Intern, Data Science

Goodwill of Colorado•Colorado Springs, CO

2d•$23 - $27•Onsite

About The Position

Goodwill of Colorado, a $220 Million social enterprise and Human Services organization, is seeking an Internship (Intern), Data Science to support a high-impact analytics initiative focused on understanding and modeling Retail margin drivers across our donated goods business. This role will work at the intersection of data, operations, and mission, helping to translate complex Retail dynamics into actionable insights that directly support Goodwill’s mission. The Intern will contribute to the design and development of a data-driven model that explains and predicts margin performance across stores, categories, and operational levers.

Requirements

Current undergraduate or graduate student in Data Science, Statistics, or related field.
Strong analytical reasoning and quantitative analysis skills.
Experience with Python or R for data analysis.
Familiarity with regression, exploratory analysis, and basic modeling techniques.
Ability to explain analytical findings and modeling concepts to business stakeholders.
The majority of the work is required to be on site at our Colorado Springs campus.

Nice To Haves

Coursework or experience in non-linear modeling or causal inference concepts.
Experience with SQL and reporting tools.
Interest in social justice and impact, mission driven organizations, or public service.
Stamina and aptitude for test-learn-refine work.

Responsibilities

Conduct exploratory data analysis to identify candidate margin drivers across pricing, inventory mix, sell through, labor, donation flow, and store operations, using historical data.
Build predictive analytical models to assess: Which drivers materially impact margin – X variables that truly move the Y variable. The direction of impact (positive/negative). Non linear effects, inflection points, and diminishing returns.
Refine the models based on testing and comparison, considering alternative approaches, and input from key stakeholders. Document assumptions and limitations for the models.
Partner with Retail, Finance, Information Technology (IT), and Operations stakeholders to translate business questions into analytical approaches.
Clearly communicate findings suitable for business discussion without over-focusing on the underlying mathematical basis.
The Intern may occasionally be assigned other duties to support the company.