E-commerce Business Development Intern – Merchant Acquisition & Growth

Job Description

Category Manager Intern (TikTok Shop – Operations) | TikTok

The Tone:
This is an MBA internship at TikTok, located in Los Angeles, CA. TikTok is a global platform and the leading destination for short-form mobile video, dedicated to inspiring creativity and bringing joy to its users. This role contributes to the TikTok Shop US operation team, which aims to deliver high-quality products and unique customer experiences by pioneering content and creator commerce. The team strives to make TikTok the leading commerce platform of choice for brands, creators, and shoppers, bringing discovery and inspiration back to shopping.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Temporary (12 weeks)
• Location: In-person, Los Angeles, CA
• Pay: $38 hourly
• Team: TikTok Shop US operation team, responsible for building e-commerce partnerships.
• Mission: Acquire and incubate merchants to drive category growth and solve business challenges for TikTok Shop US.
• Tech Stack:

What You’ll Actually Do
• Acquire and incubate merchants to effectively support the growth of their respective categories.
• Discover and implement collaborative models that align with merchants’ short-term and long-term development plans, utilizing platform resources efficiently.
• Solve critical business growth challenges through strong collaboration with various cross-functional teams.
• Employ a consultative approach to offer strategic content, creator/affiliate/agency partner, merchandising, and logistical solutions to all clients.
• Keep clients informed and updated on new TikTok Shop product developments and emerging promotional opportunities.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing an MBA Degree with the intent to return to the degree program after the internship.
• Experience: Ability to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2026.
• Skills: Quick learning, proactivity, and resilience to thrive in ambiguity and adapt quickly to change. Possesses structured thinking, a strong data sense, and very robust analytical skills. Demonstrates excellent communication and cross-team collaboration abilities, skilled at driving initiatives forward. Shows a strong passion for business coupled with a drive to achieve ambitious goals.
• Bonus: Prior internship or full-time experience in an e-commerce marketplace business or retail category management. Familiarity with the TikTok content ecosystem, shoppable content, and brand-creator partnerships.