INTERNSHIP OFFER: Digital Automation & Communications internship

The International Association of Department Stores (IADS) was founded in 1928 by a group of department stores seeking to prepare for the future together. Today, IADS is the oldest and most exclusive professional think tank dedicated to the department store sector.

The Association has three main objectives:

• Strengthen the international bond between its members
• Research the future of the department store business
• Promote cooperation and best practices

To achieve these goals, IADS organises exclusive high-level meetings and conferences with global retail leaders, analyses and researches business trends, and facilitates knowledge exchange between members through its members-only digital platforms and Academy programme. As a thought-challenging professional association, innovation is the raison d'être of IADS.

Our Members

IADS currently has 16 members, representing a total turnover of more than 40.5 bn € (in Department Store activity only), generated across 549 stores with more than 251,000 employees.

Today, IADS permanent members include Beijing Hualian Group (PRC), Bloomingdale’s (USA), Boyner (Turkey), Breuninger (Germany), Chalhoub Group (UAE), Centro Beco (Venezuela), El Corte Inglés (Spain), El Palacio de Hierro (Mexico), Falabella (Chile, Colombia and Peru), Galeries Lafayette (France), John Lewis & Partners (UK), Lifestyle International Holding (Hong Kong), Magasin du Nord (Denmark), Manor (Switzerland), The Mall Group (Thailand), and TSUM Kyiv (Ukraine). These retail leaders are joined by a network of other department stores and retail companies as corresponding members.

They all face challenges of various nature – retail experience, customer loyalty, reliance on tourism, digitalisation, personalisation of the offer, competition with new retail formats. IADS is here to help all of them address these challenges.

Tasks

IADS is looking for a Digital Automation & Communications Intern to support the Association's digital workflows, automation systems, and weekly content production.

This operational role includes communications responsibilities. The intern will maintain IADS's content engine and develop the automation infrastructure that supports it.

The intern will report to the Head of Communications & Deployment, supporting the management of the Association's content workflows, internal databases, and digital tools, while identifying opportunities to reduce manual overhead through automation and AI tools,

This internship is ideal for individuals who enjoy structured work, systems thinking, and process improvement.

Key responsibilities

1. Newsletter and content operations

Support the preparation and production of the weekly IADS newsletter and broader content operations across IADS's digital channels.

Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing newsletter content and editing for clarity and accuracy
• Formatting and preparing the newsletter for publication
• Ensuring consistency across content and visuals
• Monitoring performance metrics and identifying improvements
• Learning and eventually managing the full newsletter workflow
• Contributing to content across IADS's digital channels — website updates, IADS Exclusives, LinkedIn (including visual content via Canva), and Substack announcements
• Supporting press visibility by coordinating press releases, updating press mentions, and ensuring consistent branding and messaging across public-facing channels

1. Automation and workflow optimisation

Support the development and management of automation workflows across IADS digital tools.

Tasks may include:

• Building or maintaining automations using tools such as Zapier, N8N
• Supporting workflow integrations between platforms
• Identifying and eliminating repetitive manual tasks
• Helping build simple AI-assisted workflows and prompt libraries
• Assisting in the development of internal agents to support research or content workflows

3)Database and digital systems support

Support the organisation and maintenance of internal data systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing structured databases (Notion/spreadsheets)
• Transferring questionnaire results into structured datasets
• Ensuring clean and consistent data management practices
• Maintaining documentation of internal processes

1. Content gathering and research support

Assist in collecting and organising industry content used in IADS research and publications.

Examples include:

• Gathering retail initiatives (such as seasonal window displays)
• Supporting research on retail innovation topics
• Organising materials used in presentations or reports

1. Digital tools and security hygiene

Support best practices across IADS digital tools and systems.

Tasks may include:

• Maintaining documentation of tool usage and workflows
• Supporting internal security hygiene (access management, credential practices, documentation)
• Ensuring automations and tools follow sound data-handling practices

Reporting: Head of Communication & Deployment

Requirements

Skills needed

• Fluency in English (mother-tongue level required)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail, editing, and proofreading skills
• Highly organised with a structured approach to work
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); comfortable handling structured data and databases
• Familiarity with digital platforms such as Notion, Brevo, Substack, LinkedIn, and Canva
• Experience with website content management systems
• Interest in or experience with automation tools (Zapier or similar) and AI workflows
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team
• Open-minded and willingness to provide a positive contribution to IADS
• Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree or higher in Communications, Digital Innovation, Information Systems, or a related field
• Basic knowledge of Python or APIs is a plus

Benefits

• 6-month internship
• Interactions with key individuals from world-class department stores
• Building extensive knowledge across retail business models, technology, sustainability, and merchandising
• Real experience building and managing automation workflows using current AI tools and platforms
• Internship stipend in compliance with French legislation
• Restaurant vouchers and transportation card contribution
• Hybrid work environment