Senior Category Buyer

Career Area Procurement 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 Your Impact 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 Job Summary We are seeking a skilled Senior Category Buyer to join our Global Travel and Fleet Category and Programs -Global Finance Services Division The incumbent would be responsible for managing the end-to-end supply chain for travel services and fleet vehicles ensuring high availability and operational efficiency at the lowest total cost of ownership This role serves as the primary liaison with external suppliers driving strategic sourcing decisions and maintaining strong supplier relationships Additionally the position oversees the global fleet of work tool vehicles used across sales facilities and service operations ensuring compliance with all applicable policies regulations and safety standards The preference for this role is to be based out of Whitefield Office Bangalore India What you will do Job Roles and Responsibilities Manage all aspects of the strategic sourcing process for assigned categories including strategy development market analysis RFP creation negotiation contracting and implementation Serve as Senior Category Buyer for travel and fleet vehicle categories Provide vision leadership and long-range planning for global Fleet Services operations Cultivate strong relationships with internal stakeholders to understand and meet business requirements Evaluate develop and onboard new suppliers lead supplier relationship management and performance monitoring Maintain up-to-date knowledge of market trends supplier capabilities and competitive intelligence Enforce vendor compliance with contracts purchasing policies and procedures Develop and implement strategies to improve fuel efficiency and reduce maintenance costs across the fleet Coordinate the specification acquisition and disposal of fleet vehicles including auction of surplus assets Ensure compliance with all applicable laws regulations safety standards and internal policies What you will have Bachelor s degree in supply chain management Business Administration Logistics or a related field Master s preferred Minimum of 7 years of experience in supply chain procurement or fleet management preferably in a global industrial or manufacturing environment Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing supplier negotiations and contract management Strong analytical organizational and project management skills Proficiency in procurement and fleet management systems Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required This position requires the candidate to work a 5-day-a-week schedule in the office Work Timing -01 00PM -10 00PM IST EMEA Shift Preferred Skills Experience with global fleet operations and vehicle lifecycle management Familiarity with sustainability practices in fleet and supply chain management Experience with travel industry or purchasing travel services Skills desired 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 Level Extensive Experience Advises stakeholders on the relationship between financial performance and operational data used in business data analytics Anticipates operational challenges of data collection and its integration with decision-making Identifies correlations that reveal trends and determine conditions Evaluates the quality of data collected and the effectiveness of data analysis methods for evaluating business performance Interprets potential risks threats and opportunities involved with predictive modeling Directs the implementation of business data collection processes and educates junior employees on new data sources 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 Extensive Experience Reviews others writing or presentations and provides feedback and coaching Adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a position Communicates well downward upward and outward Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement Maintains focus on the topic at hand Interpersonal Relationships Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner Level Extensive Experience Seeks out what s common in conflicting points of view Influences key individuals inside and outside own group and earns their respect Resolves potentially harmful differences between individuals and groups of people Contributes as a member on a variety of teams Establishes and maintains productive working relationships within and outside of own area Establishes and maintains credibility with clients and teammates 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 Extensive Experience Ensures negotiators have awareness of complementary yet diverse interests Successfully completes significant negotiations both internal and external Details the risks of negotiation breakdown from each party s perspective Protects own position while demonstrating willingness to achieve win-win Identifies similarities and differences in position and assesses impact on discussions Detects and addresses lack of progress or a stalemate Contracts Management and Administration Knowledge of policies standards and processes of how to manage and administer contracts ability to use proper processes and practices for managing and administering a variety of contractual agreements Level Extensive Experience Supervises management and administration for a wide variety of contracts Advises on the practices and considerations for upgrading existing contracts and solving complex contract management problems Trains others on how to use advanced technologies and tools for contracts management Develops standard processes to maximize contracts efficiency and effectiveness Evaluates operational issues and considerations in contract enforcement Anticipates contract issues and manages risk regarding legal issues 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 Extensive Experience Works with the implementation of complex purchasing programs and tasks Advises on the appropriate solutions to complex purchasing activity problems Monitors the effectiveness of procurement policies and strategies in high cost purchases Improves procurement processes to maximize products or services efficiency and effectiveness Teaches others how to use advanced technologies and tools for purchasing activities Evaluates issues and considerations for purchasing various goods and services 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 Level Extensive Experience Advises others on the organization s supplier relationship management practices Builds consensus resolves conflicts and applies techniques to achieve influence and impact results with different suppliers in the organization s supplier network Coaches juniors on selecting evaluating and managing suppliers Conducts periodic reviews of work effort progress issues and successes in supplier relationship establishment and management Evaluates the impact of SRM on the organization s different financials Refines organizational processes for establishing and maintaining supplier partnerships Strategic Sourcing Knowledge of strategic sourcing methods technologies and processes ability to analyze improve and re-evaluate organizational procurement process continuously Level Extensive Experience Participates in monitoring the execution for all stages of the strategic sourcing process Trains others on strategic sourcing in multiple and diverse environments Designs and develops standard supplier agreements and procurement policies with standardized terms and conditions Works with complex strategic sourcing components including but not limited to negotiations contracting and continuous process improvement and implementation Consults on strategic sourcing methods in relation to business relationships inter-dependencies and integration Develops and explains strategic sourcing best practices and rationale for the organization and industry What you will get Work Life Harmony Earned and medical leave Relocation assistance Holistic Development Personal and professional development through Caterpillar s employee resource groups across the globe Career developments opportunities with global prospects Health and Wellness Medical coverage -Medical life and personal accident coverage Employee mental wellness assistance program Financial Wellness Employee investment plan Pay for performance -Annual incentive Bonus plan Additional Information Caterpillar is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status however as a global company Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U S which can be found through our employment website at Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer EEO EEO AA Employer All qualified individuals including minorities females veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply Posting Dates June 26 2025 - July 2 2025 Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer Not ready to apply Join our