Procurement Intern - Summer 2027

POET; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 2,066,000 - 3,031,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Multifaceted wellness program

On-site fitness centers or reimburse‑s

Safety and cold-weather gear reimburse

Job summary

POET invites applications for a Procurement Intern position at our Sioux Falls, SD headquarters. You will support the Procurement team with bid packaging, spend analysis, vendor coordination, and data entry to ensure timely delivery and accurate reporting.

Successful candidates will be working toward a bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, or Engineering and possess strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Junior or senior pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, or Engineering.
• Strong written and oral communication, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist with managing bid requests and vendor research.
• Analyze spend and track procurement performance.
• Support contracts, bidding, and purchase order processing workflows.

Skills

Strong communication

Decision making

Problem solving

Time management

MS Office Suite

Adaptability

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, or Engineering

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

ABOUT POETAt POET, it is our mission to be good stewards of the Earth by converting renewable resources to energy and other valuable goods as effectively as humanly possible. For over thirty-five years, our drive and passion to change the world has enabled us to become the largest producer and marketer of bioethanol and a leader in sustainable products in the world.CULTURE IS KING AT POETWe’re all on the same team. We always communicate. And we park our egos at the door. These aren’t just slogans on our walls. It’s the way we do things at POET. We provide an environment for team members to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s the best way to optimize health, wellness, and productivity in a sustainable way. We work hard. We play hard. We have frequent team events, volunteer efforts, and we know how to celebrate wins!JOB SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIESAs a Procurement Intern, you will be responsible for providing key support to the Procurement team. You will assist with managing bid requests, researching and analyzing spend with vendors, working with vendors to ensure timely delivery, and varied data entry. The Procurement Intern’s role is to ensure professional execution of the procurement process from contracts and bidding to purchase order processing, delivery, installation, and performance tracking. This may include but is not limited to order tracking, spend analysis, and operations analytics.This is an on-site role located at POET’s corporate headquarters in Sioux Falls, SD. Responsibilities include:Working with internal stakeholders to plan and execute requests for proposals and/or bid packages, including bid receipt confirmation, documentation management and bid review and selection process.Analyzing spend in assigned categories to identify opportunities to increase value.Researching industry trends and leaders to provide strategic recommendations to internal business units.Extracting and summarizing data from our procurement software.Assisting with vendor relationship management including researching potential new vendors, negotiations and business reviews.Reviewing and updating contractor compliance and qualification status of vendors.Following up with vendors to ensure on-time delivery of goods.Compiling information from multiple data sources to create vendor scorecards.Providing timely status updates on projects and tasks.Since we’re all about teamwork and getting the job done, your skills may be put to a lot of other uses!The POET Never Satisfied Internship openings are for Summer 2027. We post Internships in early September with the intention of having interns selected by November 1st.QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLSHigh school diploma or equivalent required. Junior or senior level status working toward a bachelor’s degree majoring in an accredited program, preferably in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, or Engineering.Strong written and oral communication skills, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.Excellent organizational and time management skills as well as the ability to adapt to change.Knowledge of the basics of Microsoft Office Suite and the ability of learning new programs.A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL HAVEHigh level of personal integrityEager to learn and change the world.Ability to work in a fast paced, dynamic and changing environment.Interpersonal skills – ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels within/outside the organizationDemonstrated relationship-building skills.Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skillsAbility to embrace and promote changeInnovative mindsetAbility to think objectivelySelf-awareness in the face of uncertaintyAbility to work in a team environmentWORK ENVIRONMENTThis position operates in an office environment, working at a personal computer where you may sit or stand. Most of our Sioux Falls office workspace consists of an open-concept design intended to promote open communication and collaboration.GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIESAt POET, we encourage internal development and growth by allowing team members to carve their own path to success. Leaders support team members with the necessary resources to develop their skills, achieve goals, and create the most value. We believe in developing our team members to their highest potential and recognizing contributions that add value to the organization. Each new team member’s position and compensation are carefully determined by considering their unique qualifications and skillset.PERKSA multifaceted wellness program encompassing the whole person – mentally, physically, and spirituallyOn-site fitness centers or fitness reimbursementsSafety and cold-weather gear reimbursementsPOET is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to maintaining a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, abilities, merit, and other legitimate business factors, without regard to any legally protected characteristic. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, benefits, working conditions, promotion, and termination.