Retail Operations Intern 2026

Internship Objective: The Kalamazoo Growlers are offering an opportunity for current college level students looking to gain real world Sports Merchandise management and sales experience to position themselves for a career in the sports industry upon graduation.

About the Organizations: The Kalamazoo Growlers are a 2014 Northwoods League expansion team, 2022 and 2024 Northwoods League Championship team, and have become one of the most premier sports and entertainment companies in the Nation, winning organization of the year in 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2024. The Growlers continue the rich history of baseball in Kalamazoo, carrying on the tradition of the Kalamazoo Kodiaks and Kalamazoo Kings. Homer Stryker Field, a 3,000-seat park located in Kalamazoo’s Mayors Riverfront Park is the home field of the Growlers.

The Northwoods League is a summer baseball league comprised of teams of the top college players from across North America. The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America. Each team is operated similar to a professional minor league team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wooden bats, minor league specification baseballs, experiencing overnight road trips, and playing nightly before thousands of fans.

Start Date: On or near the start of summer (May 11th)End Date: On or near the end of summer (August 22nd) Academic Qualifications: Declared major or minor in Sport Management or Merchandise (Other majors will be considered including, but not limited to: Marketing and Business) Description of Responsibilities Pre-Season Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with Merchandise director on orders & Merchandise design
• Merchandise inventory
• Merchandise store setup including pre-season cleaning and stocking of items
  
  

Game Day Responsibilities:

• Merchandise store setup and operation
• Cash handling and credit card transactions
• Employee management and oversight
• End of home stand inventory reports completed and sent to Merchandise Manager
  
  

Post Game Responsibilities:

• General cleaning of merchandise store
• Merchandise pickup and storage
• Any other request made by front office personnel
  
  

Post Season Responsibilities:

• Collect merchandise and complete inventory of collected items
• Cleaning & organization of merchandise stand and storage room
  
  

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Ability to work within a team environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including correct grammatical usage
• Organized, motivated, and able to work independently
• Team-leadership and adaptability
• Ambitious and self-initiated
• Ability to lift 30-50 lbs.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time and work in a fast paced environment
• Previous cash handling experience preferred
  
  

Other Tasks and activities to include, but are not limited to:

• Picking up and removing trash
• Hanging ballpark banners
• Working concessions outlet as needed
• Participating in in stadium entertainment
• Playing Field pick up
• Office & Clubhouse clean up / organization
• Fan interaction & engagement
• Gameday set up
• Delivery receiving
• Power washing or other stadium recovery activities
• Food prep
• Intern Olympic competitions
• Working special events
• Working Battle Creek / Kalamazoo Games
• Player Food delivery / pickup
• Merch modeling, sorting, displaying
• Create / participate in promotional videos
• Community gorilla marketing campaigns
  
  

No Compensation. The extent to which the Intern and the Company clearly understand that there is no expectation of compensation. The Intern understands that they are not entitled to wages for their time spent in the internship. The intern agrees that he/she will be compensated in knowledge, education, and experience as consideration for the duties/responsibilities that he/she will undertake during the duration of this agreement.

Housing & Living Expenses: Housing is not provided, intern is responsible for coordinating summer arrangements. There are an abundance of housing options in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek during the summer. Company will provide $600 monthly stipend to assist in covering living expenses such as food, gas and housing.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.