Graduate/MBA Intern - Global Procurement (Summer 2026)
At United, we offer internships, co-ops, and full-time opportunities for early career professionals. In any role, you’re a key member of our team, contributing to real projects that help move the business forward while gaining hands-on experience, growing your professional skill set, and connecting with industry leaders. You’ll also have a chance to build community through our employee-run Business Resource Groups, participate in industry conferences, and enjoy unlimited standby travel anywhere we fly.
We believe that inclusion helps us thrive and grow at United across our collaborative Finance teams consisting of Financial Planning & Analysis, Internal Audit, Treasury, Global Procurement, Controllership, Investor Relations and more. These teams provide the financial fuel that keeps our operation running from providing detailed analyses of financial planning, performance, and forecasts to managing our investments and financial strategies. Our Finance team plays an integral role in making our airline profitable and successful by meeting our financial goals.
Key Responsibilities:
The Global Procurement organization at United Airlines is responsible for timely sourcing of goods and services while reducing the total cost of ownership to United. In addition, we are focused on developing/maintaining relationships with third-party providers to manage the risk to the company while improving levels of quality, service, and technology.
The Global Procurement Intern will support United’s Global Procurement teams with critical initiatives, including but not limited to operational improvements, automation, strategic sourcing events, creating/reporting key metrics, and working on process and system improvements. This position will also be providing insights and analysis for different procurement activities such as the development of spend analytics, supply market analysis, RFP creation/analysis, etc. The goal of these activities is to gain real total cost of ownership (TCO) savings and driving process efficiencies.
- Support Strategic Sourcing activities (RFX, market research, spend analysis etc.)
- Act as a consultant and support process-improvement initiatives for the Global Procurement department
- Process map current-state processes and develop standardized future-state processes in partnership with several partners
- Support development of an enterprise-level spend cube (3rd party spend analytics)
- Support development of the Third-party Risk Management program
This internship may be eligible for full-time conversion based on performance in role, position availability and overall operational need, potentially offering a direct pathway to a career with us.
What’s needed to succeed (Minimum Qualifications):
- Must be a candidate for MBA (Masters of Business Administration) or Masters (preferred supply chain & logistics) student graduating in Winter 2026 or Spring 2027.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship now and in the future
- Minimum 2 years of prior work experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Supply Chain Management, Economics, Engineering, or another related field
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Shown social skills and able to adapt to a fast-paced, changing environment
- Ability to take charge and drive initiatives
- Organized, meticulous, thorough and professional
- Standout colleague with a positive demeanor and a focus on business issues
What will help you propel from the pack (Preferred Qualifications):
- Experience creating Excel models and analyses workbooks
- Prior experience in strategic sourcing
- Prior work/internship experience in, Procurement, Supply Chain, financial and/or statistical analysis
- Certifications in Supply Chain/Procurement related field preferred
- Basic knowledge of strategic sourcing, contract terms, contingent labor, and/or labor services
- Understanding of financial and operational metrics
- Basic understanding of IT labor functions and IT services
- Knowledge of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) concepts and strategic Procurement process