business or team opportunities
• Take initiative to learn Target’s leadership expectations and seek growth opportunities
• Actively participate in training activities, developmental opportunities, and events
• Demonstrate ethical conduct, safety, and compliance, and hold others accountable
• Work safely, identify hazards, and comply with safety policies
• Foster an inclusive, equitable, safe, and secure culture
• Gain an understanding of all business areas to develop business acumen
• Greet guests, engage with them to address their needs, and express appreciation for their visit
• Perform other duties as needed

Skills

The Stores Executive Internship aims to provide a realistic preview of an Executive Team Leader role, helping you develop skills such as:

• Guest service fundamentals and building a guest-first team culture
• Guest engagement, problem-solving, and resolution
• Retail business fundamentals
• Setting and planning department workloads to support business priorities
• Managing a team to deliver service and sales goals
• Leading hourly team members and team leaders while creating business strategies and goals
• Recruiting, selecting, and managing talent for hourly team members and leaders

Qualifications

• Strong interest in working in retail, specifically in store management
• Leadership skills and team-oriented thinking
• Ability to learn and adapt to current technology needs
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong workload management and prioritization skills
• Welcoming and helpful attitude
• Effective communication skills
• Previous retail experience preferred but not required
• Flexible work schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays
• Reliable and prompt attendance
• Ability to access all areas of the building to respond to guest or team member issues
• Ability to interpret instructions, reports, and information
• Ability to handle cash register operations as needed
• Ability to climb ladders as needed
• Ability to scan, handle, and move merchandise efficiently and safely, including frequently lifting or moving up to 44 pounds
• Ability to communicate using multiple frequency devices, handheld scanners, and other technology equipment