Global Supply Chain Intern

Grainger Businesses • Lake Forest, IL

94d • $27 • Hybrid

About The Position

W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products and solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Known for its commitment to service and award-winning culture, the Company had 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion across its two business models. In the High-Touch Solutions segment, Grainger offers approximately 2 million maintenances, repair and operating (MRO) products and services, including technical support and inventory management. In the Endless Assortment segment, Zoro.com offers customers access to more than 14 million products, and MonotaRO.com offers more than 24 million products. For more information, visit www.grainger.com.
During the 10-week paid internship, there is an opportunity to further explore your career options while simultaneously gaining intensive, hands-on experience. Each intern will have a meaningful project that contributes to the Grainger business, providing a formal presentation to leaders and fellow team members at the end of the program. The summer schedule is filled with professional development sessions, learning sessions with the Grainger Leadership Team, and social events to connect with other interns. All interns are afforded the opportunity to directly learn how the best-in-class supply chain organization operates! Following the internship, if a full-time offer is extended, you will have the opportunity to participate in a three-year rotational development program which will equip participants with the experiences, knowledge, and skills necessary to understand how Grainger’s supply chain organization delivers values to our customers.  Participants will gain experiences in business analytics, continuous improvement principles & practices, and leading teams in front-line supply chain operations to accelerate their development.

Requirements

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• No Visa sponsorships now or in the future.
• Currently enrolled in a college or University, working towards a bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, Business Analytics, Marketing, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics or related majors.
• Intermediate level of expertise in MS Office is required (especially enhanced Excel capabilities).
• Proven communication (written / verbal), interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Proven analytical skills including an ability to synthesize information, reach logical conclusions, evaluate and improve processes.
• Expected graduation between December 2026 – June 2027.

Responsibilities

• Develop reporting and provide data-based insights to leadership in order to drive profitable Will Call and Counter revenue growth, unparalleled service, operationally sound processes, and a culture of safety and team member engagement throughout the US and Canadian Branch Networks.
• Assess, design, and build solutions through process/technology changes that are aimed at improving customer experience and increasing the effectiveness of our customer service agents.
• Optimize inventory storage, reduce costs, and improve operational process flows by analyzing inventory and order data, partnering with local distribution center leadership, and researching alternate techniques with external vendors.
• Partner with the overseas sourcing team to manage purchasing and availability of inventory for globally sourced items. Work closely with suppliers to ensure they comply with and execute to Grainger’s Performance Metrics for all Purchase Orders.
• Determine where to stock, how much to stock, and when to replenish over 500k planned items across hundreds of North America Grainger locations. Partner with the branch network and distribution centers to plan inventory with a focus on the customer experience while driving increased revenue and reduced excess.
• Determine and develop supply chain network strategy capabilities to accommodate current demand and future growth, leveraging forecasting tools, data analysis, and order routing logic.
• Drive customer experience improvements by analyzing order data and customer information to identify trends; partner cross-functionally to find and rollout solutions.
• Work cross-functionally in support of projects that align to the Global Supply Chain/Customer Experience/Operations strategic roadmap focusing on reducing our cost to serve while maintaining/improving customer experience.
• Support Transportation Operations by enhancing current reporting, addressing current service issues, identifying cost reduction opportunities, and supporting operational design to deliver to customers at the right time for the right cost.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage starts on day one of employment.
• Access to up to 50% of your paycheck based on hours worked before payday.
• 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
• 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
• Employee discounts, parental leave, and other benefits.
• Safety shoes provided (where applicable).

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees