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.

Role Definition
Provides supply network solutions expertise, using Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) to deliver maximum value.

Responsibilities
- Developing, managing and executing the category strategy managing policies, agreements, source catalogs, and special procurement programs.
- Recognizing the potential for cost decreases, inventory reductions and quality improvement, as well as responsibility for soundness of business proposals and risk assessment.
- Acting as the liaison between the organization and the supplier to communicate information explicitly, while considering production demands and suppliers' conditions.
- Documenting the suppliers' performance on time sensitiveness and production; maintains a strong relationship with suppliers.

Degree Requirement
Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skill Descriptors
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.

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 Working Knowledge:

- Explains impact of interactions with individuals and groups.
- Identifies roles and responsibilities for self and others.
- Demonstrates an understanding of alternative points of view.
- Collaborates with departmental associates and management.
- Adapts interaction style to situations and people.

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 Working Knowledge:

- Administers locally relevant contracts for the department.
- Implements organizational protocols and procedures for contracts management.
- Explains the types of information required before a contract is signed.
- Reviews contracts to ensure compliance with contract specifications and regulations.
- Assists in creating files of relevant information for specific vendors, customers, or contracts.

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 Working Knowledge:

- Records documents of purchasing tasks and activities, such as orders, bidding.
- Uses available procurement systems and tools.
- Ensures compliance with procurement regulations and contract specifications.
- Wor