Business Development Project Intern (TikTok Shop - US Operation) - 2026 Start

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States of America Department: Operations

The US Operations team onboards sellers, drives business growth, improves user experience, and provides operations and sales support in the US market. We are organized into Category Management teams that acquire new brands and incubate and accelerate them on TikTok Shop, alongside Central teams covering creator operations, campaign operations, projects, and agency partnerships, working with cross-functional and category teams to grow GMV across merchants of every size.

As the business grows, we take on complex challenges across seller growth and creator and agency ecosystem development.

You will shape merchant success, user experience, and the next phase of e-commerce growth in the US.

The commerce industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years and has become a hotly contested space amongst leading Internet companies, and its future growth cannot be underestimated. We aim to bring discovery, inspiration, and joy back to shopping by making TikTok the commerce channel of choice for merchants, creators, and affiliates.

You've seen the virality and impact of #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt. Come join the team that is helping scale that phenomenon, and pioneer Content & Creator commerce in the US. We aim to bring discovery, inspiration, and joy back to shopping by making TikTok the leading, on-trend commerce platform of choice for brands, creators, and shoppers. We are an entrepreneurial team, passionate about shaping the future of shopping.

With more than 1 billion loyal users globally, TikTok is the ideal platform to deliver a brand new and exciting shopping experience to our users. TikTok is already the place where trends first surface, and where brands, creators, and consumers are already connected in meaningful ways. We are looking for passionate and talented people to join our commercial team in the US, to help build an e-commerce ecosystem that is innovative, secure, and intuitive for our users and partners alike.

As a Project Intern, you will contribute to impactful short-term projects and gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, professional environment. This internship offers the opportunity to develop practical skills, apply your knowledge to real-world challenges, and explore your career interests.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early.

Responsibilities

• Merchant research and lead generation: Research prospective brands, retailers, and sellers; assess their business profiles and category fit; identify relevant decision-makers; and build prioritized outreach lists.
• Sales outreach and follow-up: Support merchant outreach through email, LinkedIn, and other channels. Prepare communication materials, coordinate meetings, and follow up with prospects to advance recruitment opportunities.
• Merchant onboarding: Track onboarding progress, collect required information, coordinate with merchants and internal teams, and flag blockers to help sellers complete registration and launch.
• Partnership and event support: Support collaboration with commerce agencies and internal sales and marketing teams on merchant referrals, recruitment campaigns, and events. Assist with prospect research, invitations, event coordination, and post-event follow-up.
• Data analysis and reporting: Maintain accurate merchant and project trackers, validate lead data, and prepare regular reports on outreach, pipeline progress, and onboarding conversion. Identify gaps and recommend follow-up actions.
• Project coordination: Take ownership of assigned tasks and workstreams, track milestones and deadlines, communicate progress, and follow through on outstanding action items.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree with strong interest in Marketing, Business, Data Analytics, Economics, or a related field.
• Prior internship, work, or hands-on project experience in at least one of the following areas: sales or business development, project management, or data analysis.
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets, with the ability to organize and validate data, use lookup functions and pivot tables, and translate findings into clear observations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to prepare professional outreach messages and communicate effectively with merchants, partners, and internal teams.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly when handling contact information, tracking project status, and preparing reports.
• A proactive approach and strong ownership: comfortable asking questions, identifying blockers early, following up independently, and completing tasks within agreed timelines.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with e-commerce, merchant outreach, agency partnerships, or event coordination.
• Experience analyzing large datasets and creating business insights.
• Experience working with sellers, merchants, brands, creators, or external partners.
• Familiarity with TikTok Shop, social commerce, or other marketplace platforms.
• Strong business judgment and ability to prioritize in a rapidly changing environment.
• Experience or interest in e-commerce, social commerce, merchant operations, or agency partnerships is a plus.

By submitting an application for this role, you accept and agree to our global applicant privacy policy, which may be accessed here: https://careers.tiktok.com/legal/privacy