April 5, 2026

Early Talent D70 CA - Store Leadership Trainee

Kohl's Santa Maria, California

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 Store Leadership Trainee Program (SLT Program), you will learn aspects of what it takes to run a successful, thriving business, from Human Resources, Operations, Merchandising, Team Development, Omni-channel Management and more. 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 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 What Skills You Have • 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 Essential Functions To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. • Ability to perform the accountabilities listed in the “What You’ll Do” Section • Ability to work at least 8 hours per day, occasionally longer when necessary to meet business needs, 5 days per week • Ability to comply with dress code requirements • Ability to learn and comply with all company policies, procedures, standards and guidelines • Basic math and reading skills, legible handwriting, and basic computer operation.

Create an account to see the full posting, access our search engine, and more.

TheCreativeLoft is a better way to find jobs. Find out more:

You're just 60 seconds away from your new Creativeloft account.

Looking For Similar Jobs?