Category Buyer Iii

**Career Area**:Procurement**:
**Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.**

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

**Job Summary**
Provides supply network solutions expertise, using Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) to deliver maximum value.

**What you will do**
- Developing, managing, and executing the category strategy managing policies, agreements, source catalogs, and special procurement programs.
- Recognizing the potential for cost decreases, inventory reductions and quality improvement, as well as responsibility for soundness of business proposals and risk assessment.
- Acting as the liaison between the organization and the supplier to communicate information explicitly, while considering production demands and suppliers' conditions.
- Documenting the suppliers' performance on time sensitiveness and production; maintains a strong relationship with suppliers.

**Related Skills and Experience**
- **Data Analytics**:

- Extensive Experience - Advises stakeholders on the relationship between financial, performance, and operational data; anticipates operational challenges of data collection and its integration with decision-making.
- **Effective Communications**:

- Extensive Experience - Reviews others' writing or presentations and provides feedback and coaching; adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience.
- **Negotiating**:

- Extensive Experience - Ensures negotiators have awareness of complementary yet diverse interests; successfully completes significant negotiations, both internal and external.
- **Contracts Management and Administration**:

- Working Knowledge - Knowledge of policies, standards, and processes of how to manage and administer contracts; ability to use proper processes and practices for managing and administering a variety of contractual agreements.
- **Purchasing Tasks and Activities**:

- Working Knowledge - Knowledge of policies, regulations, and processes of purchasing; ability to use practices and procedures for procurement of materials, components, equipment, and services.
- **Supplier Relationship Management**:

- Extensive Experience - Knowledge of supplier relationship management concept and strategies; ability to address critical issues to meet supplier needs and maintain engaged, partnering relationship with suppliers.

**Experience Requirements**
- The position requires an undergraduate degree from a college or university.
- A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible job-related experience.
- Category team or product team experience—is experienced in leading teams, suppliers, and customers to effective solutions.
- Understanding of Lean Manufacturing principles as applied by Caterpillar and our suppliers.
Understanding of QCLDM
- Professional certification in Purchasing and/or Inventory Management preferred, e.g., Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) and Certified in Integration Resource Management (CIRM), or comparable international certification.
- This position may require up to 35% travel.

**What you will get**

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world.

Here you earn more than just a salary because we value your performance. We offer a total rewards package that provides benefits on day one, along with the potential of an annual bonus.

**The Caterpillar Code of Conduct states that we will select and place employees based on their qualifications for the job to be performed, without regard to race, religion, national origin, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. In this company we do not request pregnancy tests, nor HIV tests as requirements for employment entry, permanence or promotion.**

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).

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