E-commerce Business Development Intern – Merchant Partnerships

Job Description

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

The Tone:
This is an internship at TikTok, located in Los Angeles, CA. TikTok is the leading global destination for short-form mobile video, committed to inspiring creativity and bringing joy to its vast user base. This role is within the TikTok Shop US operation team, an entrepreneurial group dedicated to shaping the future of shopping. The commerce industry is experiencing rapid growth, and TikTok aims to become the premier commerce channel for merchants, creators, and affiliates. The team is responsible for building TikTok’s e-commerce partnership in the US, leveraging over a billion loyal users globally to deliver a unique and better e-commerce experience. You will contribute to scaling the viral #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt phenomenon, pioneering content and creator commerce, and bringing discovery, inspiration, and joy back to shopping through an innovative platform.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Temporary
• Location: In-person, Los Angeles, CA
• Pay: $38 hourly
• Team: TikTok Shop US operation team
• Mission: To acquire and incubate merchants to drive category growth and deliver unique customer experiences for TikTok Shop.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Acquire: Acquire and incubate merchants to support category growth for TikTok Shop.
• Collaborate: Discover innovative collaborative models that align with merchants’ development plans, investing platform resources effectively.
• Solve: Solve key challenges in business growth by strong collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Consult: Employ a consultative approach by offering strategic content, creator/affiliate/agency partner, merchandising, and logistical solutions to all clients.
• Update: Update clients on TikTok Shop product developments and new promotional opportunities.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing a MBA Degree.
• Commitment: Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer Fall 2026, with potential start dates including May 11th, May 18th, May 26th, June 8th, or June 22nd, 2026.
• Skills: Quick learner, proactive, and resilient, with the ability to thrive in ambiguity and adjust fast to change; structured thinking, strong data sense, and very strong analytical skills; excellent communication and cross-team collaboration, skilled at moving initiatives forward; 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; internship or full-time experience in an e-commerce marketplace business or retail category management; familiarity with TikTok content ecosystem, shoppable content, and brand-creator partnerships.