Senior Category Buyer

Career Area:

Procurement

Job Description:

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.

Caterpillar’s Construction Industries Supply Management division is hiring for a Senior Category Buyer in Peoria, IL!

Role Summary: In this role, you will be responsible to establish and execute a sourcing strategy, optimize total cost of supply, and drive world class supplier performance following the QCLDM framework.

What You’ll Do (Job Duties)

• Lead commercial discussions and negotiations with the responsible supply base to drive continuous cost improvement
• Drive performance excellence in Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) of the responsible supply base
• Manage source matrices for Category
• Negotiate purchasing agreements with responsible supply base
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and purchasing new production introduction activities
• Identify and select suppliers based on strategic sourcing principles, QCLDM, and total cost of ownership
• Build and foster relationships with suppliers
• Develop supply base to have the right capabilities and capacity to meet Enterprise growth targets, including onboarding and offboarding suppliers as needed
• Interface with product groups to ensure alignment of strategies and ensure customer requirements are being met
• Mentor Supply Network Specialists (where assigned)
  
  Degree Requirement
  Bachelor’s degree in related fields or equivalent experience desired

What You Have (Core Skills)

• 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.
• Interpersonal Relationships: Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Strategic Sourcing: Knowledge of strategic sourcing methods, technologies and processes; ability to analyze, improve and re-evaluate organizational procurement process continuously.

Top Candidates Will Also Have

• Purchasing or procurement experience as a Purchasing Analyst/Supply Network Specialist, Buyer, Supplier Development Engineer (SDE), Facility Buyer, Product Supply NPI Lead or similar role. 
• Experience with strategic sourcing, collaborating with external suppliers, interpreting and analyzing contracts, purchasing systems (ie: SAP, lognet) 
• Familiar with quality, cost modeling and NPI tools, fact-based negotiation, LEAN/Six Sigma, or manufacturing principles, and external factors that influence a supply base 

Additional Details

• Work location: Peoria AB
• Domestic relocation assistance is not available for this role
• Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this role.
• Travel: 25% domestic and international
• This position requires 5 days per week in the office (M-F)

 

 

Summary Pay Range:

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

       

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

 

 

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

 

 

 

 

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

 

 

Posting Dates:

July 23, 2026 - August 6, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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