Buyer Internships
Buyer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience sourcing and negotiating real vendor contracts, mentorship from working buyers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings are concentrated across {{top_industries_phrase}}, with Applied Materials, Koch, and Plexus among the employers posting roles now.
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Koch Ag & Energy Solutions is seeking a Buyer Co-op who is excited about discovering their passions and potential while gaining real-world procurement and supply chain experience that creates value for our customers.
In this co-op opportunity, you will work alongside experienced sourcing and procurement professionals while continuing your education. Unlike a traditional summer internship, this role is designed for a student who can work concurrently with their academic schedule throughout the school year, allowing for deeper learning, expanded responsibilities, and meaningful contributions to business outcomes.
The co-op is anticipated to run from January through May. Based on individual performance and business needs, successful co-ops may be considered for full-time employment immediately following the conclusion of the program.
Our Team
At Koch, our mission is to help people improve their lives by making and innovating valuable products and services. We have a variety of companies that work in many industries and create thousands of essential products that you use every day.
This posting is specifically for our Procurement team at Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (KAES) in Wichita, Kansas. We are seeking a student who is available to begin and continue working throughout the academic year while enrolled in school. As a Buyer Co-op, you will have the opportunity to develop procurement and supplier management skills, gain exposure to sourcing strategies and purchasing processes, and build valuable business experience while contributing to real projects and initiatives.
What You Will Do
- Support sourcing strategies, supplier negotiations, and procurement operations to help drive cost savings and supply chain efficiency.
- Hands-on experience with contract management, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration within a dynamic business environment.
- Partner with internal stakeholders and suppliers to help ensure materials and services are available to support our operations and project needs.
Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
- Currently enrolled in a degree or alternative program (e.g., Master's program, 4 year college program, 2 year technical college program, certificate program, upskilling program, etc.)
- Able to work concurrently with classes during the academic year
- Eligible for full-time employment before or by May 2027
- Legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship.
What Will Put You Ahead
- Currently enrolled in a degree program of Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Accounting, International Business, Economics
- Experience with software like PowerBI, Maximo, Ariba, SAP, etc.
- Interest in procurement, supply chain, supplier management, or strategic sourcing
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
As a Koch company, Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (KAES) is a global provider of value-added solutions for the agriculture, turf and ornamental, energy and chemical markets. From agriculture to energy, KAES makes things grow better with plant nutrient and biological technologies. Our team of innovators unleash their potential while developing the technologies that feed and power the world.
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquà , or tu ).
Koch Ag & Energy Solutions is seeking a Buyer Co-op who is excited about discovering their passions and potential while gaining real-world procurement and supply chain experience that creates value for our customers.
In this co-op opportunity, you will work alongside experienced sourcing and procurement professionals while continuing your education. Unlike a traditional summer internship, this role is designed for a student who can work concurrently with their academic schedule throughout the school year, allowing for deeper learning, expanded responsibilities, and meaningful contributions to business outcomes.
The co-op is anticipated to run from January through May. Based on individual performance and business needs, successful co-ops may be considered for full-time employment immediately following the conclusion of the program.
Our Team
At Koch, our mission is to help people improve their lives by making and innovating valuable products and services. We have a variety of companies that work in many industries and create thousands of essential products that you use every day.
This posting is specifically for our Procurement team at Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (KAES) in Wichita, Kansas. We are seeking a student who is available to begin and continue working throughout the academic year while enrolled in school. As a Buyer Co-op, you will have the opportunity to develop procurement and supplier management skills, gain exposure to sourcing strategies and purchasing processes, and build valuable business experience while contributing to real projects and initiatives.
What You Will Do
- Support sourcing strategies, supplier negotiations, and procurement operations to help drive cost savings and supply chain efficiency.
- Hands-on experience with contract management, data analysis, and cross-functional collaboration within a dynamic business environment.
- Partner with internal stakeholders and suppliers to help ensure materials and services are available to support our operations and project needs.
Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
- Currently enrolled in a degree or alternative program (e.g., Master's program, 4 year college program, 2 year technical college program, certificate program, upskilling program, etc.)
- Able to work concurrently with classes during the academic year
- Eligible for full-time employment before or by May 2027
- Legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship.
What Will Put You Ahead
- Currently enrolled in a degree program of Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Accounting, International Business, Economics
- Experience with software like PowerBI, Maximo, Ariba, SAP, etc.
- Interest in procurement, supply chain, supplier management, or strategic sourcing
At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.
Hiring Philosophy
All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .
Who We Are
As a Koch company, Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (KAES) is a global provider of value-added solutions for the agriculture, turf and ornamental, energy and chemical markets. From agriculture to energy, KAES makes things grow better with plant nutrient and biological technologies. Our team of innovators unleash their potential while developing the technologies that feed and power the world.
At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.
Our Benefits
Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.
Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.
Equal Opportunities
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquà , or tu ).
Buyer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Buyer Internship Search
Apply earlier than you think necessary
Large retailers, manufacturers, and consumer goods companies recruit summer buyer interns the preceding fall, often closing cohorts before December. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates. Map out your target employers early so you are not scrambling when the first deadlines hit.
Build a project portfolio before you apply
Buyer intern recruiters expect limited work history, so give them something concrete to assess. Document two or three projects showing supplier research, cost comparisons, or sourcing analyses, note the tools you used, such as Excel, SAP, or Tableau, and link to any published deliverables or class case studies you can share.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured buyer programs tied to your university, and recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person. Your professors and career center staff may know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time to widen the pool you reach.
Practice the buyer intern interview format out loud
Buyer intern screens typically involve a case or analytical exercise, a supplier selection scenario, a cost-benefit problem, or a negotiation situation. Practice talking through your reasoning step by step, not just reaching the answer, because interviewers weigh how you think as much as the final recommendation. Run through two or three practice cases before your first screen.
Target structured rotational and cohort programs early
Larger companies in retail, manufacturing, and consumer goods run formal buyer or supply chain rotational programs designed to train people new to the field. These programs recruit on a fixed calendar, fill fast, and often convert interns at higher rates than ad-hoc roles. Identify the programs that match your graduation timeline and apply in the first wave.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 50% of the buyer internships listed here. Decide what you can realistically commit to, on-site, hybrid, or remote, before you start sorting through listings. Filter by location and work type from the start so you spend your time on roles you can actually accept.
Buyer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a buyer internship?
Lead with coursework and projects rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For buyer candidates, the concrete artifact that gives recruiters something to assess is a documented case study or analysis showing how you evaluated suppliers, compared costs, or made a sourcing recommendation. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a buyer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. For buyer interns, what actually drives it is performance on real procurement work, the team's headcount heading into the next fiscal cycle, and how early the company runs its return-offer process. Position yourself by owning your projects and asking your manager about timing, but keep applying to full-time roles in parallel.
When should I apply for buyer internships?
Earlier than most expect. Large employers, retailers, manufacturers, and consumer goods companies with structured cohorts, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before December. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check employer career pages directly in addition to job boards, since some roles never make it to aggregators.
Are buyer internships paid?
Most professional buyer internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, a large retailer's structured cohort typically pays more than a regional distributor's part-time co-op. Where an employer discloses pay, the listing will show it. If a posting does not list compensation, ask the recruiter during the first screen.
What should a buyer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects showing supplier research, cost comparison, or procurement analysis, name the tools you used, such as Excel, SAP, or Tableau, and link to any published case studies or class deliverables where possible. Add relevant coursework in supply chain, operations, or business. Keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote buyer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 50% of the buyer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they draw applicants from across the country, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
Can international students get buyer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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