2026 Leadership & Technical Development Program (ltdp) - Procurement

Caterpillar Caterpillar · Industrial · Peoria, IL +5

Caterpillar's Procurement Leadership and Technical Development Program (LTDP) is a three-year rotational program for entry-level talent focused on developing skills in procurement, supply chain integration, and manufacturing operations. The program includes three 12-month rotations in roles such as Category Buyer, Facility Procurement Professional, Supplier Development Engineer, and Procurement Professional. It requires a degree in business, supply chain, or engineering, with a minimum GPA of 2.8, and willingness to relocate.

What you'd actually do

  1. Responsible and accountable for directing the development, and/or communication and implementation of a site, regional, or worldwide sourcing strategy.
  2. Manages supply network procurement related activities for a facility to deliver procurement excellence and integration between Procurement organization and the team supporting Facility / Divisional Leaders.
  3. Responsible for collaboration and advisement for assigned supply base to provide technical expertise and leadership in the execution of a robust quality plan within the supplier network.
  4. Analyzes and maintains assigned processes that produce output excellence, builds expertise for the assigned process area, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts. Leads project management of process improvement, process development, and process execution for Procurement team.

Skills

Required

  • Analytical skills
  • initiating ideas
  • troubleshooting
  • problem-solving
  • critical thinking capabilities
  • Ability to work with others of diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, and abilities in a constructive and collaborative manner.
  • Fundamental understanding of business process designs
  • engineering for a manufacturing environment
  • supplier relationship management concepts
  • logistics and supply chain management
  • Organize and manage multiple projects simultaneously
  • ability to quickly gain and effectively apply new skills & knowledge
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Participate in and build on our inclusive, constructive, and productive work environment
  • Ensure all team member’s contributions are recognized and values​

Nice to have

  • 0-2 years of relevant manufacturing or supply chain/logistics experience, which may include internships or academic projects
  • Project or Team Leadership experience
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • building foundational skills in procurement including supplier relationship management, supply chain integration and manufacturing operations, generally within the first 0-2 years of their career