Senior Manager, Digital Vendor Management

Caterpillar Inc.•Peoria, IL

1d•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. Cat Technology is the technology arm of Caterpillar Inc., leveraging the latest technologies to build industry leading solutions for our customers and dealers. We are transforming the way our customers work – not just by building smarter machines, but by delivering integrated, scalable solutions that deliver real-world outcomes. Technology is a competitive differentiator. We collaborate with partners across the enterprise to advance technologies including autonomy and automation, which helps enhance site safety, productivity and efficiency across customer operations worldwide. Our focus isn’t just on what we build, but how we build it. We scale technology solutions across the business. We spearhead product development tools and processes. We collaborate with our partners to provide a seamless experience for our customers. We are obsessed with speed, simplicity and customer outcomes. Cat Technology also owns enterprise-wide initiatives in innovation, research and development, manufacturing automation and advanced materials, ensuring Caterpillar continues to lead the industry in technological excellence and engineering innovation. Job Summary: As Cat Technology expands, the Vendor Management Office continues to grow as well. We are seeking talented individuals to join our team to help us establish and grow our presence, organization, culture, which will drive our digital product development efforts. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and collaborate with top professionals working on very high impact and visibility products. Don't miss this chance to join support digital innovation for a global leader in heavy machinery! As a Senior Manager of Digital Service Delivery in Cat Technology's Vendor Management Office, you will have the opportunity to support and manage our procurement activities, maintain strong relationships with our vendors, both locally and globally. You will play a crucial role in optimizing our procurement processes, negotiating contracts, and ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery of goods and services. You will assist in the management of our vendor portfolio, to drive operational efficiency and achieve organizational goals. What You Will Do: This role is a Leader in the Cat Technology Vendor Management Office. The role is responsible to lead vendor management key activities for specific Cat Technology departments and directs the work of other team members. This position works with internal stakeholders and customers to determine business needs and requirements for outsourced products, services and tools that help to meet internal goals. The role manages policies, practices, and operations for the selection, negotiation, and purchasing and/or licensing of external technology products and services and provides ongoing management of vendor companies.

Requirements

Negotiating: Extensive knowledge and experience with successful negotiation concepts and techniques; ability to negotiate successfully across the organization and with external vendors and clients in a constructive and collaborative manner.
Relationship Management: Extensive knowledge and experience with relationship management techniques; ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, peers and Director / VP level stakeholders.
Consulting: Knowledge and experience with techniques, roles, and responsibilities in providing technical or business guidance to clients, both internal and external; ability to apply consulting knowledge appropriately.
Contracts Review and Management: Extensive knowledge and experience with contractual and legal matters related to expenditures (consulting services, maintenance agreements, acquisitions, outsourcing, etc.); ability to evaluate, interpret and improve the language used in contractual agreements.
Project and Program Management: Extensive knowledge and experience with effective project / program management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.

Nice To Haves

Typically, a Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent in an area of study relevant to this position and more than 8+ years of experience.
Experience in leading teams in large enterprise services delivery organizations.
Deep understand of Source-to-Pay life cycle, supplier relationship management and contracting best practices.
Knowledge of global sourcing; ability to procure digital products and services in a global arena.
Knowledge of the processes and procedures by which a contract change is identified, evaluated, approved, monitored and documented; Ability to manage changes in the production environment and processes effectively.
Prior experience building and/or deploying technology solutions, preference in MS and AWS environments.
Prior experience in supplier selection process, defining statements of work, working with 3rd party software and/or services in one or more areas of digital required.
Purchasing experience strongly desired with a certification such as Caucus Certification of Certified Technology Procurement Executive (CTPE) or obtain within 6 months of hiring.
Good human relations skills are required to develop a cooperative work relationship with others inside and outside the department.

Responsibilities

Negotiating, extending, terminating, and renegotiating contracts for the acquisition of equipment, materials, products, or services.
Conducting analyses of existing vendor networks to assess their capability of meeting business objectives; recommending new vendors in terms of capacity.
Developing and implementing processes and tools for different types of contracts, risk assessments, disputes, and issue resolutions, etc.
Arbitration of claims or complaints occurring under the performance of contracts.
Translate corporate strategy and business needs into Vendor Management Office (VMO) strategy.
Coordinate with Indirect Procurement, business units and other key functions on sourcing methods, vendor evaluation & selection, negotiating and contract development / management.
Coordinate and conduct senior-level meetings between vendors and business owners to ensure strategic alignment.
Monitor / analyze performance metrics; document and report issues and business opportunities including co-investment opportunities; drive continuous improvement.
Hire, direct, motivate, and develop staff; address staffing, engagement and training needs to ensure high level of customer satisfaction.