Supply Chain Operational Buyer Professional Co-Op/Intern (Summer 2027)

FirstEnergy•Akron, OH

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. The role is part of FirstEnergy’s Co-op/Intern Professional Development Program, which provides on-the-job training, mentoring, experiential learning, and challenging professional assignments. The Summer 2027 session runs from May 17, 2027, through August 20, 2027. The work location is Akron, Ohio, with the opportunity to work remotely on either Monday or Friday each week under company policy. As a Supply Chain Operational Buyer Intern, you will support the day-to-day procurement of materials and services across the organization. Working with Operational Buyers and other Supply Chain professionals, you will help process purchasing requests, coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders, resolve procurement issues, and support timely and accurate purchasing activities. The position also offers exposure to strategic sourcing, category management, contract management, data analytics, and supply chain process improvement. The internship provides practical experience in Operational Buyer responsibilities and a broader understanding of FirstEnergy’s Supply Chain organization. Interns work with procurement professionals, business stakeholders, and suppliers while developing skills in purchasing, supplier management, procurement technology, analytics, problem-solving, communication, and process improvement. Exposure to strategic sourcing, category management, and contract management illustrates how tactical procurement supports broader Supply Chain strategies.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s program in Supply Chain Management or a related field at an accredited institution.
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Graduation date must be no earlier than May 2028.
Authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to follow detailed processes while identifying and resolving issues.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Proactive and curious mindset, with willingness to learn, ask questions, solve problems, and build professional relationships.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to communicate effectively with team members, business partners, and suppliers.
Ability to gather, organize, and analyze information and communicate findings clearly.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, follow established processes, and maintain strong attention to detail.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Strong teamwork orientation and commitment to workplace safety.

Nice To Haves

Experience or exposure to data analysis, ERP, or procurement systems is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

Review purchase requests, validate required information, and help ensure requests are processed accurately and efficiently.
Create and maintain purchase orders, supporting issuance, change orders, cancellations, and other purchasing transactions in accordance with established processes and policies.
Work with suppliers and internal business partners to obtain information, clarify requirements, resolve purchasing issues, and support timely delivery of materials and services.
Support high-volume procurement activities and develop an understanding of purchasing policies, approval requirements, documentation standards, and procurement best practices.
Assist with supplier-related issues involving purchase orders, pricing, delivery requirements, documentation, invoicing, and other transactional discrepancies.
Use procurement and enterprise systems to process purchasing activities, research transactions, maintain accurate records, and support day-to-day Operational Buying activities.
Review purchasing data and reports to identify open items, exceptions, trends, and opportunities to improve procurement efficiency.
Help identify opportunities to use existing contracts and preferred suppliers to fulfill business requirements and support compliance and procurement efficiency.
Support process improvement initiatives to simplify purchasing, improve data quality, reduce manual work, strengthen compliance, and improve the internal stakeholder experience.
Gain exposure to sourcing and category management activities, including competitive bidding, supplier evaluations, bid analysis, market research, and supplier strategy.
Support Contract Lifecycle Management activities, including contract administration, documentation management, and compliance tracking.
Conduct business research and data analysis and develop reports, presentations, and recommendations for Supply Chain team members and leadership.
Collaborate across Supply Chain and other business functions to understand how procurement supports business operations and organizational objectives.