Buyer

Job Description

Buyer | Solar Turbines (A Caterpillar Inc. Company)

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Solar Turbines (A Caterpillar Inc. Company) in the US. Caterpillar Inc. is a global team of makers, problem solvers, and future world builders dedicated to creating stronger, more sustainable communities and a better world. As a Buyer, you will play a crucial role in managing strategic supplier relationships, ensuring timely support for internal clients, and mitigating risks that could impact the company’s business plan. Your work will directly contribute to Solar Turbines’ ability to meet commitments and organizational objectives.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: US
• Pay: $76542–$114814 yearly
• Team: Works 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.
• Mission: Responsible for day-to-day and strategic supplier management, including purchase order placement, issue resolution, contract negotiation assistance, and performance metric management to meet business plan objectives.
• Tech Stack: ERP software, Windchill, Cognos, MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Visio), 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.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Supply Chain Management: Apply advanced concepts to develop procurement strategies, ensuring supplier capacity for Purchase Order commitments, identifying and mitigating financial, business continuation, and compliance risks.
• Contract & Cost Management: Utilize appropriate standard contracts, support minor changes, maintain contracts and purchase orders ethically, apply business strategies, and analyze Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Supplier Relationship & Performance: Support the supplier selection process, manage day-to-day and strategic supplier relationships, and continuously evaluate, improve, and sustain supplier performance across Quality, Cost, Delivery, and Field Support.
• Negotiation & Purchasing Execution: Assist in developing negotiation strategies, play a support role in negotiations, and efficiently execute purchase orders through their lifecycle, resolving medium-complexity issues with minimal assistance.
• Project Participation & Collaboration: Participate in projects from conception to completion to support organizational objectives and collaborate cross-functionally in supplier development, problem resolution, and continuous improvement efforts.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree (Entry/Early Career)
• Experience: Proficiency with ERP software and MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Visio); fluent in Business English in written and oral form.
• Skills: Well-developed interpersonal skills, ability to influence or persuade, capability to collaborate in building business relationships, responsiveness and urgency, effective written and oral communication, rigorous logic and methods for analyzing and solving problems, and ability to assess risk to the business.
• Bonus: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain or related field; Prior internship or previous work experience in Supply Chain; Supply Chain Certification from a professional institution (APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, ISM, etc.); Understanding and demonstration of 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles; 6-Sigma Blackbelt Certification.