Commodity Buyer Intern
Campbellsport, WI • Buying Team
Description

 

The Drexel Way:

We don’t just sell lumber; we Supply. Happiness. Drexel is Team Member-owned and community-driven. With six retail hubs and three manufacturing plants across Wisconsin, we’ve been a Top Workplace every year since 2011. Why? Because we hire for heart and train for skill. When you join Team Blue, you aren't just a team member—you’re an owner.

The Mission:

As a Commodity Buyer Intern, your primary objective is to learn the fundamentals of supply chain operations while serving as hands-on procurement and inventory support for our raw material flow. Working alongside our Commodity Buyer, you will assist with daily inventory loops, learn the purchasing cycle for lumber, shadow supplier evaluations, and support inbound dockside quality inspections. Reporting directly to the General Manager (or Commodity Buyer), you will gain real-world exposure as a hybrid inventory and buying specialist—helping maintain material availability, protect profit margins, and keep our yards running without stockouts or delays.

About the Internship:
  • Schedule & Hours: In-person internship running 30-40 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
  • Timeline: Begins May 2026 and concludes August 2026.
  • SHU Day & Kickoff Location: The first day of the internship, Supply Happiness University (SHU), takes place at Drexel Building Supply in Campbellsport (110 E Main St., Campbellsport, WI). (Note: Transportation for SHU day is not provided and must be arranged by the intern.)
  • Summer Placement & Travel: Interns report to their designated hub with regional travel across Wisconsin for event coordination, jobsite tour leadership, and client activations.
Defining the Role:
  • Operational & Facility Material Availability Support: Shadow and assist procurement operations for yard supervisors; learn to track daily inventory thresholds and support re-orders.
  • Lumber Demand Tracking & Stock Analysis: Assist in tracking inventory levels for facility-specific raw materials and minimize excess carrying costs.
  • Dockside Quality & Receiving Inspection: Accompany the procurement team to the receiving dock to learn raw material grading and inspection standards, catching quality discrepancies early and supporting digital receiving resolution.
  • Market Research & Commodity Tracking: Track commodity lumber indexes, market price fluctuations, and supply trends to provide basic data analysis and reporting that supports strategic purchasing decisions.
  • Supplier Data Collection & Scorecarding: Help compile vendor performance data—including on-time delivery rates, lead-time adherence, and defect logs—to assist in generating supplier scorecards and evaluating supply partners.
  • Commercial Exposure & Pricing Analysis: Assist with purchase order matching, review quotes during competitive bidding cycles, and gain exposure to Purchase Price Variance (PPV) tracking and negotiation practices.
  • Data Integrity & Administrative Compliance: Support daily purchase order entry, inventory adjustment documentation, and transaction logging to ensure accurate data flow across company systems and adherence to corporate standards.
What Success Looks Like:

Success in this internship is defined by your eagerness to learn, analytical accuracy, and support of plant uptime and supply reliability:

  • Inventory Accuracy & Availability Support: Assisting the team in keeping accurate inventory records to help ensure raw materials are available.
  • Market & Data Accuracy: Preparing clear, timely market and cost-tracking updates (including PPV support data) to aid in protecting profitability.
  • Dockside Quality Awareness: Developing an eye for inbound lumber/hardware specs to assist in logging and flagging non-conforming shipments upon arrival.
  • Project & Process Efficiency: Successfully completing assigned procurement analysis projects or inventory process improvements during the term.
  • Workload Driver: Exposure to daily yard demands, tracking active hardware/lumber SKUs, and assisting with inbound receiving dock workflows.
The Drexel Advantage:
  • The Wealth-Builder (Ownership): Gain hands-on exposure to a Team Member-owned ESOP culture where everyone wins together.
  • Professional Growth: Hands-on ownership managing major sports partnerships, end-to-end event logistics, and brand campaigns alongside corporate leaders.
  • Team Blue Culture: A fun, supportive work environment recognized as a Wisconsin Top Workplace every year since 2011!
  • Clothing Discount: Drexel covers 50% of your apparel items ordered through the Drexel team clothing site.

PM85