Senior Category Buyer

Caterpillar•Morton, IL

4d•Onsite

About The Position

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. At Caterpillar Resource Industries (RI), we build the world's most productive mining and heavy construction equipment, helping customers around the globe move the materials that power economic growth and modern infrastructure. Our portfolio includes large mining trucks, wheel loaders, hydraulic shovels, underground mining machines, and other industry-leading equipment that operate in some of the harshest environments on earth. The reliability and performance of these machines depend on a highly integrated global supply network and strategically sourced components that support critical systems across multiple product platforms. As Caterpillar continues to innovate and expand its global footprint, strong supplier partnerships and resilient sourcing strategies remain essential to delivering world-class products to our customers. As a Senior Buyer, you will be the global category leader for powder metal components and related manufacturing processes, a commodity group that supports numerous Caterpillar product families and business units across Resource Industries and beyond. This highly visible role is critical to ensuring the supply, quality, cost competitiveness, and long-term sustainability of components used throughout multiple machine platforms and product development programs. You will lead strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier selection, contract negotiations, risk mitigation efforts, and supplier performance improvements while partnering closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Logistics, Supply Chain, and Product Groups worldwide. Your influence will extend across new product introductions, product transfers, capacity planning, supplier transitions, and business continuity initiatives, making you a key contributor to Caterpillar's operational success. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a critical global commodity strategy, strengthen Caterpillar's supply resilience, and deliver meaningful business impact through collaboration, leadership, and strategic decision-making.

Requirements

Effective Communications: Effectively communicates complex sourcing, supplier, manufacturing, and business information to diverse stakeholders while influencing decisions, driving alignment, and managing key relationships across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and supplier organizations.
Interpersonal Relationships: Builds strong, collaborative relationships with internal business partners and global suppliers to drive results, resolve conflicts, influence outcomes, and achieve shared business objectives across cross-functional teams.
Negotiating: Leads complex commercial negotiations that balance cost, quality, capacity, risk, and supply continuity while creating mutually beneficial outcomes for Caterpillar and suppliers. Demonstrates strong supplier management and negotiation skills to support strategic business objectives.
Contracts Management & Administration: Manages and optimizes supplier contracts by mitigating risk, ensuring compliance, improving commercial terms, and supporting long-term business objectives while maintaining adherence to procurement policies and corporate governance requirements.
Purchasing Tasks & Activities: Directs strategic procurement activities by implementing sourcing strategies, improving purchasing processes, managing supplier performance, and ensuring the effective acquisition of materials and services that support operational and customer requirements.
Supplier Relationship Management: Develops strategic supplier partnerships that improve performance, strengthen supply assurance, increase capacity flexibility, and support operational and financial goals. Works closely with suppliers to drive continuous improvement, resolve issues, and support long-term business continuity.
Strategic Sourcing: Leads end-to-end sourcing strategies, including supplier selection, contracting, risk management, dual-sourcing initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts to maximize value, improve competitiveness, and enhance supply chain resilience.
Analytical Thinking & Business Acumen: Utilizes strong analytical and problem-solving skills to evaluate supplier cost structures, market dynamics, manufacturing capabilities, and business risks. Leverages data-driven insights to support sourcing decisions, identify improvement opportunities, and deliver measurable business results.
Cross-Functional Leadership: Demonstrates the ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives by partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Logistics, Product Groups, and Supply Chain teams to support new product introductions, supplier transitions, operational improvements, and strategic business objectives.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain Knowledge: Applies knowledge of manufacturing processes, supplier development, and global supply chain operations to improve sourcing outcomes and operational performance. Experience with powder metal manufacturing processes, machining operations, and other complex manufacturing environments is highly valued.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred (Master's) and/or 10-15+ years of experience in procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, supplier development, or a related field.
Proven expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, RFQ management, contract negotiations, and supplier performance improvement.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate supplier cost structures, manufacturing processes, market conditions, capacity constraints, and business risks to drive sourcing decisions.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and delivering measurable business results through collaboration, influence, and stakeholder management.
Experience working with global suppliers and supporting supplier transitions, business continuity planning, localization efforts, and supply chain risk mitigation activities.
Knowledge of powder metal manufacturing processes, including sintering, sizing, heat treatment, secondary machining, grinding, finishing operations, bearings, bushings, gears, and structural powder metal components.
Experience supporting new product introductions (NPI), capacity investments, tooling negotiations, and supplier development initiatives preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute global and regional sourcing strategies for powder metal components and related manufacturing processes, including compaction, press and sinter operations, sizing, heat treatment, machining, grinding, finishing, coatings, and value-added assembly operations.
Lead supplier selection, RFQ activities, sourcing decisions, contract negotiations, and commercial execution for powder metal commodities supporting Caterpillar's Resource Industries product portfolio.
Deliver year-over-year improvements in Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) performance while meeting annual cost reduction and value improvement objectives.
Manage supplier relationships and performance through structured business reviews, supplier development initiatives, capacity planning, and long-term business continuity strategies.
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through dual sourcing, localization strategies, supplier development programs, recovery planning, and resiliency initiatives.
Partner closely with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Logistics, Product Groups, and Supply Chain teams to support new product introductions (NPI), product transfers, supplier transitions, and continuous improvement opportunities.
Lead complex commercial negotiations involving pricing, tooling investments, capacity expansion, recovery plans, and long-term supply agreements.
Analyze market intelligence, supplier capabilities, cost structures, and industry trends to identify sourcing opportunities and support strategic business decisions.
Support resolution of critical supply constraints, quality issues, and machine-down situations with urgency to protect customer commitments and manufacturing operations.
Ensure compliance with Caterpillar procurement policies, sourcing processes, supplier contracts, and corporate governance requirements while maintaining a strong focus on operational excellence.