Skillbridge Extern - Product & Planning

Mission Statement:

We are Black Rifle Coffee Company, a veteran-founded company serving premium, fresh-roasted coffee to people who love America.  We have a love for coffee, dogs, the outdoors, America, and most importantly, our customers!  We are more than a product and more than a company; we are a culture.  A culture full of motivated people who roll up their sleeves and get the job done with integrity, love, innovation, and radical transparency.  Join us as we take action on our commitment to provide quality coffee and give back to the veteran and first responder communities and those who support it.

Job Summary

As a SkillBridge Extern in our Buying Department, you’ll be immersed in the dynamic world of retail merchandising and product management. This learning-focused opportunity is designed to provide transitioning service members with exposure to the end-to-end buying process — from product planning and vendor interaction to purchase order flow and inventory management. You'll observe seasoned buyers, participate in real-world projects, and develop a foundational understanding of the skills and tools that drive successful merchandising in a consumer brand environment.

Job Details

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this externship, you will have gained experience and exposure to:

Merchandise Lifecycle & Purchasing Fundamentals

• Shadow team members to understand how purchase orders are created, maintained, and adjusted

• Learn how buyers adapt to changing sales trends and inventory constraints

• Observe the platforms and systems used to manage merchandise flow

Vendor & Logistics Coordination

• Gain insight into vendor relationships and how we coordinate deliveries

• Sit in on discussions regarding delivery challenges, warehouse coordination, and priority setting

• Understand how product flow impacts customer experience and sell-through

Retail Reporting & Business Analytics

• Learn how to build and interpret basic sales and inventory reports

• Assist in compiling data for vendor meetings, seasonal reviews, and performance assessments

• Observe how buyers use analytics to inform product decisions

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• See how the Buying team interacts with Finance, Operations, and Planning

• Gain exposure to the vendor onboarding process and internal communication flow

• Learn how teams coordinate to resolve invoice or delivery discrepancies

Merchandising Operations & Administrative Exposure

• Observe how we maintain product line sheets, item setup tools, and sample tracking

• Understand the key touchpoints involved in merchandising execution

Ideal Candidate Profile:
This externship is ideal for transitioning service members who are:

• Curious about retail, merchandising, or supply chain operations

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational instincts

• Eager to learn and observe how high-performance teams operate in a fast-paced environment

• Open to new technologies, systems, and ways of working in a civilian business setting

Education and Skill Requirements

• Meticulous attention to detail and a bias for accuracy 

• Comfort with ambiguity and urgency in a high-volume environment 

• Strong communication instincts and a team-first mindset 

Other Duties 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.