Program Intern, Business Planning and Development

Pilot Flying J; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilot Company seeks a Business Planning & Development Intern in Knoxville, TN, for the summer of 2027. This in-person internship offers exposure to enterprise strategy, planning, and corporate development across multiple teams, including the Strategy Realization Office.

You will work on performance management, annual planning, investment analysis, and benchmarking. Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills are essential for presenting to senior leaders and shaping strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• MBA candidates and rising seniors are encouraged to apply.
• Prior exposure to strategic planning or corporate strategy is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Enable cross-functional strategic execution across multiple business areas.
• Support development of frameworks and processes that strengthen Pilot’s strategic capabilities.
• Analyze current-state workflows and identify opportunities for efficiency and alignment.
• Deliver actionable process recommendations to improve governance, execution and scalability.

Skills

Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Business/Finance/Economics student

Job description

Pilot Company is an industry-leading network of travel centers with more than 30,000 team members and over 750 retail and fueling locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces. Our energy and logistics division serves as a top supplier of fuel, employing one of the largest tanker fleets and providing critical services to oil operations in our nation's busiest basins. Pilot Company supports a growing portfolio of brands with expertise in supply chain and retail operations, logistics and transportation, technology and digital innovation, construction, maintenance, human resources, finance, sales and marketing.

Founded in 1958 by Jim A. Haslam II and currently led by CEO Adam Wright, our founding values, people-first culture and commitment to giving back remains true to us today. Whether we are serving guests, a fellow team member, or a trucking company, we are dedicated to fueling people and keeping North America moving.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Military encouraged to apply.

Pilot Company is an industry-leading network of travel centers with more than 30,000 team members and over 750 retail and fueling locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces. Our energy and logistics division serves as a top supplier of fuel, employing one of the largest tanker fleets and providing critical services to oil operations in our nation's busiest basins. Pilot Company supports a growing portfolio of brands with expertise in supply chain and retail operations, logistics and transportation, technology and digital innovation, construction, maintenance, human resources, finance, sales and marketing.

Founded in 1958 by Jim A. Haslam II and currently led by CEO Adam Wright, our founding values, people-first culture and commitment to giving back remains true to us today. Whether we are serving guests, a fellow team member, or a trucking company, we are dedicated to fueling people and keeping North America moving.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Military encouraged to apply.

Job Description

Are you a curious and driven student with a passion for business strategy, analytics, and problem-solving? Pilot Company is seeking a Business Planning & Development Intern in Knoxville, TN, for the summer of 2027. This internship offers a unique opportunity to work across Business Planning & Development, the Strategy Realization Office (SRO), and Corporate Development, gaining exposure to the processes and frameworks that drive enterprise strategy and planning.

As a Business Planning & Development Intern, you will gain hands‑on experience supporting key business work streams, including performance management, annual planning, strategic investment analysis, and competitive and industry benchmarking. You'll work with business leaders to evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs), analyze data to support Pilot’s long‑term plan, and help connect strategic initiatives to enterprise objectives and investment priorities. Through this work, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how business performance, resource allocation, and long‑term strategy and planning come together to support organizational growth.

What You’ll Do

Your responsibilities may include:

• Enable Cross-Functional Strategic Execution: Collaborate with stakeholders across multiple business areas to identify strategic focus areas and priorities, support consistent enterprise-wide decision-making, and drive the enterprise initiative intake and prioritization process.

• Support Strategic Capability Development: Partner with Business Planning & Development, the Strategy Realization Office, and Corporate Development teams to support the creation of frameworks and processes that strengthen Pilot’s evolving strategic capabilities.

• Analyze & Optimize Business Workflows: Evaluate current-state processes, identify opportunities for alignment and efficiency, and recommend improvements that enhance collaboration, execution, and organizational effectiveness.

• Deliver Actionable Process Recommendations: Gather and analyze process insights, identify gaps or risks, and contribute recommendations that improve governance, execution quality, and long-term scalability.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

• Education: A student pursuing a degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field. MBA candidates and rising seniors are encouraged to apply. Prior exposure to strategic planning, management consulting, corporate strategy, or business operations is a plus.

• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, data analysis, and data visualization. Strong PowerPoint skills with the ability to create clear, professional presentations and communicate complex information effectively to senior leaders and executives

• Soft Skills: Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building abilities with a demonstrated ability to collaborate across cross‑functional teams. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and analytical thinking skills, with the confidence to initiate conversations, influence outcomes, and navigate ambiguity in a dynamic environment.

• Qualities: We value individuals who are driven, reliable, authentic, and welcoming.

Additional Information

Why Pilot Company?

Our culture is built on four core virtues: Driven, Reliable, Authentic, and Welcoming. As an intern, you will see these values in action every day. You'll be part of a team that is driven to improve processes, reliable in its commitment to compliance, authentic in its communication, and welcoming to new ideas and perspectives.

This is a full‑time, in‑person internship, June 7 – August 13, 2027. You’ll be working alongside our team in Knoxville, TN, where you’ll have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships and experience the full scope of life at Pilot Company.