Program Intern, Merchandising Category

Pilotcompany; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilot Company in Knoxville, TN invites a summer Program Intern to join the Merchandising Category team. This paid in-person internship runs June 7–August 13, 2027, offering exposure to product planning, supplier negotiations, and data-driven decision making.

As a student in Retail/Marketing/Business, you will work on real projects, analyze sales trends, and help prepare planning materials while collaborating with cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• Student pursuing a degree in Retail, Marketing, or Business.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; Tableau experience a plus.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational excellence on merchandising projects.
• Conduct market research on consumer trends and competitors.
• Assist in planning materials and strategic documents.
• Support vendor negotiations and related activities.
• Analyze sales and category performance data to inform decisions.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Tableau

Data analytics

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Curiosity / willingness to learn

Education

Pursuing bachelor's degree in Retail, Marketing, or Business

Tools

Excel

Tableau

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.

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.

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.