Procurement Specialist Indirect en Cat

Career Area:

Job Description:

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.

Nature and Scope
This position acts with a sense of urgency and is diligent in providing timely support to internal clients. This individual operates in compliance with corporate and Supply Chain policies and procedures. Procurement Specialist/ may manage relationships of some non-strategic suppliers, but will also oversee strategic or complex suppliers. There is an expectation to not only participate on but lead projects from conception to maturity that directly relate to organizational objectives.
The primary functions of the job include but are not limited to:
- Supplier Management –
o Applies advanced Supply Chain knowledge to manage processes, establish policies, and develop value-adding strategies.
o Demonstrates by example the importance of building long-term supportive professional relationships that optimize value and mutual loyalty.
o Monitors and manages team ownership of risk from financial, business continuation, and compliance perspectives. Ensures procurement processes meets audit, regulatory, and legal standards.
o Leads teams, provides direction, and coaches less experienced staff members.
- Negotiation –
o Creates negotiation strategies based on thorough knowledge of business requirements.
o Communicates negotiation strategies and parameters to negotiating team and defines roles.
o Re-evaluates critical data and strategies if conditions change during the negotiation process.
o Able to ethically execute negotiation strategy for highly complex items ensuring value with longer term vision.

- Cost Management –
o Interprets Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis results, identifies innovative solutions to reduce TCO
o Anticipates market opportunities, competitive responses, and develops counterstrategies & contingency plans.

- Purchasing Execution –
o Acts as the SME for PO life cycle related issues and proactively identifies areas of risk and implements mitigation strategies.
o Develops solutions to complex procurement problems either individually or by leading a team.
o Provides training, mentorship, and communicates best practices across the Enterprise.
The work environment is mostly office based, however this position may visit internal production areas as well as external supplier sites, which may involve domestic and/or international travel.
Internal clients include, but not limited to, the following: Global Supply Chain, Finance, Global Enabling Systems, Logistics, Legal, HR, GTC, Customer Services Manufacturing Ops, Business Management, New Product Introduction & Design Engineering, Project Application Engineering, Test Engineering, Project Engineering, and external Suppliers.

The primary challenges of this position include:
o Making sound decisions with the Business’ best interest in mind and knowing the impact decisions will have on organizational objectives.
o Improving and sustaining Supplier performance with regards to Quality, Cost, and Delivery.
o Achieving business commercial objectives where minimal Supplier leverage exists.
o Management of critical supplier contract development and execution.
o Concurrently managing multiple critical priorities.
o Building relationships inside and outside of the Global Supply Chain Organization; influencing, persuading, and collaborating with others in order to support business objectives.
o Leading teams that deliver positive results.
The decisions that are made by the Procurements Specialist/Direct Buyer/Buyer MRO will be based on: Supply Chain Management, Our Values in Action, Worldwide Procedures, Solar Policies, Quality Management System, other process documentation, Import/Export compliance guidelines as well as adherence to State, Federal, and international regulations . Erroneous decisions or recommendations would typically result in failure to achieve critical project or organizational objectives, legal issues, impact to supplier relationships and/or the allocation of additional resources and sever impact to the cost and availability of products and/or services.
This position could use all or any of the following tools: ERP software, Windchill, COUPA (or other analytical tool), MS Office Suite, Lotus Notes or Outlook, Sourcing Tools, Virtual Conferencing (TEAMS), industry research tools and codes, cost analysis and make/buy decision tools, supplier financial health reporting (D&B, 10-k, 10-Q, etc), travel expense reporting tools.

Principal Accountabilities
- Continuously practices and demonstrates Safety and acting in adherence to Our Values in Action.
- Effectively evaluates, improves, and sustains supplier performance, including but not limited to:
Quality, Cost, Delivery, Lead-time, Bid & Proposal Turn-times, Project & Field Support, etc.
- Drives cost management through identifying and implementing opportunities for cost reduction, utilizes cost modeling techniques, and analyzing TCO to ensure the best overall value to Solar.
- Manages and maintains the supplier relationship at a day-to-day and strategic level. Day-to-day activities include purchase order issuance and maintenance, grief resolution, and business review meetings. Strategic activities include working with the Supply Chain Leadership, to define the buyer-supplier relationship to determine as well as execute the strategic direction (Hold, Grow, Consolidate, Exit).
Interpersonal and Analytical Skills
- Well-developed interpersonal skills are required in dealing with sensitive issues and reaching consensus on specific actions.
- Capability to influence and persuade Suppliers and internal clients to effective solutions.
- Ability to collaborate in order to build constructive and inclusive business relationships.
- Demonstrates responsiveness and acts with a sense of urgency.
- - Effective communicator in written and oral form.
- Dedicated to meeting and exceeding the expectations of external customers and internal clients.
- Ability to cope with change effectively and adjust to accommodate the unknown or unproven.
- Capable of setting priorities in order to support business requirements; can sense what will help or hinder achieving a goal, eliminates roadblocks, and creates focus.
- Holds self and others accountable to commitments in support of business objectives.
- Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems.
- Can unearth root cause to assess risk to the business and develop business continuation plans.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree with 3-5 years of experience.
- Experience with ERP software and proficient with MS Office Suite ( Word, Power point, Excel)
- Fluent in Business English and Spanish in written and oral form.
Preferred Qualifications -
- Supply Chain Certification from a professional institution ( APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, ISM, etc) are desirable

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.