Procurement Specialist

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar yourejoining 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 dontjust 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 Solars 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: Global 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.

Principal Accountabilities
Continuously practices and demonstrates Safety and acting in adherence to Our Values in Action.
Effectively evaluates improves and sustains supplier performance including but not limited to: Quality Cost Delivery Lead-time Bid & Proposal Turn-times Project & Field Support etc.
Drives cost management through identifying and implementing opportunities for cost reduction utilizes cost modeling techniques and analyzing TCO to ensure the best overall value to Solar.
Manages and maintains the Supplier relationship at a day-to-day and strategic level. Day-to-day activities include purchase order issuance and maintenance grief resolution and business review meetings. Strategic activities include working with the Supply Chain Leadership and/or Sourcing Specialist to define the buyer-supplier relationship that determines as well as executes the strategic direction (Hold Grow Consolidate Exit).
Develops a network that allows the Senior Buyer to leverage internal and external relationships to continuously improve responsiveness & service levels.
Leads commercial negotiations and is accountable for contract execution and maintenance (NDAs GPs PSAs JDAs etc).
Initiates and promotes cross functional teaming in Supplier development problem resolution and continuous improvement efforts.
Supports NPI global strategic sourcing and Supplier selection to ensure flexible capacity and consistent supply from qualified suppliers to support business objectives.

Interpersonal and Analytical Skills
Well-developed interpersonal skills are required in dealing with sensitive issues and reaching consensus on specific actions.
Capability to influence and persuade Suppliers and internal clients to effective solutions.
Ability to collaborate in order to build constructive and inclusive business relationships.
Demonstrates responsiveness and acts with a sense of urgency.
Ability to lead teams coach mentor as well as provide and accept constructive criticism.
Effective communicator in written and oral form.
Dedicated to meeting and exceeding the expectations of external customers and internal clients.
Ability to cope with change effectively and adjust to accommodate the unknown or unproven.
Capable of setting priorities in order to support business requirements; can sense what will help or hinder achieving a goal eliminates roadblocks and creates focus.
Holds self and others accountable to commitments in support of business objectives.
Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems.
Can unearth root cause to assess risk to the business and develop business continuation plans.

Required Qualifications -
The position requires a Masters degree with 3-5 years of experience a Bachelors 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 -
Masters 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:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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