HR Intern

Position Overview:

At Caribou Coffee, our mission is to provide real world experiences and development opportunities to the future leaders of our world. Our 12-week paid Summer Internship Program is your chance to roll up your sleeves, learn the ropes, and be part of something bigger (with plenty of coffee along the way).

As the HR Rotational Intern, you will report to Caribou's Talent Management Consultant and work closely with top talent across the department to further initiatives tied to the strategic goals of the business. This internship will offer a unique, hands-on learning experience across key HR functions at Caribou Coffee, rotating through three core areas: HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition & Employee Engagement, and Talent Management & Learning & Development.

This role will play a part in enhancing role clarity and developing intuitive, comprehensive role-based training programs for our coffeehouse General Managers. You will have the opportunity to gain exposure to different HR functions and contribute directly to talent management, leadership development, and performance optimization.

During this full-time 12-week program, you'll build valuable skills, connect with passionate professionals, and gain a firsthand look at both the corporate side of the business in our Support Center and the vibrant atmosphere of our coffeehouses during your In-Store Experience. To top it all off, you'll present your capstone project to our leadership team, sharing your ideas and contributions to Caribou's future.

Sound like your cup of coffee? Apply now and let's craft something amazing together.

Core Responsibilities:

HR Business Partner (HRBP) Rotation

• Assist in assessing critical roles across the organization to identify key skills, competencies, and performance metrics in order to identify potential skills gaps.

• Collaborate with HRBPs to map out standardized career progression frameworks.

• Support efforts to strengthen role clarity across teams, fostering alignment and understanding of core responsibilities.

Talent Acquisition & Employee Engagement Rotation

• Evaluate and refine job descriptions to ensure role clarity is present and hiring strategies are in alignment with talent and business needs.

Talent Management & Learning & Development (L&D) Rotation

• Contribute to the development of intuitive and comprehensive role-based training programs to address skill gaps and enhance leadership development.

• Assist the L&D team in analyzing and improving performance review processes, career pathing initiatives, and leadership programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Internship Capstone Project

• Research and present actionable recommendations for optimizing role clarity, aligning hiring strategy to talent needs, enhancing leadership programs, and improving role-based training initiatives.

• Work alongside teammates and cross-functionally within the organization to achieve project objectives designed to further the department's strategic goals for FY25.

• Track project milestones, timelines, and deliverables.

• Proactively identify opportunities to improve project outcomes or processes.

• Identify challenges or roadblocks and assist in developing practical solutions.

• Prepare and deliver reports, presentations, and other documentation to stakeholders, including team members and senior leadership.

• Assess the success and impact of the project and provide suggestions for future improvements or next steps.

Professional Development

• Engage in professional development workshops and leadership speaker sessions to build skills and gain insights from senior executives.

• Develop key technical, communication, and problem-solving skills through hands-on learning.

• Observe and learn from experienced team members to gain insights into industry best practices.

• Apply feedback to grow and refine your professional abilities.

• Engage in cross-functional teamwork to improve interpersonal skills, adaptability, and collaborative problem-solving.

• Network with colleagues to build valuable industry connections.

• Reflect on progress, celebrate achievements, and identify areas for continued growth.

Skills and Requirements

• Ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous environment

• Proven strong track record in relationship-building

• Goal-oriented and creatively driven

• Ability to manage stakeholder expectations and execute appropriately

• Excellent initiative as a self-starter; possesses the ability to bring opportunities to life

• Well-developed writing and communication skills

• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills

• A creative mind and flexible attitude

Qualifications

Required:

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree (associate, bachelor's, or master's) at an accredited university in a relevant course of study

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and comfortability learning new technology platforms

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills with a proven ability to work in a team environment.

• A passion for talent development and a desire to make an impact within the organization.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and work with sensitive information.

Preferred:

• Current or former Caribou Coffee team member

• Prior internship experience in HR, particularly in talent management, organizational development, or employee engagement.

• Exposure to performance management tools and learning management systems (Absorb LMS).

• Familiarity with talent assessment processes and leadership development programs.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements for this position include sitting, standing, bending, lifting, and moving intermittently during working hours. These physical requirements must be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodation.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Caribou reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of Caribou or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Caribou Coffee Operating Company, Inc. and itsaffiliatesare proud to be Equal Opportunity Employersto all applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.