Business Optimization Intern (Business/Data Analyst) - Spring 2026 Job Listing at Norfolk Southern in Atlanta, GA (Job ID 1327679800)

Description

Requisition 39225: Business Optimization Intern (Business/Data Analyst) - Spring 2026 

Job Overview: 

Norfolk Southern's Crew Management Optimization team is seeking an energetic Business Analyst Intern to help improve the efficiency of our railroad operations. In this role, you will learn the fundamentals of operations management (including complex seniority and operating rules) and apply strong analytical skills to real-world workforce challenges. Working on-site at our Atlanta, GA headquarters, you will collaborate with a highly experienced team to streamline processes, analyze data in Excel, and drive improvements in crew productivity and availability. This is a paid internship position where you'll gain hands-on experience in operations analysis and make a meaningful impact on our business strategies. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Optimize Staffing Levels: Use productivity and workload data to evaluate crew staffing at various locations. Recommend adjustments – such as adding or removing positions – to ensure each location is optimally staffed for safe and efficient operations. This may involve analyzing metrics like crew utilization, overtime, and job assignments to balance staffing need
• Process Improvement & Audits: Conduct audits of crew management processes and data (e.g. crew scheduling efficiency, time-off allocations, rule compliance) to uncover opportunities for improvement. Propose and help implement process changes or best practices that enhance overall crew productivity, availability, and efficiency.
• Analyze Crew Attendance: Examine attendance records for conductors and engineers to identify patterns, trends, and potential attendance issues. Help monitor compliance with attendance policies and support the process of addressing violations by providing data-driven insights and reports.
• Support Attendance Management: Work with the crew management team to track attendance performance and assist in preparing documentation or summaries for use in the disciplinary process, ensuring consistent application of the attendance policy.
• Data Reporting and Visualization: Maintain and develop Excel-based reports to track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to crew operations (e.g. attendance rates, staffing levels, productivity metrics). Present findings through clear charts or dashboards; if skilled in tools like Tableau or Power BI, use them to create insightful visualizations that aid decision-making.
• Process Automation & Efficiency: Streamline recurring tasks by leveraging Excel features (such as formulas, pivot tables, maybe macros) to automate data processing and reporting. Document standard operating procedures for these processes to help the team work faster and more consistently.
• Collaboration and Learning: Work closely with veteran crew management team members to understand operational challenges and requirements. Communicate key insights and recommendations to supervisors and other stakeholders in a clear, professional manner. You'll also have the chance to learn about railroad operations, labor agreements, and the critical role of crew management in keeping our trains running on schedule. 

Qualifications: 

• Education: Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program. Preferred fields of study include Business Administration, Business Management, Data Analytics, Statistics, Supply Chain/Logistics, or related disciplines. (Sophomore, Junior, or Senior undergraduates, as well as graduate students, are welcome to apply.)
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Comfort working with large datasets and extracting meaningful conclusions. Experience with analyzing operational or workforce data is a plus.
• Excel Proficiency: Advanced Excel skills are required. You should be very comfortable with Excel functions, pivot tables, and data analysis tools. Ability to organize and manipulate data efficiently in spreadsheets is essential. (Experience with creating charts, using VLOOKUP/index-match, or writing macros/VBA is a bonus.)
• Data Visualization: Familiarity with data visualization or business intelligence tools such as Tableau or Power BI is a plus. Ability to create clear charts or dashboards to communicate data findings will be valued. 

Additional Information: 

• Location: This internship is on-site at Norfolk Southern's headquarters in Atlanta, GA. You'll work directly with the Crew Management Optimization team and gain exposure to our operations center.
• Duration & Hours: Expect a 12-15 week program with a standard Monday–Friday work schedule during normal business hours. 
• Compensation:
  • Active enrolled student during the months of January-May 2026
    • Freshman (27 or fewer credits) - $3,592/month
    • Sophomore (28 to 59 credits) - $3,982/month
    • Junior (60 to 89 credits) - $4,050/month
    • Senior (90 or more credits) - $4,334/month
    • Graduate Student - $5,200/month
• Professional Development: As an intern, you will receive mentorship and training. You'll have opportunities to network within Norfolk Southern and learn about careers in transportation and operations. Successful interns may be considered for future, or full-time opportunities at the company. 

Company Overview

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.