Planning & Allocation Intern

External Ocean State Job Lot•North Kingstown, RI

23h•$17 - $19•Hybrid

About The Position

The Planning & Allocation Intern role at Ocean State Job Lot (“OSJL” and “Company”) is a paid, full-time, temporary position designed to help students develop a broad knowledge of the Company and build the OSJL brand. Specifically, the Planning & Allocation Intern role will spearhead a mission-critical project focused on 2026 Assortment Optimization. The primary goal is to conduct a data-driven analysis of product assortment breadth across all channels.

Requirements

Enrollment in an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree program is required, with strong academic credentials.
This project requires a student who is comfortable with data-driven analysis and sales metrics.
Experience using Microsoft Suite and the ability to learn and use Google platforms.
Ability to maintain focus on complex analysis while the core team manages daily deadlines.
Ability to work a full-time schedule.
Must have reliable transportation to attend program educational experiences at different Company locations.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with inventory turnover metrics and spatial planning is highly relevant to the project goal.

Responsibilities

Utilize sales and inventory turnover metrics to locate candidates for SKU rationalization.
Conduct a tiered spatial audit focusing on the physical limitations of smaller store footprints.
Analyze the "Product-to-Space" ratio to identify areas where assortment depth is negatively impacting store logistics and stockroom overflow.
Extend the scope of analysis to a granular sub-departmental level.
Ensure that final assortment recommendations are calibrated against site-specific merchandising maps and respect the unique physical constraints of each location's floor plan.
Prepare and deliver a final presentation to OSJL executive leadership and ownership at the conclusion of the program, summarizing key projects, insights, and achievements.
Participate in weekly educational programming and development workshops designed to enhance professional skills and industry knowledge.
Attend in-person and virtual events to build relationships across the Company.
Shadow associates to gain an understanding of department roles and assist with projects in furtherance of department objectives.
Acquire an understanding of the business environment, conduct, compliance, and ethics of a retail organization.