Caterpillar Inc.
Category Buyer
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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 Title: Category Buyer
Salary: £49,519+ dependent upon experience
Location: Peterborough, UK
Benefits:
- 25 days annual leave + 8 Bank Holidays
- Up to 10% Bonus
- Contributory pension scheme - Caterpillar will double the employee's contribution
- Up to 10% Contributory share scheme - Caterpillar will match 50% of the employee's contribution.
- Optional flexible benefits including access to health and dental care plans, EV car lease, holiday purchase.
About IPSD
Caterpillar’s Industrial Power Systems Division (IPSD) designs, tests and manufactures 0.5 to 18L Cat® and Perkins engines that power over 5000 applications including Marine, Petroleum, Industrial Applications, Electric Generators, and Locomotives. Caterpillar’s company strategy includes sustainability as one of four focus areas and IPSD is engaged and actively preparing green energy solutions for the future.
Job Summary
As Category Buyer, you will provide supply network solutions expertise, using Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) to deliver maximum value. The main job areas are:
- Purchase Order Management: Provide expertise in the launching & management of purchase orders for a facility. Ensuring compliance to Caterpillar standard terms and conditions and collaborating with budget holders to optimize transactional efficiency.
- Reporting: Directly to the Regional Category Procurement Manager and will be accountable for implementing the specific strategies at the Facility level to create a competitive advantage for our customers.
- Supplier Development: Identify performance gaps within the supplier base specific to the Business Unit and develop improvement plans for the identified gaps.
- Sourcing: Leading the selection process and evaluation for a variety of strategic indirect services and materials. Utilize Caterpillars powerful assessment tools and expert category support. Access to the latest in e-sourcing and collaboration technologies. A focus on establishing long term and mutually beneficial relationships.
- Customers: The role will encompass managing Facilities expectations for Indirect Purchasing, delivering the year-on-year benefits required to sustain a competitive advantage.
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- Data Analytics: Knowledge of techniques and processes for inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data; ability to discover useful information, draw logical conclusions support decision-making and reporting insights using MS Office tools.
- 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 behaviours.
- Interpersonal Relationships: Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.
- 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.
- Contracts Management and Administration: Knowledge of policies, standards and processes of how to manage and administer contracts; ability to use proper processes and practices for managing and administering a variety of contractual agreements.
- 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.
- Supplier Relationship Management: Knowledge of supplier relationship management concept and strategies; ability to address critical issues to meet supplier needs and maintain engaged, partnering relationship with suppliers.
- Strategic Sourcing: Knowledge of strategic sourcing methods, technologies and processes; ability to analyze, improve and re-evaluate organizational procurement processes continuously.
- Adaptability: Adjust to changes in working environment. Ability to adapt and respond quickly to changing ideas, responsibilities, expectations, trends, systems and other processes.
- Self-learning skills: Interest and curiosity to learn by yourself. Determine schedule, find purposes, join courses available.
- Relevant experience: of working within a purchasing or internal customer support function.
- Confidence: in creating reports, databases and presentations within MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint.
- Knowledge and application: of AI tools including Microsoft Co-Pilot.
Top Candidates also Have:
- Previous experience working within an Indirect Purchase function.
- Professional certification in Purchasing.
- Demonstrated experience of working in a purchasing function within a manufacturing environment.
- Knowledge of Quality, Lean manufacturing, an understanding of lean principles.
Additional Information:
- 10% travel globally
- This role requires 5 days per week on site presence
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What We Offer
From day one, you’re set up to thrive at Caterpillar: helpful training, relatable mentors, global experience, competitive salary package, work-life balance, and the growth opportunities you expect with a Fortune 100 company. You power our success, and we are committed to empowering yours. After all, when your work can impact the entire world, it’s important to do work that matters.
About Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.
NB. The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting therefore please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined. Pending the number of applications, the criteria for the position may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.
This job is subject to U.S. and U.K. rules concerning the export and protection of controlled or protected technologies or information, including, but not limited to, U.S. State Department regulations at International Traffic in Arms (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. 120 et. seq.; the Export Administration Regulation, 15 C.F.R. 730-774; and the Foreign Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. 500-598, and the United Kingdom Official Secrets Act 1989 (collectively, “Export Control and Protection of Information Laws”), and you may be subjected to additional security screening / checking. This position requires working onsite five days a week. Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Posting Dates:
July 9, 2026 - July 17, 2026
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply
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There’s more to work at Caterpillar than just the work itself. We hire smart, friendly people and it shows in our culture. We hold ourselves to high standards and make sure our values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, commitment and sustainability come to life in the way we work. We make sure our employees feel continuously challenged while also supported. We provide professional growth opportunities, including leadership programs. We celebrate the diversity of our team, while also working together as one Caterpillar. Our culture, like everything at our company, is made possible by each employee’s contribution. Person by person, we create the environment we work in, and we are proud of the Caterpillar we’ve built.
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