Retail Store Operations Intern (Summer 2027)

At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome—both here and Outside. We value individual differences and are dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment where everyone can bring the best of their experience and talents and truly thrive.

A summer internship at L.L.Bean is an introduction to our company that provides an opportunity for the right individual to contribute to moving the business forward and to gain exposure to key areas of the organization. Interns supporting the Retail Store Operations team will assume some various project roles and responsibilities at our 76 retail stores (and growing!) including our Flagship Freeport store, while working on current business opportunities cross-functionally that directly benefit L.L.Bean.  This internship is 9 weeks in duration, beginning June 1, 2026 and ending July 31, 2026.

This is an in-office role based at our Freeport, Maine headquarters, with an expectation of being onsite at least 4 days per week.

Job Description

Retail Store Operations Internship – Home Office Role, Freeport Maine HQ 

  
Store Operations Interns primary responsibility is to support the administration of operational programs in all stores. They will support the maintenance and development of tools and resources that stores use for daily operations. In partnership with the Store Operations team, they will support the collection, drafting, field testing and scheduling of SOP releases to stores. All while providing operations project support and administrative backup for store communications and systems. 

 

Responsibilities:  

• Support of current operations program to include daily operations, budgeting/forecasting, data visualization, flow of goods, payroll funding and operational postings as needed. 

• Will help manage store operations support line and generic email address. Responsible for the proper delegation of store needs, escalation, and store follow-up to resolution 

• Support of process improvement and daily support of store issues. 

• Provide Retail Home Office administrative support such as calendar management, file management, meeting preparations, and communications 

• Operational content collection and delivery to support ongoing education initiative's, morning meetings, communication tools, leadership conferences and seasonal manuals. 

• Internship focused on supporting the Freeport Exp. Project that is managing the multi-year renovation project at the Flagship store  

• Balance of tactical and hands on execution of in-store tasks related to the project to office based concepting, schedule management and store facing communication 

• Balance of Store Operations support and project management support interacting with third party contractors, design consultants - with the ability to read and reference basic details from blueprints a plus 

• Hybrid work opportunity with required project walkthroughs and onsite meetings throughout the week 

• Demonstrate leadership that promotes L.L.Bean’s core values, brand, culture and mission  

• Execute inspiring brand presentations through visual and marketing efforts  

• Foster a supportive work environment and lead a service and selling culture  

• Demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills in a fast-paced and dynamic retail environment through action planning and execution to meet service and sales goals  

• Deliver legendary world-class customer service  

• Follow store Standard Operating Procedures to create a seamless shopping experience  

• Lead and execute compliance with Loss Prevention policies and procedures  

• Assume additional responsibilities as assigned.  

  

Qualifications:   

• Must be currently enrolled in a 4-year college or university degree program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 

• Must have reliable transportation for the duration of the internship, as this is not a remote role and requires one to be in our Freeport Maine HQ at least 4 days/week 

• Must be able to find personal housing accommodations within a commutable distance to Freeport, ME (housing leads and referrals will be provided)  

• Previous experience in retail stores and understanding of how a store operates  

• Work a variable schedule that may include nights or weekends 

• Prior retail or service experience required 

• Passion for the outdoors and L.L.Bean’s core activities  

• Have proven leadership skills, with the ability to develop and motivate others  

• Capability to build strong partnerships and to work collaboratively to achieve goals  

• Demonstrated problem solving and critical thinking skills  

• Ability to maintain a high level of enthusiasm, motivation and a positive attitude  

• Established time management and organization skills  

• Demonstrated interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills  

• Ideally has long-term interest in the outdoor apparel and gear industry  

• Some previous customer service experience required (retail, restaurant, hospitality, etc.)  

• Strong business acumen with the ability to achieve sales and service goals  

• Ability to work a flexible schedule to support Retail stores as needed  

• Ability to travel to new store opening events as needed, which may include working occasional early or late shifts, remaining on your feet for extended periods, and occasionally lifting and moving items weighing up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Housing Stipend Eligibility: Interns who do not have access to housing within 50 miles of the Freeport Headquarters may be eligible to receive a housing stipend to help relieve travel or living costs for the summer. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to confirm eligibility and individual circumstances.

Health and Safety Requirement: Ensures compliance with the L.L.Bean Comprehensive Health and Safety program by knowing and following all safety guidelines, policies, procedures and expectations.  Take immediate and appropriate action to rectify any unsafe conditions.   

L.L.Bean is for everyone. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome - here and in the outdoors.

 

L.L.Bean uses a market-based compensation approach. The anticipated starting base pay for this position is $20-$22 /hour. Individual compensation may vary based on factors such as a candidate’s experience, qualifications, education, geographic location, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role.

 

 

If you care about the outdoors, joining L.L.Bean is a great way to feel good about what you do. Our benefits package makes a good thing even better, with programs and perks designed to support your health and financial goals. Plus, maintaining a healthy work-life balance and re-charging outside are all part of the plan.

If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you'd be great at this role, we'd love to learn more about you!   At L.L.Bean, we believe the outdoors brings out the best in all of us.  We strive to reflect this every day in our commitments to employees and partners and in our efforts to promote belonging.