Buyer

Career Area:

Procurement

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.

Role Definition

Processes requisitions and provides support for purchasing, supply chain, sourcing, cost, price analyses and contract/purchase order generation.

Responsibilities

- Developing improvement plans to support buyers and professionals related to response time, lean targets, quality, cost, logistics, development, and management to enable optimal and efficient operations.

- Performing analysis and maintenance of assigned processes that produce output excellence, builds expertise for the assign process area, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts.

- Supporting customers and customer proposal efforts with pricing information and supplier selection.

- Performing analytical and administrative tasks in support of purchasing strategic initiatives.

Skill Descriptors

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Extensive Experience:

- Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks.

- Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve decision-making process.

- Assesses and validates decision options and points and predicts their potential impact.

- Advises others in analyzing and synthesizing relevant data and assessing alternatives.

- Uses effective decision-making approaches such as consultative, command, or consensus.

- Ensures that assumptions and received wisdom are objectively analyzed in decisions.

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 Working Knowledge:

- Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.

- Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.

- Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.

- Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.

- Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

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 Working Knowledge:

- Works to achieve win-win in negotiations, rather than taking a win-lose approach.

- Focuses on issues rather than personalities.

- Uses active listening and probing techniques to surface problems, issues, and interests.

- Demonstrates a willingness to examine own position.

- Presents own position and listens attentively to position of others.

Vendor/Supplier Management: Knowledge of external provider management processes and ability to effectively manage the business relationship with external providers (e.g., vendors, service providers, contractors, consultants, and suppliers).

Level Working Knowledge:

- Works with vendors to assure that products or services are delivered to time and quality specifications.

- Provides feedback on vendor performance to responsible contract administrators.

- Resolves routine issues or problems with vendors in organization's best interest.

- Identifies communications bottlenecks and recommends appropriate solutions.

- Builds effective working relationships with counterparts in vendor or supplier's organization.

Cost Management: Knowledge of cost management; ability to plan and control organizational costs in order to lower product and service costs and maximize return.

Level Basic Understanding:

- Explains where and how to gather up-to-date cost management information.

- Lists the major cost elements (e.g. raw materials, labor, overhead) incurred by the organization.

- Describes the importance of a cost management function in a project/organization.

- Identifies current initiatives and key issues related to cost management.

Procurement: Knowledge of buying and procurement; ability to work with organizational strategies and practices, and use tools for buying goods, supplies, equipment and services needed to conduct business.

Level Basic Understanding:

- Identifies the major steps and critical paths in a purchasing cycle.

- Explains the basic concepts and responsibilities of institutional purchasing.

- Describes the major types of materials, products or services purchased by the organization.

- Identifies the basic tools used for maintaining procurement information and records.

Knowledge of a Specific Procurement System: Knowledge of the features, functions and operations of a specific procurement system; ability to develop and use tools, techniques, and practices for a specific procurement application.

Level Working Knowledge:

- Uses the system to process routine purchase orders and payments.

- Communicates with professionals to understand various procedures for a specific procurement system within the organization.

- Troubleshoots common applications or data problems for a specific procurement system.

- Uses software to monitor the status and shipment of orders.

- Maintains inspection records, photographs, and important documentation of procurement system.

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 Basic Understanding:

- Identifies the basic tools used for maintaining procurement information.

- Identifies major types of products or services purchased by the organization.

- Explains the basic concepts and responsibilities of purchasing tasks and activities.

- Describes established procurement processes and standards.

Desired Qualifications

A Bachelor Degree, preferably in Supply Chain or Engineering.

Experience in a Purchasing or Buyer role

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Summary Pay Range:

$76,542.00 - $114,814.00

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.

- Medical, dental, and vision benefits* - Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)* - 401(k) savings plans* - Health Savings Account (HSA)* - Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)* - Health Lifestyle Programs* - Employee Assistance Program* - Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts* - Career Development* - Incentive bonus*

- Disability benefits

- Life Insurance

- Parental leave

- Adoption benefits

- Tuition Reimbursement

- These benefits also apply to part-time employees

This position requires working onsite five days a week.Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. 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.

Posting Dates:

October 2, 2025 - October 16, 2025

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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