Early Talent - 2026 - D69 NY West - Store Leadership Trainee

KOHLS•Buffalo, NY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Store Leadership Trainee (SLT) program is a structured training initiative designed to prepare individuals for leadership roles such as Merchandising Manager or Operations Manager (Assistant Store Manager) at a Kohl's store. Participants will gain comprehensive knowledge of running a successful business, covering areas like Human Resources, Operations, Merchandising, Team Development, and Omni-channel Management. The program duration is 8 weeks for new hires, with potential for shorter periods for internal participants. Start dates are available in February, May, and July, depending on business needs. Upon successful completion of the program, Kohl's will assess performance, availability, and business needs to determine opportunities for continued employment as a Merchandising Manager or Operations Manager. The outlined career path is SLT, Assistant Store Manager, Store Manager, and District Manager.

Requirements

Associate’s or Bachelor's degree required (or expected completion within approximately 3 months of starting the SLT Program)
Less than 18 months of retail management leadership experience
Flexible schedule, work hours will be based on business needs; must be available nights and weekends
Highly adaptable and self-motivated
Must be 18 years of age or older
Great verbal/written communication and interpersonal skills
Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills
Ability to make quick decisions and resolve conflicts
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Strong analytical skills and superior critical thinking skills
Strong people management skills and ability to develop talent
Flexible availability, including days, nights, weekends, and holidays

Responsibilities

Discover Kohl’s store structure, areas of ownership and team responsibilities
Learn all store operations and processes
Engage in daily hands-on experiences including in-store merchandising, visual standards and continual product movement
Work closely with a Coach, Mentor and HR Business Partners to learn how to effectively lead, motivate, and drive engagement among a team
Join weekly touch bases with the Store Manager to recap the prior week’s training, align on the new week, share feedback and connect on needs
Lead with a customer-first mindset, demonstrate integrity and accountability, be a creative problem solver and foster an empathetic and inclusive culture
Cultivate business acumen skills and learn how to make operationally sound business decisions
Participate in dedicated programming to strengthen development and gain exposure to Kohl’s leadership
Analyze sales and market trends to drive profitability while maintaining a strong customer-first mindset
Support schedule execution, sales projections and payroll management
Participate in Leader on Duty shifts to provide a Customer First experience

Benefits

PTO
Vacation Buy Program
Parental Leave
Medical
Dental
Vision
Short and long term disability programs
Emergency health and wellness programs such as Accident Protection Plans, Critical Illness Plans
401k
Flexible Spending Accounts
Associate discount programs with Kohl’s partners
Life Insurance for you, your family or your pet
Other protection programs
Legal and adoption assistance benefits