Senior Category Buyer

Description

Career Area:

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.

Job Summary:

Leads strategic purchasing and category management activities to deliver measurable value across Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM). This role develops sourcing strategies, strengthens supplier partnerships, mitigates supply risk, and drives cost, quality, and service improvements aligned with business objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Develop, manage, and execute category strategies, including sourcing policies, supplier agreements, catalogs, and special procurement programs.

• Identify and deliver opportunities for cost reduction, inventory optimization, quality improvement, and supply continuity while assessing business proposals and risks.

• Serve as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and suppliers, ensuring clear communication, alignment with production needs, and effective issue resolution.

• Track supplier performance, support corrective actions, and maintain strong supplier relationships that enable operational excellence.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Finance, Economics, International Business, or a related field.

• Advanced English

Skills:
Data Analytics:

• Connects financial, operational, and procurement data to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and performance drivers that support business decisions.

• Evaluates data quality, analytical methods, and predictive models to improve business performance insights.

• Leads data collection improvements and guides others on the effective use of new data sources and analytics tools.

Interpersonal Relationships:

• Builds credibility and productive relationships with clients, suppliers, teammates, and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Influences key individuals across groups, identifies common ground, and resolves differences before they affect business results.

• Contributes effectively across diverse teams and maintains strong working partnerships inside and outside the function.

Negotiating:

• Leads significant internal and external negotiations, balancing diverse interests while pursuing mutually beneficial outcomes.

• Assesses each party’s position, risks, and potential impact to protect business interests and support informed decisions.

• Identifies lack of progress, manages stalemates, and applies negotiation strategies to move discussions forward.

Contracts Management and Administration:

• Manages and administers a broad range of contracts, advising on upgrades, complex issues, enforcement considerations, and risk mitigation.

• Develops standard processes that improve contract efficiency, effectiveness, compliance, and business protection.

• Trains others on advanced contract management practices, technologies, and tools.

Supplier Relationship Management:

• Advises on supplier relationship management practices and strengthens partnerships across the supplier network.

• Builds consensus, resolves conflicts, and influences suppliers to improve performance, collaboration, and business outcomes.

• Reviews supplier progress evaluates SRM financial impact, coaches’ others, and refines processes for maintaining supplier partnerships.

Strategic Sourcing:

• Monitors and supports all stages of the strategic sourcing process across multiple, complex business environments.

• Develop supplier agreements, procurement policies, standardized terms, and sourcing practices that support business integration and continuous improvement.

• Consults on sourcing methods, trains others, and explains best practices and rationale for the organization and industry.

Top Candidates also have:

• Relevant and substantial expertise in procurement or sales functions.

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Operations, Logistics, Finance, Industrial Engineering or International Business or related to the field.

• CPSM, CPM, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.

• Certification in Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Procurement Analytics, Contract Management, Contract Negotiation, Risk Management, or related disciplines.

• Experience in Contract Negotiation, Supplier Agreements, Procurement Analytics, Spend Analysis, Cost Reduction, Supplier Risk Management and Supply Continuity, Audit, Compliance, and Internal Controls,

• Expert in Excel, Power BI, SAP, or ERP Procurement Systems Training

Additional Information:

• Location: Santa Catarina Nuevo Leon.

• This position is five-day a week in-office model.

• Domestic and international travel up to 40%

• Valid Travel Visa and Passport

• Sponsorship for foreign candidates is not available.

• Domestic Relocation assistance is available for this position.

• Do not forget to include a resumé in English in your profile in Workday​.

Final details

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

The Caterpillar Code of Conduct states that we will select, and place employees based on their qualifications for the job to be performed, without regard to race, religion, national origin, color, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. In this company we do not request pregnancy tests, nor HIV tests as requirements for employment entry, permanence or promotion.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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