Senior Manager Category Procurement

Caterpillar; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in manufacturing is seeking a Category Manager in Cambridgeshire. You will manage strategic sourcing, improve supply performance, and collaborate with diverse teams. The role requires extensive experience in planning, effective communications, and a strong background in negotiations. A unique opportunity to influence strategies and enhance supplier performance is offered, with an emphasis on sustainable practices and mentorship.

Benefits

25 days annual leave + 8 Bank Holidays

Up to 31% Bonus

Car Allowance £675 PCM

Contributory pension scheme

Optional flexible benefits including health care

Qualifications

• Ability to develop strategic sourcing standards and policies.
• Proficiency in negotiating complex agreements.
• Expertise in utilizing business intelligence for decision making.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic breakthrough categories and improve QCLDM performance.
• Identify performance gaps and develop improvement plans.
• Collaborate on risk mitigation with global teams.
• Develop global supply network management strategies.

Skills

Extensive Experience in Planning

Effective Communications

Expert Negotiating

Audit and Compliance

Expert Business Intelligence

Expert Category Management

Expert Supplier Management

Expert Strategic Sourcing

Job description

Caterpillar's Industrial Power Systems Division (IPSD) designs, tests and manufactures 0.5 to 18L Cat® and Perkins engines that power over 5000 applications including Marine, Petroleum, Industrial Applications, Electric Generators, and Locomotives. Caterpillar's company strategy includes sustainability as one of four focus areas and IPSD is engaged and actively preparing green energy solutions for the future.

What You Will Do

• Manage strategic breakthrough categories to deliver year over year Quality, Cost, Logistics, Development, Management (QCLDM) performance improvement. Responsibilities include: Accountable for the development, communication and implementation of a worldwide sourcing strategy for a Drivetrain components category.
• Identify performance gaps within the supply base and develop improvement plans based on the QCLDM expectations.
• Collaborate with the regional Supply Network and global peer procurement teams on risk mitigation and use predictive cost modeling both geographically and component‑based.
• Identify, develop and manage a high‑performing global supply network for one or more categories leveraging Procurement Classification Codes (PCC).

What You Will Need

• Planning
  • Level Extensive Experience: Develops, refines, and communicates tactical plans for own responsibilities.
  • Provides the right level of detail as input for strategic plan development.
  • Demonstrates the value and necessity of linking tactical plans to overall strategic plan.
  • Ensures attention to the detail and dependencies of existing departmental‑level plans.
  • Plans for allocation of resources in line with unit goals, technical and business objectives.
  • Ensures the planning process is integrated with the overall business plan.
• Effective Communications
  • Level Extensive Experience: Reviews others' writing or presentations and provides feedback and coaching.
  • Adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience.
  • Demonstrates both empathy and assertiveness when communicating a need or defending a position.
  • Communicates well downward, upward, and outward.
  • Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.
  • Maintains focus on the topic at hand.
• Negotiating
  • Level Expert: Leads complex, high‑impact or volatile negotiations involving high business risks.
  • Advocates a win‑win approach to negotiating.
  • Explains appropriateness of using adversarial negotiating versus joint problem‑solving techniques.
  • Overcomes resistance to the negotiation process.
  • Teaches others the subtleties of negotiating strategic or high‑impact agreements.
  • Negotiates complex matters involving multiple parties.
• Audit and Compliance
  • Level Extensive Experience: Manages one or more A&C functions or units.
  • Facilitates compliance‑related business process implementation or improvement initiatives.
  • Implements specific organizational changes made in response to the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act.
  • Contributes to development of A&C strategies and plans.
  • Improves key relationships and dependencies among Audit, IT and other business functions.
  • Contributes to the establishment of best practices for A&C.
• Business Intelligence
  • Level Expert: Champions the adoption and application of BI to new situations and environments.
  • Establishes the standard policies and strategies for the organization based on BI indicators.
  • Leads discussions based on results of poor intelligence; cites cases about ineffective use of BI.
  • Creates processes to verify the accuracy and relevance of BI tool‑generated information.
  • Provides BI‑generated information at executive, board and shareholder meetings.
  • Defines key BI performance indicators that assess the present state of business.
• Category Management
  • Level Expert: Analyzes recent trends and developments related to category management and procurement and discusses future implications.
  • Establishes best practices in category management and develops related training programs.
  • Formulates a procurement strategy that utilizes the benefits of category management to streamline the procurement process and maximize business profitability.
  • Identifies and defines KPIs to track and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the procurement process.
  • Oversees the category management processes for all categories and provides technical guidance during implementation.
  • Promotes the use of emerging tools and technologies for implementing the category management process.
• Supplier Management – MFG
  • Level Expert: Establishes best practices for monitoring supplier efficacy, reliability and performance.
  • Leads the evaluation of product plans/directions for impact on supply chain requirements.
  • Mentors others in the resolution of complex supplier issues; consults on the trends of supplier management.
  • Leads in the development of evaluating, selecting and certifying processes for suppliers.
  • Oversees large supplier networks at the enterprise or global level.
  • Develops supplier strategies; monitors the marketplace for competitive suppliers.
• Strategic Sourcing
  • Level Expert: Deploys and directs strategic sourcing in multiple and diverse environments and applications.
  • Plays a leadership role in establishing strategic sourcing standards, policies, strategy and best practices.
  • Leads discussions on industry and marketplace trends and directions regarding strategic sourcing, citing relevant case studies.
  • Mentors others on all major strategic sourcing functions, issues and considerations.
  • Develops a theoretical background and understanding of strategic sourcing and provides a historical and future perspective.
  • Influences organization‑wide or high‑impact decisions and initiatives directly regarding strategic sourcing.

Additional Info

• 20%-30% travel throughout EAME required with the occasional global expectation.
• This role requires 5‑day per week on site presence with no option of hybrid available.

What You Will Get

In this role you will play a pivotal role in shaping regional strategies that align seamlessly with our global vision. You will collaborate with a diverse global team, foster talent development through mentorship, and drive strategic initiatives that strengthen regional business objectives. The role involves partnering with internal stakeholders to amplify the voice of the customer, enhance supplier performance, and deliver measurable value. In addition, you will actively grow your expertise as a Category Manager, deepening procurement acumen while leading challenging projects and transformative initiatives. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence strategy, develop people, and make a lasting impact within a global 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 nearly 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.

Other Information

• NB. The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting therefore please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave + 8 Bank Holidays with the option to purchase up to an additional 5 per year.
• Up to 31% Bonus.
• Car Allowance £675 PCM.
• Contributory pension scheme – Caterpillar will double the employee's contribution up to 10%.
• Contributory share scheme – Caterpillar will match 50% of the employee's contribution.
• Optional flexible benefits including access to health and dental care plans, EV car lease, holiday purchase.

Our Mission

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc. When you join Caterpillar, you're joining 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't just 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.