Associate Procurement Professional

Caterpillar Inc.; Desford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave + bank holidays

up to 10% annual bonus

Flexible Buy in Benefits such as Priv.

Green Car Scheme and more

Share Scheme (50% Company Matched)

Contributory Pension Scheme (Company 2

Free Car Parking

Caterpillar Advantage website

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. in Desford, Leicestershire, is hiring an Associate Procurement Professional to support safety, compliance and lean processes within the procurement team. The role emphasizes risk mitigation, supplier management and continuous improvement to deliver value for the organization.

This on-site position requires a proactive approach to driving standards, with responsibilities spanning supplier relationships, process updates and continuous improvement initiatives across the team.

Qualifications

• Analytical thinking to identify root causes and develop alternatives.
• Effective communication techniques to convey ideas clearly.
• Knowledge of project management to plan, monitor, and control initiatives.
• Procurement knowledge to buy goods, supplies, equipment and services.
• Familiarity with a specific procurement system and how to use tools for procurement.
• Understanding purchasing policies, regulations and processes.
• Knowledge of logistics management and movement of goods and materials.

Responsibilities

• Drive a safety culture and ensure training is completed on time.
• Maintain internal audit compliance at 100%.
• Lead LEAN training and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support supplier onboarding and submission processes.
• Drive automation and process updates across the team.
• Manage supplier relationships with quarterly visits and monthly calls.
• Improve invoice defect metrics by 10%.
• Manage engineering changes and new part setup for customers.
• Maintain systems weekly/monthly and support aftermarket growth.
• Assist with compliance reporting including Country of Origin and sanctions.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Effective communications

Project management

Procurement

Procurement system

Purchasing tasks

Logistics management

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Outlook

Excel (V-lookup/Formulas)

PowerPoint

Power BI

Job description

Career Area:

Procurement

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you’rejoining 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’tjust 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.

The Procurement Professional will be responsible for supporting teamwork to achieve key initiatives/projects, focusing on safety, compliance, lean processes, and sustainability. This role requires a proactive approach to risk mitigation, supplier management, and continuous improvement to support the organization’s strategic goals.

This role comes with greater responsibility to deliver Continuous improvement results, project delivery and drive standards across the procurement team.

What You Will Do:

• Drive a safety culture with zero Recordable Incident Frequency (RIF) and near-miss reporting
• Ensure 100% completion of mandatory training on time (Workday, PROcure, TCO, Indirect Purchasing)
• Maintain internal audit compliance at 100%
• LEAN Training
• Support the DART team with ASN onboarding and supplier submission
• Drive automation and process updates, including SWS reviews and CI opportunities across the team.
• Manage supplier relationships with quarterly face-to-face visits and monthly calls for strategic suppliers, Including Supplier Risk Sensing lead.
• Improve invoice defect metrics by 10%
• Manage engineering changes and new part setup for customer focus
• General System Maintenance on a weekly/monthly basis
• Aftermarket Kitting continued growth
• New Business growth through customer support/new part setup
• Compliance Support - Country of Origin, Russian steel declaration, Compliance reporting

What You Have:

• 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.
• 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 behaviours.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Ideal Candidates Will Also Have:

• Exposure within Purchasing, Supply Chain or Logistics environments
• Microsoft – In Particular Teams, Outlook, Excel (V-lookup/Formulas), PowerPoint & PowerBi

Pending the number of applications, the criteria for the position may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.

Job Title: Associate Procurement Professional

Salary: £35,000-£40,000 depending on experience

Benefits:

• 27 days annual leave + bank holidays
• up to 10% annual bonus
• Flexible Buy in Benefits such as Private Medical, Healthcare, Vison & Dental schemes
• Green Car Scheme and more
• Share Scheme (50% Company Matched)
• Contributory Pension Scheme (Contribution double by Company up to 10%)
• Free Car Parking
• Caterpillar Advantage website

Location: Desford, Leicestershire- office based

Contract: Permanent

Travel: 20% European

What We Offer:

From day one, you’re set up to thrive at Caterpillar: helpful training, relatable mentors, global experience, competitive salary package, work-life balance, and the growth opportunities you expect with a Fortune 100 company.

You power our success, and we are committed to empowering yours. After all, when your work can impact the entire world, it’s important to do work that matters.

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.

Just a quick heads-up:

We start reviewing applications as soon as they come in, so if you’re interested, don’t wait too long! We may close the advert early if we feel we’ve got a strong pool of potentially suitable applicants.

We value authenticity and encourage candidates to submit original, personally crafted responses throughout our hiring process. Use of AI-generated content may disadvantage yourapplication

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Posting Dates:

October 12, 2026 - October 26, 2026

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