Early Talent D38 NJ - Store Leadership Trainee

Early Talent - 2026 - D38 NJ Central - Store Leadership Trainee

Join and apply for the Early Talent - 2026 - D38 NJ Central - Store Leadership Trainee role at Kohl’s.

Store Leadership Trainee Program

As a Store Leadership Trainee (SLT), you will participate in a structured training program to prepare you for the role of Merchandising Manager or Operations Manager (Assistant Store Manager) at a Kohl’s store. During the program, you will learn about Human Resources, Operations, Merchandising, Team Development, Omni‑channel Management, and more. New participants train for 8 weeks; internal participants may train for a shorter period.

Kohl’s offers trainee start dates in February, May, and July based on business needs.

Following the SLT Program

At the end of the program, Kohl’s will determine if there is an opportunity to continue employment as a Merchandising Manager or an Operations Manager (Assistant Store Manager). They will consider performance, availability, and business needs. The typical career path is: SLT → Assistant Store Manager → Store Manager → District Manager.

What You’ll Do

• 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 continued product movement
• Work closely with a Coach, Mentor, and HR Business Partners to learn effective leadership, motivation, and engagement
• Join weekly touch‑bases with the Store Manager to recap previous week training, align on 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 to make operationally sound 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

What Skills You Have

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree required (or expected completion within approx. 3 months of starting)
• Less than 18 months of retail management leadership experience
• Flexible schedule; 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

Pay Range: $0.00 - $25.00

Benefits

• Work Life Balance:
  
  PTO, Vacation Buy‑Program, Parental Leave
• Health & Wellness:
  Medical, Dental, Vision, and other short‑ and long‑term disability programs, emergency health and wellness programs such as Accident Protection Plans, Critical Illness Plans and more
• Savings & Retirement Benefits: 401k, Flexible Spending Accounts, and associate discount programs with Kohl’s partners
• Insurance Programs:
  Life Insurance for you, your family, or your pet, as well as other protection programs
• Life Events:
  Legal and adoption assistance benefits

Seniority Level
:
Not Applicable

Employment Type
:
Part‑time

Job Function
:
Other

Industries
:
Retail