MBA E-commerce Operations Internship – Merchant Growth

Job Description

Category Manager Intern (TikTok Shop – Operations) – 2026 Summer (MBA) | TikTok

The Tone:
This is an MBA internship at TikTok, located in Los Angeles, CA, for the 2026 Summer program. TikTok, a leading destination for short-form mobile video, is building the TikTok Shop US operation team to bring discovery, inspiration, and joy back to shopping. This role is integral to pioneering Content & Creator commerce in the US, contributing to TikTok’s mission of making itself the leading, on-trend commerce platform of choice for brands, creators, and shoppers. The intern will join an entrepreneurial team focused on shaping the future of shopping by delivering high-quality products and a unique customer experience within an innovative, secure, and intuitive e-commerce ecosystem.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Temporary
• Location: In-person, Los Angeles, CA
• Pay: $38 hourly
• Team: TikTok Shop US operation team, responsible for building e-commerce partnerships.
• Mission: Grow categories within TikTok Shop by acquiring and incubating merchants and discovering effective collaborative models.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Merchant Acquisition: Acquire and incubate new merchants to support category growth within TikTok Shop.
• Partnership Development: Discover innovative collaborative models that align with merchant development plans, investing platform resources effectively.
• Business Problem Solving: Solve key challenges in business growth by collaborating strongly with cross-functional teams.
• Client Consultation: Employ a consultative approach by offering strategic content, creator/affiliate/agency partner, merchandising, and logistical solutions to clients.
• Product Updates: Update clients on TikTok Shop product developments and new promotional opportunities.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing an MBA Degree and able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer Fall 2026.
• Experience: Internship or full-time experience in an e-commerce marketplace business or retail category management is a plus.
• Skills: Possess structured thinking, very strong analytical skills, and good data sense. Demonstrate excellent communication and cross-team collaboration, skilled at moving things forward. A quick learner, proactive, resilient, and able to thrive in ambiguity and adjust fast to change, with a passion for business and aiming for higher goals.
• Bonus: Graduating December 2026 onwards with the intent to return to the degree program after the completion of the internship; familiarity with TikTok’s content ecosystem, shoppable content, and brand-creator partnerships.