Category Buyer

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.

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 Category Buyer to join us Global Travel and Fleet Category and Programs -Global Finance Services Division

The preference for this role is to be based out of Whitefield Office, Bangalore, India

What you will do

To serve as the primary contact between Caterpillar and the supply base for global initiatives, including filling the functional seat for commercial discussions/negotiations with suppliers, being the recognized expert for his or her assigned portion of the global IT services category and supporting the development and execution of global IT services category strategies.

Other key aspects of the role are as follows:

• Supplier Lead: to help to manage the global supplier relationship including but not limited to supplier relationship management., supplier performance management., cost management., risk management., and category network management. This role is responsible and accountable for directing the development, and/or communication and implementation of worldwide IT services sourcing strategy. Responsible for development, management and execution of the global IT services category strategy managing policies, agreements, source catalogues, and special procurement programs.

• Leadership: provide leadership for strategic IT services sourcing, business continuity, supplier risk management – capacity & financial, logistics, contract management, supplier commercial negotiations, cost/spend management, supplier on boarding/off boarding, lead/response time optimization and resource management decisions. Lead continuous improvement initiatives activities within Purchasing. Demonstrate leadership in recognizing the potential for cost reductions, and quality improvement, as well as responsibility for soundness of business proposals and risk assessment. Mentor and develop other Buyers and Purchasing Analysts (where assigned). Promote the highest level of professionalism and business ethics.

• Accountability and Management: Be able to handle a substantial flow of projects with challenging/expedited deadlines. Actively facilitate and manage procurement from start to finish with a hands-on approach. Be able to propel, steer and guide contracts through completion drawing upon excellent people skills, working efficiently with internal BU Stakeholders, Service Owners, VMO’s, CRM teams, Subject Matter Experts, Legal, Tax as well as others as appropriate to resolve negotiation issues in a timely manner to complete a deal through to execution. A strong relationship of mutual trust and accountability must be developed and maintained with internal stakeholders.

• Legal: Draft, negotiate, and execute contractual documents including master consulting agreements, master purchasing agreements, master services agreements, and master cloud service agreements, statements of work, service level agreements, and other procurement related legal documents.

• Strategy: lead IT services strategic sourcing and supply base strategy development and subsequent execution for the IT services Category portfolio.

• Supplier Development: Collaborate with suppliers and Business Units & Vendor Management Office to ensure continuous improvement with key suppliers. Build and foster mutually beneficial supplier relationships at all organizational levels.

What you will have

• Candidates will have gained the following skills and experience through previous roles:
• Bachelor’s Degree (preferably in Business, Finance, Purchasing/Supply Chain, Law or IT) or equivalent (CIPS Level 6 / NVQ Level 4) or progressive experience in sourcing/purchasing for Indirect, Direct or IT Categories.
• Basic understanding of business and IT strategy/planning and overall understanding of IT solutions, capabilities and project lifecycle.
• Expert communicator: proficient in building collaborative and trusted partnerships to work across a internal matrix organization and external Supplier network.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, acting with integrity in tough and emotive situations; able to mediate and reach consensus within a group environment.
• Candidates may have gained the following skills and experience through previous roles:
• Demonstrated understanding of category deliverables, savings commitments, milestones and obligations, and establish a project plan to meet them.
• Support development of category strategies based on rigorous analysis of spend data, supply market dynamics, category intelligence, and business requirements.
• Analytical, problem solving, and project leadership expertise.
• Maintain knowledge of current IT trends, vendor capabilities and changes within the technology landscape for traditional and emerging solutions.
• Manage and optimizing supplier performance including contract compliance, continuous improvement, innovations, and reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Professional certification in purchasing management or supply chain management
• Established negotiator; able to interpret, analyse, and negotiate contractual cost elements.
• Proactive and motivated to thrive in an autonomous working environment

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 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.
• Works with basic purchasing related tasks and activities.
• Adheres to various requirements and steps of the procurement process.

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 Working Knowledge:
• Works with various basic components of strategic sourcing, such as data analysis, market research and purchasing budgets examination.
• Participates in enhancing institutional sourcing process continuously including identifying improvement opportunities.
• Conducts strategic sourcing activities in a limited environment.
• Follows relevant standards, policies and practices regarding strategic sourcing.
• Assists senior sourcing professionals with strategic sourcing in multiple environments..

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 www.caterpillar.com/careers

Posting Dates:

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

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