Senior Category Buyer

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.

About Electric Power Division

Caterpillar's Electric Power Division (EPD) offers integrated solutions, parts, and services to meet the needs of our various commercial and industrial electric power customers. EPD supports a wide range of customer applications across the globe, including providing back-up power to hospitals, providing emergency power when natural disasters strike, and supporting critical infrastructure for data centers, municipalities, and more. With a rich history of more than 95 years in the electric power business, our team has world-class expertise and a proven ability to adapt to changing demands. We’re committed to providing sustainable and reliable solutions to our customers. Join our team to help build a better, more sustainable world for future generations!

Driving Innovation Through These Product Lines:

• Caterpillar Switchgear – Utilizing various manufacturers’ low and medium voltage switchgear, Caterpillar Switchgear provides systems that integrate switchgear with Caterpillar engine-generators.
• Caterpillar Automatic Transfer Switches – For simpler emergency power requirements Cat ATSs provide a cost-effective means of powering critical loads during power outages.
• Caterpillar Advanced Electrical Services – From service contracts to complete renovations, CAT Switchgear AES ensures that customer sites are safe and operational when needed.

Caterpillar Switchgear products leverage advanced automation, including PLCs and touchscreen HMIs, with all programming and testing completed at our Alpharetta facility.

Role Definition

Provides supply network expertise and strategic supplier management utilizing Caterpillar's Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) framework to optimize supplier performance, mitigate risk, and deliver maximum value to the business.

Responsibilities

• Developing, managing and executing the category strategy managing policies, agreements, source catalogs, and special procurement programs.
• Recognizing the potential for cost decreases, inventory reductions and quality improvement, as well as responsibility for soundness of business proposals and risk assessment.
• Acting as the liaison between the organization and the supplier to communicate information explicitly, while considering production demands and suppliers' conditions.
• Documenting the suppliers' performance on time sensitiveness and production; maintains a strong relationship with suppliers.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired

What You Will Have (Skill Descriptors)

Data Analytics: Working knowledge of techniques and processes for inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data; ability to discover useful information, draw logical conclusions, and support decision-making.:

• Collects required data through various data sources and documents them for evaluating trends and activities.
• Assists in preparing charts, graphs, tables, and other tools to represent the results obtained from data analysis.
• Researches business-related data, analyzes, interprets, and presents findings to management.
• Recognizes and assesses problems, opportunities, and methods for improving existing business performance.
• Utilizes designated data analysis software to analyze the data.

Interpersonal Relationships: Working knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.

• Explains impact of interactions with individuals and groups.
• Identifies roles and responsibilities for self and others.
• Demonstrates an understanding of alternative points of view.
• Collaborates with departmental associates and management.
• Adapts interaction style to situations and people.

Negotiating: Basic 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.

• Describes qualities of effective and ineffective negotiations.
• Explains the basic concepts of negotiating.
• Accesses organizational policies and practices for negotiating.
• Utilizes techniques for establishing rapport and building trust.

Purchasing Tasks and Activities: Working knowledge of policies, regulations and processes of purchasing; ability to use practices and procedures for procurement of materials, components, equipment and services.

• Records documents of purchasing tasks and activities, such as orders, bidding.
• Uses available procurement systems and tools.
• Ensures compliance with procurement regulations and contract specifications.
• Works with basic purchasing related tasks and activities.
• Adheres to various requirements and steps of the procurement process.

Supplier Relationship Management: Basic knowledge of supplier relationship management concept and strategies; ability to address critical issues to meet supplier needs and maintain engaged, partnering relationship with suppliers.

• Describes the general processes and procedures involved in supplier relationship management.
• Explains the benefits of establishing and maintaining supplier relationships.
• Identifies the main objectives and functions of supplier relationship management.
• Locates where and how to obtain or maintain information on suppliers.

Strategic Sourcing: Basic knowledge of strategic sourcing methods, technologies and processes; ability to analyze, improve and re-evaluate organizational procurement process continuously.

• Describes where and how to obtain more information regarding strategic sourcing.
• Cites specific examples of usage or application of strategic sourcing.
• Explains key concepts and steps of strategic sourcing.
• Identifies major initiatives, key issues and benefits of strategic sourcing.

What Will Put You Ahead

• APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
• APICS Certified in Transformation for Supply Chain (CTSC)
• APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

Additional Information

• Location: Alpharetta, GA
• Travel: Up to 10% travel requirements based on business needs.
• Relocation assistance is not available for this position.
• Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Summary Pay Range:

$89,210.00 - $133,810.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

• These benefits also apply to part-time employees

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This position requires working onsite five days a week.

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Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates:

October 29, 2026 - November 5, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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