Buyer, Early Talent (Gas Turbines)

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.

(Fresh graduates are welcome to apply. Candidates with less than 3 years of relevant work experience will also be considered.)

Role Definition

Processes requisitions and provides support for purchasing, supply chain, sourcing, cost, price analyses and contract/purchase order generation.

Responsibilities

• Delivering analysis and maintenance of purchasing and quality data including but not limited to; purchase orders, quotations, invoices, source catalogs, material rejection disposal reports, tooling records, supplier data and measurements.
• Working with master planners on outsourcing needs; establishing blanket purchase orders and vendor managed inventory.
• Supporting customers and customer proposal efforts with pricing information and supplier selection.
• Performing analytical and administrative tasks in support of purchasing strategic initiatives.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skill Descriptors

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Applies an assigned technique for critical thinking in a decision-making process.
• Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.
• Participates in documenting data, ideas, players, stakeholders, and processes.
• Recognizes, clarifies, and prioritizes concerns.
• Assists in assessing risks, benefits and consideration of alternatives.

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 Working Knowledge:

• Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.

• Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.

• Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.

• Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.

• Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

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 Basic Understanding:

• Describes qualities of effective and ineffective negotiations.
• Explains the basic concepts of negotiating.
• Accesses organizational policies and practices for negotiating.
• Utilizes techniques for establishing rapport and building trust.

Vendor/Supplier Management: Knowledge of external provider management processes and ability to effectively manage the business relationship with external providers (e.g., vendors, service providers, contractors, consultants, and suppliers).

Level Working Knowledge:

• Works with vendors to assure that products or services are delivered to time and quality specifications.
• Provides feedback on vendor performance to responsible contract administrators.
• Resolves routine issues or problems with vendors in organization's best interest.
• Identifies communications bottlenecks and recommends appropriate solutions.
• Builds effective working relationships with counterparts in vendor or supplier's organization.

Cost Management: Knowledge of cost management; ability to plan and control organizational costs in order to lower product and service costs and maximize return.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Explains where and how to gather up-to-date cost management information.
• Lists the major cost elements (e.g. raw materials, labor, overhead) incurred by the organization.
• Describes the importance of a cost management function in a project/organization.
• Identifies current initiatives and key issues related to cost management.

Procurement: Knowledge of buying and procurement; ability to work with organizational strategies and practices, and use tools for buying goods, supplies, equipment, and services needed to conduct business.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Identifies the major steps and critical paths in a purchasing cycle.
• Explains the basic concepts and responsibilities of institutional purchasing.
• Describes the major types of materials, products or services purchased by the organization.
• Identifies the basic tools used for maintaining procurement information and records.

Knowledge of a Specific Procurement System: Knowledge of the features, functions, and operations of a specific procurement system; ability to develop and use tools, techniques, and practices for a specific procurement application.

Level Basic Understanding:

• Summarizes major functions, features, and capabilities of the procurement application.
• Identifies key reports, their use, and frequency related to the specific procurement system.
• Explains how to process purchases of basic materials and supplies.
• Identifies key components of the specific system using relevant language.

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 Basic Understanding:

• Identifies the basic tools used for maintaining procurement information.
• Identifies major types of products or services purchased by the organization.
• Explains the basic concepts and responsibilities of purchasing tasks and activities.
• Describes established procurement processes and standards.

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

 

Posting Dates:

October 30, 2026 - January 3, 2027

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

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