Category Buyer

Caterpillar Caterpillar · Industrial · Santa Catarina, Nuevo León

This role is for a Category Buyer in the Indirect Purchasing-Global Finance Services Division at Caterpillar. The buyer will support global initiatives for categories including Global Travel and Fleet, HR, Consulting, and Marketing. Responsibilities include category management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, and data analysis to support procurement decisions. The role requires a Bachelor's Degree and 3+ years of experience in sourcing or procurement, with a focus on professional services categories.

What you'd actually do

  1. 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 or professional services categories, including global travel and fleet category and supporting the development and execution of global travel services and fleet category strategies.
  2. Develop and implement global and regional category strategies for travel services (e.g., air, hotel, ground transportation, travel management companies), fleet management, and various other professional services categories.
  3. Lead end-to-end sourcing processes including RFI/RFP preparation, supplier evaluation, negotiation, and contract implementation.
  4. Manage strategic travel suppliers to ensure service delivery, issue resolution, and continuous improvement.
  5. Be able to handle a substantial flow of projects with challenging/expedited deadlines.

Skills

Required

  • 3+ years in insourcing or procurement roles, with focus on professional services categories, or serving as a Travel Manager
  • Manage and optimize supplier performance, ensuring contract compliance, continuous improvement, innovation, and reduction of total cost of ownership (TCO).
  • Analyze, interpret, and negotiate contractual and commercial cost elements with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Apply analytical, problem-solving, and project support skills to sourcing and procurement initiatives.
  • Act as an effective communicator, building trusted and collaborative relationships across a matrix organization and supplier network.

Nice to have

  • exposure to global sourcing is preferred