Category Buyer - Indirect Purchasing

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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. We have an exciting opportunity for a Category Buyer - Indirect Purchasing to join our Large Power Systems team, supporting Caterpillar’s large engine production at the Kiel facility. In this role, you will leverage QCLDM (Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management) principles to deliver value across the supply network. You will develop and execute category strategies, manage supplier relationships, and drive cost, quality, and service improvements across indirect spending. Acting as a key interface between stakeholders and suppliers, you will ensure alignment with business needs, support sourcing decisions, and monitor supplier performance to build strong, long-term partnerships.

What You Will Do:

• Lead strategic and operational procurement of indirect goods and services (e.g., IT, engineering, facilities, HR)
• Drive end-to-end sourcing activities, including supplier evaluation and selection
• Negotiate with domestic and international suppliers to secure optimal terms
• Identify and deliver cost-saving initiatives and continuous improvement opportunities
• Build and manage strong supplier relationships and performance
• Partner with internal stakeholders to define requirements and support business needs
• Ensure compliance with policies and standards while supporting contracts, CAPEX activities, and sourcing strategy execution

What You Have:

• Several years of experience in procurement, ideally within indirect purchasing
• Fluency in English and German (C1 level)
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills to support decision-making
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective stakeholder collaboration
• Proven negotiation skills with experience working with internal and external partners
• Solid understanding of procurement processes, including strategic sourcing and contract management
• Experience in supplier relationship management and driving performance
• Creative, solution-oriented mindset
• Good knowledge of MS Office and SAP, with a willingness to learn new technologies

What Will Put You Ahead (Preferred Skills):

• Technical degree combined with extensive experience in the field
• Experience in an international, matrix organization

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 the past 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.

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