MBA Business Development Intern – Merchant Acquisition

Job Description

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

The Tone:
This is an internship at TikTok, likely located in Los Angeles, CA. TikTok is a leading global destination for short-form mobile video, inspiring creativity and bringing joy to over a billion users worldwide through an innovative product. This role is crucial for scaling the “TikTokMadeMeBuyIt” phenomenon, helping to pioneer content and creator commerce within the US market. The intern will join an entrepreneurial operations team focused on building a unique e-commerce experience and an intuitive ecosystem for users.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Temporary, Seasonal
• Location: In-person, Los Angeles, CA
• Pay: $38 hourly
• Team: The TikTok Shop US operation team is responsible for building e-commerce partnerships and delivering high-quality products.
• Mission: This person will acquire and incubate merchants to support category growth for TikTok Shop.

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

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently pursuing an MBA Degree, intending to return to the degree program after the internship.
• Experience: Able to commit to working for 12 weeks during Summer 2026.
• Skills: Quick learner, proactive and resilient, with the ability to thrive in ambiguity and adjust fast to change. Demonstrates structured thinking, good data sense, and very strong analytical skills. Possesses excellent communication and cross-team collaboration abilities, skilled at moving initiatives forward.
• Bonus: 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.