Business Operations Internship

Business Operations Internship Watertown, SD
Description Personality Profile Persona Signs, LLC is seeking an analytical and motivated individual for a Business Operations Internship. This role is designed to provide hands-on exposure to the day-to-day operations of the business, with a focus on sales, customer service, project management, and financial operations. The intern will gain a comprehensive understanding of the signage industry while developing practical skills that support business performance and customer satisfaction. This position offers experience across the full signage project lifecycle, including various scopes, timelines, and interdependencies. The intern will collaborate with multiple departments, including Sales, Estimating, Scheduling, Production, and Accounting, to understand how cross-functional teams work together to deliver successful projects. Key Learning Areas & Responsibilities Sales & Customer Service
Develop knowledge of the industry sales process, including product knowledge and pricing inputs
Gain insight into lead handling, active selling, and customer engagement
Build financial awareness related to negotiation, profitability, and margin protection
Project Management & Operations
Gain exposure into project lifecycles and understanding the uniqueness of each project
Learn all aspects of project coordination once order is received, including shipping, installer and GC communication, freight arrival, drop shipments, installer timelines and deadlines.
Understand project scopes, timelines, and dependencies across departments
Assist in coordinating workflows between Sales, Estimating, Pre-Production, Scheduling, Production, and Installation
Build an understanding of how to maintain and maximize profitability by controlling expenses (i.e. installation, change orders)
Learn how departmental collaboration impacts project success and delivery
Financial & Business Operations
Develop an understanding of financial fundamentals and operational finance
Learn key financial metrics, statement analysis, and cash flow concepts
Understand cost vs. sell, profit, and margin vs. mark up
Gain exposure to pricing and negotiation strategies within the business
Explore organizational structure and department-level profitability
Professional Development
Demonstrate accountability, ownership, and professionalism in daily responsibilities
Learn how cross-functional decisions impact overall business performance and financial outcomes
Additional Responsibilities (Project Coordination & Metric Reporting)
Requirements Education and Experience Juniors seeking an internship in Business, Finance or other related fields or Seniors looking for a potential career. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Must be an analytical, critical thinker
Ability to make quick decisions and explain the reasoning for them
Microsoft Excel and Word experience Position Type and Expected Hours of Work This is a full-time, temporary internship designed to provide real world experience during a 3 month term which could turn into a full time position. Physical Demands This position will require an employee to be able to be able to sit at a desk for periods of time. There will also be time spent on the production floor as needed for learning.