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Graduate Streams

Choose from our career streams

When applying for the Coles Graduate Program, choosing a career stream helps you focus on what interests you most. Whether it's Marketing, Finance, Technology, or People and Culture, it's a great way to start your career in a space that suits your strengths and goals.

Digital

By combining the fast- paced culture of retail with the ever-growing world of digital, Coles Online takes the time and effort out of grocery shoppping. With services such as Home Delivery, Click & Collect, we're always working on new ways to make life easier for our customers - no matter where they are. Coles Digital is an exhilarating  and innovative team that is constantly evolving to exceed customers expectations.

As a Coles Digital Graduate, you will be exposed to a variety of opportunities with all facets of  the eCommerce business. From working with operations, delivering  strategy driven projects in line with our road map or supporting our ever-growing network and driving seamless website & app experience, the scope for development is endless. If you think you are ready to constantly challenge for the better and implement real change in a rapidly growing market, Coles Digital is for you!

Length of program:

2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Product Management, UX Design, Software Engineering, Digital Ventures, Network Development, Online Operations, Strategy,  Data & Analytics

Preferred educational background/interest:

Information Technology, e-Commerce, Business, Software Engineering, Data & Analytics, Product Management

Finance

Finance makes it easier for us to win together as a business.  Our team works side-by-side with every other team to help bring commercial thinking into what they do and make moves that support our strategic business decisions. 

With a team of over 400, Finance offers large scope for personal development and career opportunities. Working with key business units you will gain insight in to how our business runs and be part of key strategic initiatives. You will handle all sorts of questions such as: How do you ensure reliable and accurate financial reporting to the wider business?; and How do you determine the best course of action to drive Coles’ sales and profit? 

Length of program:

 3 years

Rotation possibilities:

Financial Accounting & Control (Treasury and Banking, Tax, Business Assurance, Accounting Investigations and Stock Accounting, Financial Accounting and Reporting, External Reporting & Governance, Payables and Expenses, Capital and Order Management)

Preferred educational background/interest:

Commerce, Finance, Accounting

*Graduates will be supported in completing a CA/CPA qualification throughout the program

Agribusiness

Graduates will develop a deep understanding of the Australian meat supply chain for Coles, working with farmers, processors, and retail packers to deliver exceptional livestock products. From a strategic point of view, we have some big challenges coming up relating to carbon emissions, security of supply for future generations and providing customers with continued quality and inspirational products that get shoppers to repeat purchase.

Recent brands you may have seen on our shelves include our ‘Coles Finest’ Certified Carbon Neutral Beef and Pork, grass fed “Graze” Beef and Lamb.

Seeing your products from paddock to plate is quite an experience and provides immediate responsibility and opportunities to make a difference. You will gain exposure to key projects and including sustainability, packaging transformation, new products and events. You will also be involved in supplier and farm visits, supply chain execution, compliance, and customer strategy creation. All action from the get-go!

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Livestock, Retail Production, Primary Production, Supply Chain, Own Brand 

Preferred educational background/interest:

Agriculture, Livestock orientated, Food Science, Agribusiness.

Supply Chain

Bridging the gap between our suppliers, distribution centres and stores, our Replenishment team works with thousands of trusted businesses everyday. We work had to make like easier, safer and more sustainable for the teams across our network, with an unrelenting goal of maximising on shelf availability for our customers  

The Replenishment team looks after the end-to-end supply chain for the Coles network. Critical tasks such as managing inbound supplier performance, optimising outbound forecasts and stock settings, continuous improvement projects within our supply chain all sit within the Replenishment team.

As a Replenishment graduate, you will obtain incredible exposure to all areas of the Supply Chain and build breadth in your supply chain expertise.

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Rotation possibilities: Supply Planning, Coles Collect transport, Continuous improvement projects, DC conformance and Business Contingency Planning tasks.

Preferred educational background/interest:

All disciplines

Procurement

Procurement and Property Services (P&PS) is more than just sourcing goods and services it's about driving innovation, fostering sustainable practices, and building trusted partnerships that support our mission to help Australians live healthier and happier lives.

As a graduate in the P&PS team, you'll play a pivotal role in optimising supply chains, negotiating impactful contracts, and implementing cutting-edge solutions to streamline processes and minimise risk across the Coles Group. You'll gain hands-on experience working with diverse suppliers, from goods not for resale, ensuring the seamless operation of our retail stores, distribution centres, and beyond.

 Also working with our Energy and Facilities, Engineering and Maintenance (FEM) team look after (Miranda to input)

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Store Operations and Capital, Digital and Indirects, Supply Chain, Procurement Excellence & Ops , Energy and Facilities, Engineering & Maintenance. Energy and Facilities, Engineering and Maintenance (FEM)

Preferred educational background/interest:

Business and Commerce, Law, Engineering, Finance and Accounting, Supply Chain and Property.

Open to all disciplines*

Technology

Technology is at the heart of Coles success – and as a Technology Graduate, you’ll help shape the future of retail. You’ll gain hands-on experience, working across a range of domains and enterprise technology portfolios, and grow through on-the-job learnings and coaching. 

We’re looking for curious, driven individuals ready to tackle complex challenges and make a real difference. Our program is designed to give you breadth and depth across diverse disciplines, such as Software Engineering, Data, Cloud, DevOps, and Cyber Security and rapidly evolving AI solutions such as generative, agentic and multi modal AI. 

If you’re passionate about technology and its power to change business, join Coles!

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Software Engineering (Mobile/Web and distributed systems), Data & Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Emerging technology platforms, Merchandise IT and supply chain technology, Infrastructure project delivery, and Cloud Engineering. 

Preferred educational background/interest:

Information Technology, Software Engineering, Data Science, Advanced Computing, Data and Analytics, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Business Information Systems

Commercial

The Commercial stream is all about delivering the best market offering for our customers in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. As a Commercial Graduate you will help build our customer offer for all of the products we sell, by developing category strategies, bringing new ranges to life, and building trade plans to offer the best value for our customers.

Some of the aspects of the role involve commercial management of our Profit & Loss statement, managing supplier relationships, bringing innovation to life in stores and online, and making customer centric decisions.

Negotiating and working with our suppliers will also be fundamental to your success in landing your category strategy.  
 
No two days are the same as you will be collaborating with multiple functions, including Customer Experience, Operations and Supply Chain teams to develop category plans and bring this to life in-store.   


Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Category Management, Grocery, Health & Home, Fresh Produce, Meat, Deli, Seafood & Convenience, Bakery, Dairy & Frozen.

Preferred educational background/interest:

Business/Commerce, Management, Marketing, Finance/Accounting, Economics.

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Commercial, Corporate Advisory, Property Legal, Regulatory, Risk and Compliance including Ethical Sourcing, Liquor Licensing, Merchandise and Marketing, Operations and Privacy.

Preferred educational background/interest:

Law Degrees including post-grad e.g. Juris Doctor

Coles Liquor

Our liquor team is  intent on becoming Australia’s  favorite  locally relevant drinks specialist, serving up everything from premium & exclusive wines and craft beers, to  spirits  from  local distilleries.  We’re passionate about putting customers first and have fantastic team members working in operations, merchandise, supply chain, marketing, finance & strategy to make this happen.   
 
Coles Liquor provides you with a fantastic opportunity to join a passionate and close-knit team whose vision is to be a simpler, more accessible, locally relevant, drinks specialist.  As a Liquor Graduate, you can choose your own adventure, working across a variety of areas in retail. With over 900 liquor stores, 3 great customer brands and millions of customers, there’s sure to be an opportunity for you within Coles Liquor. 

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Supply Chain, Store Formats, eCommerce, Merchandise, Centrel Operations, Strategy, Marketing &  Transformation 

Preferred educational background/interest:

Commerce, Business, Economics, Supply-chain, Science, Engineering & Law 

Marketing

As one of the biggest brands in Australia, Coles connects with over 18 million customers each day. Whether it is innovative in-store design, creative omnichannel storytelling, or major advertising campaign that reaches 98% of Australians, the customer experience team plays a pivotal role in driving the Coles brand forward, helping our customers eat and live better every day.   
  
From communicating with millions of Australians every week, to analysing trends in customer behavior or developing a powerful TV commercial, as a Customer Graduate you will join the innovative team at the cutting edge of retail marketing. 

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Location Planning, Retail Leasing, Site Procurement - Freehold, Lease Management, Property Finance

Preferred educational background/interest:

Marketing, Data Analytics, Behavioural Science, Psychology

People & Culture

Our People & Culture team work hard to create an inclusive workplace driven by support and empowerment. Working across our Centres of Excellence, P&C Central and Business Partnering, we focus on bringing out the best in our people, making their lives easier through better experiences, helpful tools, innovative tech and ongoing career opportunities.  
 
As a People & Culture Graduate, you will have plenty of opportunity to influence the future of Coles through developing a diverse team, recruiting top talent or enabling flexible work environments, making Coles the best place to work for our teams and ensuring our customers come first.  

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Total Loss, Project Delivery, Supply Planning, System Optimisation & Demand Planning, Supply Chain Transformation, Coles Services, Workforce Planning, National Planning & Resilience, Communications & Trade Activation

Preferred educational background/interest:

Business Management, Supply Chain/Logistics, Finance,.

Property

Property graduates will gain experience in each phase of the property lifecycle. With almost 2000 retail locations around the country, Coles’ Property team looks after one of the most dynamic portfolios in Australia. Working with teams across the business, Property teams provide a range of services from identifying and acquiring sites, sales forecasting, retail leasing and renewals, construction and asset management/ development.
 
Whether it be consulting with local councils and communities, negotiating new and existing leases, or expanding and refurbishing stores and other Coles assets, there is plenty of opportunity for Coles Property Graduates!

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Location Planning, Retail Leasing, Site Procurement - Freehold, Lease Management, Property Finance

Preferred educational background/interest:

Property, Commerce, Business, Economics, Law

Central Operations

Central Operations and Supply Chain is the backbone of Coles, ensuring products move seamlessly from suppliers to our distribution centres and into stores so millions of customers can shop with confidence every week.

Our teams work tirelessly to make life easier, safer, and more sustainable for our store teams and customers. From managing inbound supplier performance and optimising stock settings to supporting our DCs and empowering stores, we are the vital link that keeps the Coles network moving.

As a Central Ops and Supply Chain Graduate, you will:
  • Be the critical connection between the Store Support Centre and our stores, helping land change that is best for Coles, drive sales, improve profitability, and make life easier for our team and customers.
  • Gain incredible exposure to the end-to-end supply chain and operational processes that drive our business.

Work on impactful projects such as: 
  • Managing supplier performance and outbound forecasts
  • Reducing loss and improving safety in stores
  • Transforming our network from our sheds to stores  

This program will challenge you as a leader, give you ownership of meaningful work, and allow you to build expertise in supply chain and operations. You’ll play a key role in shaping how Coles delivers for customers today and into the future.

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Total Loss, Project Delivery, Supply Planning, System Optimisation & Demand Planning, Supply Chain Transformation, Coles Services, Workforce Planning, National Planning & Resilience, Communications & Trade Activation

Preferred educational background/interest:

Business Management, Supply Chain/Logistics, Finance.

Own Brand

In the Own Brand team, we spend our time immersed in products - eating, designing, and developing great products to inspire our customers. We collaborate across the whole business (with central teams and subject matter experts) and our suppliers in a 'winning together' business.
 
The skillset that we develop ensures success including problem solving, project management, supplier relationship,  communication skills and above all, a love for food.  
 
No two days will be the same and as a Graduate of the Coles Own Brand team, you will learn how to develop innovative and world class products working with local and international suppliers and ensuring we meet our Quality and Sustainable commitments.  
 
Product Technologist keep us safe and legal & Product Developers assure the right ideas are developed to be market winning  propositions, the right way.  We spend our time immersed in products – eating them, checking specifications, visiting the factories and farms and problem solving with suppliers to ensure we always meet the highest quality.

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Own Brand BU teams

Preferred educational background/interest:

Food Science, Chemistry, Nutrition/Dietetics

Safety

Above all, we value the health, safety and wellbeing of our people and customers.

You will have the opportunity to impact the lives of our team members by how they feel about their workplace and how they remain safe whilst at work. You will also ensure that our customers are provided with a safe shopping experience and ensure the safe handling of our food products. We do this by partnering with all Business Units, Store Development and Operations so that all new concepts and innovations land safely in Stores.  
 
You will partner with leaders across the business to design workflows and environments that are safe and operationally efficient, participating in and completing risk assessments and trials to validate safety data. If things do go wrong, you will also participate in investigations to understand the root cause and what controls can be implemented to eliminate the risk.   

Length of program:

 2 years

Rotation possibilities:

Food Safety, People Safety, Store Design and Innovation, Injury Management and Workers Compensation

Preferred educational background/interest:

Health and Safety, Allied Health (E.g. Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation, Wellbeing), Food safety, Engineering.