Strategic Sourcing Intern - Summer 2026

Illinois Tool Works•Bartlett, IL

31d•$22•Onsite

About The Position

ITW's Internship Program is aimed at providing meaningful and fulfilling work experience under the mentorship of skilled professionals. This summer internship program will provide you with marketable experiences and skills, as well as introduce you to ITW's unique way of doing business. Excellent performance can result in a full-time employment offer. The Strategic Sourcing Intern will support the sourcing and supply chain team by performing specialized tasks across procurement, supplier management, and operational analysis. This role will assist with developing an inventory replenishment system, creating and maintaining monthly reporting templates, and supporting both Manufacturing and Outsource departments on day-to-day needs. The intern will gain hands-on experience in cost analysis, supplier performance evaluation, and data-driven decision-making. Additional responsibilities include conducting market research, helping track material lead times, monitoring supplier capacity, supporting RFQ activities, and participating in continuous improvement projects across the supply chain. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Requirements

Rising Junior (graduating in 2028), pursuing an undergraduate degree in Data Analytics, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Strong MS Excel skills, including V-lookup, H-lookup and indexing functions, pivot tables and graphs. Proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Resourceful and able to work independently.
Detail-oriented and able to cleanse large sets of data (identifying mistakes in address field assignments, etc.).
Must be able to present your accomplishments, lessons learned, and insights in briefings to Strategic Sourcing leadership.
This internship is approximately 40 hours per week for 12 weeks, with flexible start and end dates within the range of May-September.
Must have reliable transportation to get you to and from the facility

Responsibilities

Develop basic understanding of assigned commodities: current market conditions, key cost drivers, global supply base, and industry terminology, as it relates to creating purchasing programs for ITW companies.
Supplier & Sourcing Support: Assist in gathering and analyzing quotes from suppliers (RFQs). Help evaluate supplier performance (OTD, quality, cost). Support supplier transitions and onboarding documentation. Identify sourcing opportunities to drive savings and cost avoidance via spend analysis, stakeholder interviews, and market trends.
Cost & Data Analysis: Perform cost breakdowns and variance analysis for materials and components. Support the creation of dashboards for spend, usage, and inventory health. Quantify the benefits of sourcing initiatives including the expected savings and baseline spend.
Inventory & Operations: Participate in inventory optimization projects (min/max levels, WOH, safety stock). Analyze historical usage and forecast trends. Support production by ensuring material availability and resolving shortages.
Process & Continuous Improvement: Assist in updating SOPs and process maps for sourcing workflows. Help identify inefficiencies and propose solutions to improve flow.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Manufacturing, Engineering, Outsource, Quality, and Logistics. Communicate with suppliers regarding lead time changes, confirmations, and updates. Support new product introduction sourcing tasks when applicable.
Influencing key stakeholders on strategy initiatives.
Partner across the business to improve financial results related to sourcing activities.
Utilize project management skills to create a timeline, set milestones, measure progress, and report findings to team.
Use Power BI and excel as tools to develop templates and charts/graphs for reporting
Participate in ITW intern networking, volunteer, and professional development opportunities