Branch Intern

Job Description

This is an enriched job description for the Branch Intern position at Border States.

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.

About Border States

Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry, boasting approximately 130 locations across 31 states. Our success is built on the dedication of our employee-owners, who are committed to delivering top-notch customer service and demonstrating extraordinary people skills. As one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States, we provide products and services to the construction, industrial, and utility industries.

Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture. We practice open-book management and empower our employee-owners with clearly defined levels of authority, fostering innovation and decisive action to respond quickly to customer needs. Our employee-owners understand their vital roles, focusing on adding value to everything they do and meeting the diverse requirements of each customer with commitment, resourcefulness, and flexibility.

Our Purpose

We believe unstoppable businesses shouldn’t go it alone. We are owners – of relationships, of outcomes, of every moment these unstoppable businesses need to deliver.

Service Philosophy

We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.

Service Standards

Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.

Job Title: Branch Intern

Location: Sioux Falls, SD

Application Details

Application Deadline: Posted Until Filled

Please note that the position may be filled before or after the listed application deadline. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.

Job Summary

The Branch Intern will gain a solid understanding of the local branch operations and the overall business of Border States. This internship is designed to provide interns with challenging, real-world projects specific to their career path. The intern will see the value of their actions in accordance with the company’s mission, culture, service philosophy, and strategic goals. You will work within the department on day-to-day projects, including, but not limited to, activities related to process improvement, project management, data support, warehousing, sales, and operations.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Works within the department on day-to-day projects, which include but are not limited to activities related to process improvement, project management, data support, reporting, documentation, and other assigned responsibilities.
• Builds relationships through meetings, events, and one-on-ones with various employee-owners and leaders.
• Focuses on real-world projects within the department.
• Collaborates with various departments throughout the company.

Department Responsibilities

• Assists warehouse operations in receiving, shipping, stock put-away, and other operational activities.
• Collaborates with various departments throughout the company and region, including warehouse, quotations, branch operations, purchasing, inventory, and finance.
• Shadows Customer Service Representatives and Branch Operations to gain insight into all aspects of the branch.
• Shadows and assists Delivery Drivers with the delivery of products to and from accounts and interacts directly with customers on job sites.

Nonessential Functions

• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor or designate.

Qualifications

Education

• Current student or new graduate (within last year) in a 2 or 4-year degree program.

Preferred Knowledge & Skills

• Strong knowledge of business office procedures, office equipment operation, data entry/keyboarding skills, and communication systems helpful.
• Proficiency in PC for Windows and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint) preferred.

Skills And Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication, reading, and customer service skills.
• Ability to effectively plan and organize.
• Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.

Physical Requirements

Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:

Occasionally: 0 – 33% | Frequently: 34 – 66% | Continuously: 67 – 100%

Lift from Waist:

• < than 10 lbs. – Occasionally
• 10 to 25 lbs. – Occasionally
• 26 to 50 lbs. – Occasionally
• 51 to 75 lbs. – Occasionally
• 75 to 100 lbs. – Not at all
• 100+ lbs. – Not at all

Lift from Floor:

• < than 10 lbs. – Occasionally
• 10 to 25 lbs. – Occasionally
• 26 to 50 lbs. – Occasionally
• 51 to 75 lbs. – Occasionally
• 75 to 100 lbs. – Occasionally
• 100+ lbs. – Not at all

Carried for Distance:

• < than 10 lbs. – Not at all
• 10 to 25 lbs. – Not at all
• 26 to 50 lbs. – Not at all
• 51 to 75 lbs. – Not at all
• 75 to 100 lbs. – Not at all
• 100+ lbs. – Not at all

Physical Activity

Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day:

• Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) – Occasionally
• Standing (for sustained periods of time) – Frequently
• Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) – Continuously
• Bending/stooping (downward and forward) – Not at all
• Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) – Not at all
• Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) – Occasionally
• Reaching (extending arms in any direction) – Occasionally
• Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) – Occasionally
• Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) – Occasionally
• Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) – Frequently
• Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) – Occasionally
• Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) – Occasionally
• Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) – Occasionally
• Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) – Frequently
• Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) – Occasionally
• Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) – Continuously
• Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) – Occasionally
• Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) – Continuously
• Use of a computer – Occasionally
• Use of a telephone – Occasionally
• Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) – Continuously
• Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) – Frequently
• Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) – Not at all

Compensation & Benefits

Hourly Range: $16.00-$20.00/hour based on experience.

Border States offers a competitive benefits package to its employee-owners, which includes but is not limited to:

• Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
• FSA & HSA
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Disability Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Personal Leave time and more!

Border States also provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.

Equal Opportunity & Pre-Employment Screenings

Equal Opportunity For All

It’s not just the law. It’s something we’ve believed in since our founding. We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.

Drug Free/Smoke Free Workplace

Employment may be contingent on the offered candidate successfully passing one or more of the following pre-employment screenings:

• Criminal background check (required for all positions)
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check (required for positions involving driving)
• Drug testing

The MVR check and drug testing vary by role and will be communicated to the offered candidate during the onboarding process and as applicable.

Your Career at Border States

Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?

This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.