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.
Job Purpose This position is responsible for day-to-day and strategic supplier management including, but not limited to: purchase order placement, follow-up, issue resolution; communication of demand and forecasts; preparing contracts; acting as the lead negotiator providing solutions to a wide range of issues; developing commercial strategies for product and/or service contracts; managing supplier relationships and performance metrics; communicating and mitigating risk that could impact Solar's ability to meet the business plan.
Dimensions Spend & Contractual Commitments: Generally greater than $50M People: This position supports multiple internal business groups, leads cross functional interactions, and provides back-up coverage for other Buyers and Sourcing Specialists.
Leadership: Is a Technical Lead in the role and acts as coach/mentor in the area of world-class procurement and tools. Leads 6-Sigma and/or cross functional teams.
Suppliers: Can be Sole, Single, Dual, Multiple source.
Can provide direct and/or indirect goods & services and could involve Third Party Intermediaries (TPIs).
Buyer-Supplier Relationships: Arms-Length, Preferred Suppliers, Partnerships, Strategic Alliances.
Supplier Complexity & Risk: Works with Suppliers that fall within the following Portfolio Analysis categories: Acquisition, Leverage, Critical, Strategic.
Balance of Power: Works with suppliers across the spectrum (Buyer, Neutral, Seller).
Nature and Scope This position acts with a sense of urgency and is diligent in providing timely support to internal clients and external customers. This individual operates in compliance with corporate and Supply Chain policies and procedures. A Procurement Specialist may manage relationships of some non-strategic suppliers, but will predominately oversee strategic or complex suppliers. This individual has no direct reports, but work within a team structure typically including a Sourcing Specialist, Supply Chain Coordinator/Planner, Supplier Technical Engineer, Supplier Development Engineer, and reports directly to a Site Sourcing Manager or Supply Chain Manager. There is an expectation to not only participate on but lead projects from conception to maturity that directly support organizational objectives.
The primary functions of the job include but are not limited to: Supply Chain Management – Applies advanced Supply Chain knowledge to manage processes, establish policies, and develop value-adding strategies. Develops and maintains relationships with internal clients and lower-level supplier executives functioning as the Supply Chain and Solar ambassador. Monitors and manages ownership of risk from financial, business continuation, and compliance perspectives. Ensures procurement processes meets audit, regulatory, and legal standards.



Has the ability to lead a team, provides direction, and coaches less experienced staff members. Contract Management – Leads agreements on complex, high value contracts, and resolves issues. Develops and implements solutions to improve contract compliance. Proactively identifies issues during and after contract completion and manages resolution. Develops standard written agreements for development requirements. Works closely with users defining supplier performance measurements and reporting frameworks. Manages the transition process when changing contracted suppliers. Negotiation – Creates negotiation strategies based on thorough knowledge of business requirements. Communicates negotiation strategies and parameters to negotiating team and defines roles. Able to ethically execute negotiation strategy for moderate criticality/complexity items displaying varied negotiation techniques to achieve best results. Identifies and resolves areas of risk. Supplier Selection & Management – Integral part of supplier selection process and managing the relationships of existing suppliers. Manages relationship of moderate to high complex suppliers. Provides mentorship in establishing continuous improvement plans to achieve mutual benefits. Cost Management – Applies business strategies to daily activities, contributes to make-buy decisions, identifies market opportunities, gaps and trends. Understands, applies and coaches others in building and analyzing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models. Purchasing Execution – Resolves high complexity purchasing related grief issues with minimal assistance. Develops, recommends, and provides training & mentorship around purchasing processes, process changes and tools. Executes risk mitigation strategies to avoid Supply Chain disruption. Validates data integrity, identifies data gaps, and updates & corrects system data.
The work environment is mostly office based, however this position may visit internal production areas as well as external supplier sites, which may involve domestic and/or international travel. Internal clients include, but not limited to, the following: General Supply Chain, Finance, Global Enabling Systems, Logistics, Legal, Customer Services (Field Services, Overhaul & Repair, Service Parts), Manufacturing, Business Management, New Product Introduction & Design Engineering, Project Application Engineering, Test Engineering, Project Engineering, and external Suppliers.
The primary challenges of this position include: Making sound decisions with the Business' best interest in mind and knowing the impact decisions will have on organizational objectives. Improving and sustaining Supplier performance with regards to Quality, Cost, and Delivery, and Field Support (when required). Achieving business commercial objectives where minimal Supplier leverage exists. Management of critical supplier contract development and execution.



Concurrently managing multiple critical priorities. Building relationships inside and outside of the Global Supply Chain Organization; influencing, persuading, and collaborating with others in order to support business objectives. Leading teams that deliver positive results.
The decisions that are made by the Procurement Specialist will be based on: Supply Chain Management, Site Sourcing Manager and/or Sourcing Specialist direction, Our Values in Action, Worldwide Procedures, Solar Policies, Quality Management System, other process documentation, Import/Export compliance guidelines as well as adherence to State, Federal, and international regulations. Failure to achieve results, erroneous decisions or recommendations, could result in legal issues, production delays, impact to supplier relationships and/or the allocation of additional resources.
This position could use all or any of the following tools: ERP software, Windchill, Cognos (or other analytical tool), MS Office Suite, Lotus Notes or Outlook, Sourcing Tools, Virtual Conferencing (WebEx / Skype), industry research tools and codes, cost analysis and make/buy decision tools, supplier financial health reporting (D&B;, 10-k, 10-Q, etc), travel expense reporting tools.
Required Qualifications The position requires a Master’s degree with 3-5 years of experience.
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree with 5-7 years of experience.
Experience with ERP software and proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Visio) Fluent in Business English in written and oral form.
Preferred Qualifications Master’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain or other related field.
Supply Chain Certification from a professional institution (ie. APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, ISM, etc)
Understanding and demonstration of 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles.
6-Sigma Blackbelt Certification
Posting Dates: August 12, 2026 - August 16, 2026
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply
Powering the future through innovative, sustainable energy solutions.
Solar Turbines Incorporated, headquartered in San Diego, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc.
Solar manufactures the world's most widely used family of mid-sized industrial gas turbines, ranging from 1 to 39 megawatts.
More than 16,000 Solar units are operating in more than 100 countries with more than 3 billion operating hours.
Solar is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets, mechanical drive packages, and generator sets.
Solar's customers put the company's products to work in many areas, including production, processing and pipeline transmission of natural gas and crude oil, and generation of electricity and thermal energy for processing applications, such as manufacturing chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food products.
Solar's foundation is people and Solar's culture is one where individual contributions are valued, diversity in the workplace is encouraged, and safety is emphasized in all aspects of the business.
Solar Turbines is comprised of a dedicated and multi-talented workforce of more than 9,000 employees with decades of experience working as a global team.

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