Category Buyer
Caterpillar
Accounting & Finance, Operations
mossville, il, usa
USD 97,530-146,290 / year
Career Area:
ProcurementJob 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.
About Power & Energy Procurement:
Caterpillar’s Power & Energy Procurement organization plays a critical role in supporting all divisions within Power & Energy. Our work is geared towards our pistons of Predictable Supply Excellence, Optimized Total Cost of Ownership, Supplier Relationship Management and Lifecycle Sourcing Strategy. We continue to develop suppliers who competitively deliver operational excellence, enabling our customers to build a better world. With a strong focus on data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency, P&E Procurement leverages advanced tools and processes to connect the physical and digital supply chain, enabling business units to deliver high-performance solutions that meet evolving customers and business needs.
Job Summary:
As a Global Category Buyer, you will drive end-to-end category strategy and execution to deliver sustainable value across the supply network. Leveraging deep expertise in Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM), you will optimize supplier performance, mitigate risk, and enable business growth through strategic sourcing and supplier collaboration.
What You Will Do:
Supplier Performance & Delivery Discipline:
Own supplier shipping performance, ensuring consistent delivery against OTIF, lead time, and service level targets.
Drive accountability through structured performance reviews, clear KPIs, and corrective action plans.
Proactively identify risks to supply and take decisive action to protect continuity and customer commitments.
Cost Reduction & Sustainable Value Creation:
Deliver measurable cost reduction through disciplined negotiation, demand management, and productivity initiatives.
Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) improvements, balancing cost, quality, service, and working capital.
Challenge supplier pricing and internal specifications to unlock sustainable value.
Category Strategy Execution:
Translate category strategy into actionable sourcing plans and deliver against defined targets.
Use market intelligence, supplier insights, and data analysis to inform decision-making.
Continuously assess opportunities to optimize the supply base and improve competitiveness.
Commercial & Contractual Leadership:
Lead commercial negotiations with a clear focus on value, risk mitigation, and performance outcomes.
Ensure robust contractual agreements are in place, with clearly defined pricing, service levels, and accountability mechanisms.
Actively manage contracts to ensure compliance, mitigate exposure, and capture full value.
Supplier Relationship Management:
Build strong, performance-driven relationships with key suppliers
Hold suppliers accountable for commitments while fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
Align supplier capabilities with business needs, ensuring scalability and reliability.
What You Will Have:
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.
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.
Interpersonal Relationships: Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
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.
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.
Additional Information:
• Travel up to 20% domestic
About Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we have been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
Summary Pay Range:
$97,530.00 - $146,290.00Compensation 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.
Posting Dates:
May 18, 2026 - May 31, 2026Any 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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