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. Throughout the program, trainees will gain comprehensive knowledge of running a successful business, covering areas like Human Resources, Operations, Merchandising, and Team Development. New hires will undergo an 8-week training period, while internal participants may have a shorter duration. Kohl's offers trainee start dates in February, May, and July, depending on business requirements. Upon successful completion of the SLT Program, Kohl's will assess performance, availability, and business needs to determine opportunities for continued employment as a Merchandising Manager or Operations Manager. The potential career progression for a Store Leadership Trainee 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
  • 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

Nice To Haves

  • Flexible schedule, work hours will be based on business needs; must be available nights and weekends
  • Highly adaptable and self-motivated
  • 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
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