Category Procurement Manager

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.

The Category Procurement Manager leads strategic procurement of Resource Industries (RI) Machine Bar, Rods, and Tubes categories, delivering year‑over‑year improvements in Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM). In this role, you will be accountable for developing and executing a global sourcing strategy, building a resilient and high‑performing supply base, and managing a high performing North America procurement team.

What makes this role exciting:

This role offers a rare global perspective on steel component procurement and its direct impact on Caterpillar machines. You will gain visibility into where your components are assembled into Caterpillar machines which span a wide variety of applications. You will build strategic relationships with manufacturing suppliers.  This position provides hands‑on exposure to steel component cost drivers, global market dynamics, daily collaboration with your counterparts located in Europe, Mexico, India, and China which will support you to develop the ultimate Global Strategy.  In addition, you will lead a strong collaborative North America based team, work closely with internal customers and suppliers around the world. For a procurement leader who enjoys understanding the full commodity picture and turning complexity into clear, executable strategy, this role delivers meaningful challenge and impact.

What you will do:

• Develop, communicate, and implement a Global Sourcing Strategy for RI Machine Bar, Rods, and Tubes categories aligned to Caterpillar enterprise objectives.

• Lead and manage a North America–based procurement team, providing coaching, direction, and performance leadership.

• Collaborate with other Global Strategy Owners and Regional Procurement Managers to ensure alignment across regions and categories.

• Identify supplier performance gaps and lead structured improvement plans across cost, quality, delivery, and capability.

• Partner with the Supply Network on risk mitigation, capacity planning, and predictive cost modeling (geographic and component‑based).

• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal Caterpillar stakeholders and external suppliers.

• Manage the quality of purchased goods and services, resolving complex supplier‑related issues and escalations.

• Lead complex commercial negotiations, balancing enterprise objectives with supplier sustainability.

• Prepare executive‑level reporting to demonstrate category performance, ROI, and business impact.

What skills you have:

Planning – Tactical & Strategic

• Contribute to short‑term operational and tactical plans.

• Ultra focused on achieving long term objectives within your Global Strategy

• Anticipate plan changes, monitor execution, and course‑correct to meet objectives

Effective Communication

• Communicate clearly upward, downward, and outward

• Adapt messaging for technical, operational, and executive audiences

• Demonstrate empathy, influence, and assertiveness

Negotiating

• Lead significant internal and external negotiations

• Drive win‑win outcomes while protecting enterprise interests

• Strong collaborator with advanced purchasing expertise

Category Management

• Design and execute end‑to‑end Global category strategies

• Develop supplier agreements and follow procurement policies

• Lead execution of all category management stages and train others

• Experience across multiple component family types within a category

Supplier Management

• Build strategic supplier partnerships that share risk and reward

• Monitor performance, resolve gaps, and manage supplier exits when required

• Establish quality standards and supplier governance

Strategic Sourcing

• Lead complex sourcing initiatives including negotiations, contracting, and continuous improvement