Category Buyer

Caterpillar•Peoria, IL

20h•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Category Buyer to support the sourcing and procurement of Material Handling Equipment Services within the United States. This role involves partnering with internal business stakeholders and external suppliers to develop sourcing strategies, execute competitive sourcing events, negotiate contracts, and support supplier performance initiatives. The position offers an opportunity to work across multiple Caterpillar business segments, driving value, supplier partnerships, and operational excellence, making it an excellent opportunity for career growth in procurement and exposure to enterprise-wide sourcing and category management activities.

Requirements

Procurement & Sourcing Experience supporting sourcing, procurement, supplier management, or category management activities.
Experience executing sourcing events and working with suppliers through the negotiation process.
Knowledge of contract management practices and supplier relationship management principles.
Experience working with both internal and external stakeholders to identify requirements and achieve business objectives.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with business partners, suppliers, and leadership.
Comfortable presenting recommendations, project updates, and business cases to stakeholders.
Ability to influence decisions and drive alignment across multiple groups.
Ability to analyze supplier proposals, contract terms, and business requirements.
Strong attention to detail and decision-making skills.
Demonstrated problem-solving capabilities and initiative.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting indirect procurement categories.
Previous experience with supplier negotiations and contract development.
Experience supporting material handling equipment, facilities, services, logistics, or related categories.
Demonstrated success driving cost savings or supplier performance improvements.
Experience working in manufacturing, supply chain, operations, or procurement environments.
Exposure to strategic sourcing or category management methodologies.
Knowledge of procurement systems and tools.

Responsibilities

Support sourcing and procurement activities for Material Handling Equipment Maintenance and related services categories.
Execute competitive sourcing events, including RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, and bid analysis.
Partner with internal stakeholders to understand business requirements and develop sourcing solutions that align with organizational objectives.
Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and internal business partners.
Participate in contract negotiations and support contract administration activities.
Analyze supplier proposals and make recommendations based on business needs, risk, quality, and cost considerations.
Support supplier performance reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
Develop and present recommendations, sourcing strategies, and project updates to stakeholders and leadership.
Assist with identifying opportunities to improve processes, optimize supplier performance, and drive operational efficiencies.
Support the execution of category strategies and sourcing initiatives across Caterpillar's business units.