2027 Summer Corporate Intern - Procurement

Caterpillar; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 31,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accrued PTO

Paid Holidays

Paid Volunteer Day

Housing Stipend

Relocation Assistance

Medical coverage

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Caterpillar is seeking a Procurement intern in Peoria, IL. The 12-week, 40-hour-workweek program offers exposure to global sourcing, supplier negotiations, and cost-saving initiatives within the Procurement team.

You will collaborate with product supply and category teams, develop data-driven analyses, and gain hands-on experience across category buying, facility procurement, supplier development, and process improvement.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a full-time at a 4-year accredited university/college in Business, Industrial/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, or Supply Chain Management.
• Must have 30 completed semester hours before the start of the internship.
• If a transfer student must have 12 semester hours completed at a 4-year university
• Minimum 2.8/4.0 Cumulative GPA (no rounding) at current institution
• Must be able to relocate to Peoria, IL area or indicated work location for the duration of the internship

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement global sourcing strategies and interface with product supply and category teams.
• Deliver cost savings and data-driven analyses for supplier negotiations.
• Work on a variety of projects within Procurement to support quality, cost, and delivery objectives.
• Assist and lead process improvement initiatives within the Procurement team.

Skills

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Process knowledge

Project management

Communication

Inclusion

Recognition

Education

4-year university/college

30 completed credit hours

Transfer hours

GPA 2.8/4.0

Relocation to Peoria

Job description

Career Area: Students and Graduates

Job Description: Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

About the Role

Caterpillar's Procurement team manages the purchasing of materials that go into more than 300 product lines, ranging from construction and mining equipment to diesel and natural gas engines and industrial turbines. We also purchase materials and services needed to operate our business such as office supplies, perishable tooling, IT hardware and software and more.

As a Procurement intern, you will have the opportunity to work on and provide leadership on many exciting projects such as developing and implementing global sourcing strategies, interfacing with product supply and category teams to deliver cost savings and gathering and analyzing data for supplier negotiations. Our professionals work closely with our internal customers around the world to ensure we meet their quality, cost, and delivery objectives.

What You Will Do

You’ll join a team with diverse project responsibilities and have valuable networking opportunities with all levels of Caterpillar employees. The internship is a 40-hour-per-week assignment lasting 12 weeks. You can focus on building professional abilities in roles including (but not limited to):

• Category Buyer: Responsible and accountable for directing the development, and/or communication and implementation of a site, regional, or worldwide sourcing strategy. Responsible for managing policies, agreements, source catalogs, and special purchasing programs, and supporting specific Product line(s) NPI programs.
• Facility Procurement Professional: Manages supply network procurement related activities for a facility to deliver procurement excellence and integration between Procurement organization and the team supporting Facility / Divisional Leaders.
• Supplier Development Engineer: Responsible for collaboration and advisement for assigned supply base to provide technical expertise and leadership in the execution of a robust quality plan within the supplier network.
• Procurement Professional: Analyzes and maintains assigned processes that produce output excellence, builds expertise for the assigned process area, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts. Leads project management of process improvement, process development, and process execution for Procurement team.

What You Have - Skills and Experiences

• Analytical skills, initiating ideas, troubleshooting, problem-solving, and critical thinking capabilities
• Ability to work with others of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, and abilities in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• Fundamental understanding of business process designs, engineering for a manufacturing environment, supplier relationship management concepts, and logistics and supply chain management
• Organize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, ability to quickly gain and effectively apply new skills & knowledge
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Participate in and build on our inclusive, constructive, and productive work environment
• Ensure all team member's contributions are recognized and values

Internship Program Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a full-time at a 4-year accredited university/college in one of the following fields of study: Business, Industrial/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Operations, or Supply Chain Management at the time of application and throughout the program.
• Must have 30 completed semester hours before the start of the internship.
• If a transfer student must have 12 semester hours completed at a 4-year university
• Minimum 2.8/4.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (no rounding) at current institution
• Must be able to relocate to Peoria, IL area or indicated work location for the duration of the internship and complete daily work commute using reliable transportation.
• Top candidates will also have:
  • Involvement with an academic campus teams or related experience
  • Project or Team Leadership experience
  • Previous business or technical internship/co‑op or relevant experience
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Additional Information: Sponsorship is NOT available for this position. Procurement internship positions will be in the Peoria, Illinois area. This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Intern Benefits

• Accrued Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Volunteer Day
• Housing Stipend
• Relocation Assistance
• Medical coverage
• Voluntary benefits

#LISummary Pay Range:$22.50 - $40.25 Intern Hourly Rate: An intern's hourly rate is based on the major/degree being pursued and the number of completed academic hours achieved before the start of the internship. Intern Benefits: The total rewards package, beyond base salary, may include if eligible: Accrued Paid Time Off (PTO) Paid Holidays Paid Volunteer Day Housing Stipend Relocation Assistance Medical coverage Voluntary benefits Posting Dates:June 30, 2026 - December 30, 2026 Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen. Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.