Category Buyer III

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 sensitivity and production; maintains a strong relationship with suppliers.
Own supplier relationship and performance management for Caterpillar’s US Unformed Steel category.
Collect and analyze market intelligence and deliver clear and timely communications, forecasts, and activities to appropriate business partners throughout the enterprise.
Management of unique procurement / sales process that apply to unformed steel portfolio.

Degree Requirement
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Business, Finance or Accounting

What you will have:

Enterprise Systems & Analytical tools: Working knowledge in enterprise systems such as Salesforce, SAP, and Lognet with strong working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint for reporting and presentations.

Data Analytics: Knowledge of techniques and processes for inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data; ability to discover useful information, draw logical conclusions, and support decision-making.

Level Extensive Experience:
• Advises stakeholders on the relationship between financial, performance, and operational data used in business data analytics.
• Evaluates the quality of data collected and the effectiveness of data analysis methods for evaluating business performance.
• Interprets potential risks, threats, and opportunities involved with predictive modeling.

Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Level Extensive Experience:
• Adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience.
• Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a position.
• Communicates well downward, upward, and outward.
• Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.

Interpersonal Relationships: Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.

Level Working Knowledge:
• Explains impact of interactions with individuals and groups.
• Demonstrates an understanding of alternative points of view.
• Adapts interaction style to situations and people.

Negotiating: Knowledge of successful negotiation concepts and techniques; ability to negotiate successfully across the organization and with external vendors and clients in a constructive and collaborative manner.

Level Extensive Experience:
• Successfully completes significant negotiations, both internal and external.
• Details the risks of negotiation breakdown from each party’s perspective.
• Protects own position, while demonstrating willingness to achieve win-win.
• Identifies similarities and differences in position and assesses impact on discussions.

Contracts Management and Administration: 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.

Level Working Knowledge:
• Administers locally relevant contracts for the department.
• Implements organizational protocols and procedures for contracts management.
• Explains the types of information required before a contract is signed.
• Assists in creating files of relevant information for specific vendors, customers, or contracts.

Purchasing Tasks and Activities: Knowledge of policies, regulations and processes of purchasing; ability to use practices and procedures for procurement of materials, components, equipment and services.

Level Working Knowledge:
• Records documents of purchasing tasks and activities, such as orders, bidding.
• Uses available procurement systems and tools.
• Ensures compliance with procurement regulations and contract specifications.

Supplier Relationship Management: Knowledge of supplier relationship management concept and strategies; ability to address critical issues to meet supplier needs and maintain engaged, partnering relationship with suppliers.

Level Extensive Experience:
• Advises others on the organization’s supplier relationship management practices.
• Builds consensus, resolves conflicts, and applies techniques to achieve influence and impact results with different suppliers in the organization’s supplier network.
• Conducts periodic reviews of work effort, progress, issues, and successes in supplier relationship establishment and management.

Strategic Sourcing: Knowledge of strategic sourcing methods, technologies and processes; ability to analyze, improve and re-evaluate organizational procurement process continuously.

Level Working Knowledge:
• Works with various basic components of strategic sourcing, such as data analysis, market research and purchasing budgets examination.
• Participates in enhancing institutional sourcing process continuously including identifying improvement opportunities.
• Conducts strategic sourcing activities in a limited environment.
• Follows relevant standards, policies and practices regarding strategic sourcing.

Top Candidates Will Have:

• Relevant and substantial steel industry experience in procurement or sales functions.

• Understanding of global commodity markets and market forces.

• Understanding of steel grade specifications and requirements to support form, fit and function.

• Substantial understanding of downstream utilization of steel components, relevant manufacturing processes, and engineering/metallurgical principles.

Additional Information:

The location for this position is Mossville, IL
Relocation assistance is not available for this position. Any relocation costs incurred would be the responsibility of the selected candidate.
This position will require less than 15% 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 wage, because we value your performance, we offer a total rewards package that provides:

Competitive Base Salary
Annual incentive bonus plan*
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holiday, Volunteer, Etc.)
401k savings plan
Health savings account (HSA)
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
Short and long-term disability coverage
Life Insurance
Paid parental leave
Healthy Lifestyle Programs
Employee Assistance Programs
Voluntary Benefits (Ex. Accident, Identity Theft Protection)

*Subject to annual eligibility and incentive plan guidelines.

Final details

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S. which can be found through our employment website at www.Caterpillar.com/Careers.

Summary Pay Range:$110,520.00 – $165,840.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.