Program Intern, Merchandising Category

Pilot Company; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilot Company invites a student intern to join the Merchandising Category team for Summer 2027. This full‑time, in‑person internship is based at our Knoxville headquarters and offers exposure to real projects in retail and consumer trends.

You will help drive operational improvements, conduct market research, assist with planning materials, and gain vendor negotiation and data analytics experience with support from the team.

Qualifications

• Education: A student pursuing a degree in Retail, Marketing, or Business.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is essential. Experience with Tableau and other analytical tools is a plus.
• Soft Skills: You must be intellectually curious and motivated to learn and develop. Strong communication skills are crucial for collaborating with the team and vendors.
• Experience: Any extra-curricular activities in a team setting are a plus. You should have a passion for products and consumer trends.
• Qualities: We value individuals who are driven, reliable, authentic, and welcoming.

Responsibilities

• Drive Operational Excellence: Work on a variety of projects that help us innovate and improve our merchandising operations.
• Market Research: Conduct research to understand consumer trends and competitor offerings, providing insights to the team.
• Planning & Preparation: Assist in preparing planning materials and other documents to support strategic decisions.
• Vendor Negotiations: Get hands‑on experience by assisting with vendor negotiations and other key business activities.
• Data Analytics: Assist in analyzing sales data, business reporting, and category performance metrics to uncover insights and support data‑driven recommendations and decision‑making.

Skills

Curiosity

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Student pursuing degree in Retail/Marketing/Business

Tools

Microsoft Office

Tableau

Job description

• Position Category: Administrative Support (ADMINISTRATION)

Company 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 43 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 motivated student with a passion for retail and consumer trends? Pilot Company is seeking a Program Intern for our Merchandising Category team for the summer of 2027. This is a unique opportunity to drive operational excellence by tackling a variety of projects that help us innovate, understand the market, and prepare planning materials.

In this role, you will be an integral part of our team, tackling impactful projects. Your fresh perspective will be key to helping us uncover new insights, identify new products, and assist with vendor negotiations. You'll gain valuable experience by working on actionable items that will be implemented in our stores.

What You’ll Do

Drive Operational Excellence: Work on a variety of projects that help us innovate and improve our merchandising operations.

Market Research: Conduct research to understand consumer trends and competitor offerings, providing insights to the team.

Planning & Preparation: Assist in preparing planning materials and other documents to support strategic decisions.

Vendor Negotiations: Get hands‑on experience by assisting with vendor negotiations and other key business activities.

Data Analytics: Assist in analyzing sales data, business reporting, and category performance metrics to uncover insights and support data‑driven recommendations and decision‑making.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For

Education: A student pursuing a degree in Retail, Marketing, or Business.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite is essential. Experience with Tableau and other analytical tools is a plus.

Soft Skills: You must be intellectually curious and motivated to learn and develop. Strong communication skills are crucial for collaborating with the team and vendors.

Experience: Any extra‑curricular activities in a team setting are a plus. You should have a passion for products and consumer trends.

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.

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