Purchasing Professional

Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

Role Definition
Processes requisitions and provides support for purchasing, supply chain, sourcing, cost, price analyses and
contract/purchase order generation.
Responsibilities
Developing improvement plans to support buyers & professionals related to Response Time, Lean Targets
Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, and Management (QCLDM) to enable optimal and efficient operations.
Performing analysis and maintenance of assigned processes that produce output excellence, builds expertise
for the assign process area, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts.
Supporting customers and customer proposal efforts with pricing information and supplier selection.
Performing analytical and administrative tasks in support of purchasing strategic initiatives.
Degree Requirement
Degree or equivalent experience desired
Skill Descriptors
Data-driven Decision Making: Knowledge of the data-driven decision-making process and associated tools and
techniques; ability to gather and analyze data to make organizational decisions that align with strategic business
objectives and goals.
Level Basic Understanding:
Describes major considerations and issues in the use of data-driven decision making.
Differentiates Data-driven decision making from traditional decision making.
Explains characteristics and steps in an effective Data-driven Decision-Making process.
Identifies key objectives in gathering and analyzing data.
Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the
root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.
Level Basic Understanding:
Names specific tools or techniques that can be used to support the analytical thinking process.
Describes specific software applications or products used for business analytics.
Gives examples of how analytical thinking has been used to resolve problems.
Helps others research and learn more about business analytics tools and applications.
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 behaviors.
Level Working Knowledge:
Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.
Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize,
monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve
project objectives.
Level Basic Understanding:
Identifies project management tools and requirements within own function.
Describes the key objectives, phases and deliverables of a current project.
Explains the concepts of phase, activity, task, and deliverable.
Caterpillar: Confidential Green
Gives examples of critical paths in projects.
Procurement: Knowledge of buying and procurement; ability to work with organizational strategies and practices,
and use tools for buying goods, supplies, equipment and services needed to conduct business.
Level Basic Understanding:
Identifies the major steps and critical paths in a purchasing cycle.
Explains the basic concepts and responsibilities of institutional purchasing.
Describes the major types of materials, products or services purchased by the organization.
Identifies the basic tools used for maintaining procurement information and records.
Knowledge of a Specific Procurement System: Knowledge of the features, functions and operations of a specific
procurement system; ability to develop and use tools, techniques, and practices for a specific procurement
application.
Level Basic Understanding:
Summarizes major functions, features and capabilities of the procurement application.
Identifies key reports, their use, and frequency related to the specific procurement system.
Explains how to process purchases of basic materials and supplies.
Identifies key components of the specific system using relevant language.
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.
Level Basic Understanding:
Identifies the basic tools used for maintaining procurement information.
Identifies major types of products or services purchased by the organization.
Explains the basic concepts and responsibilities of purchasing tasks and activities.
Describes established procurement processes and standards.
Logistics Management: Knowledge of the processes, tools and operational considerations for effective and efficient
movement of goods and materials; ability to understand, predict and control the movement of goods, materials and
supplies.
Level Basic Understanding:
Documents internal and external informative sources or proprietary materials about logistics management.
Describes basic logistical processes and sub-processes.
Explains how improvements in logistics contribute to competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Identifies issues and considerations for inbound and outbound logistics.
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.

Posting Dates:

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