Procurement Specialist

Solar Turbines; Newport Beach (CA); On-site; USD 113,000 - 169,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off plan

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking a Procurement Specialist to provide urgent, reliable support to internal clients and external customers. This role will manage supplier relationships, lead commercial negotiations, and align with the Supply Chain team to meet organizational objectives.

You will work onsite five days a week, leveraging ERP systems and MS Office to optimize cost, quality, and delivery across strategic suppliers. Strong business English is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5-7 years of experience.
• Experience with ERP software and MS Office Suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Visio).
• Experience with planning, ideally in construction services.
• Fluent in Business English in written and oral form.

Responsibilities

• Continuously practices safety and adheres to values in action.
• Evaluate, improve, and sustain supplier performance (quality, cost, delivery).
• Drive cost management and analyze TCO for best value to Solar (Caterpillar).
• Manage supplier relationships day-to-day and strategically.
• Lead negotiations and contract execution (NDAs, PSAs, JDAs).
• Promote cross-functional supplier development and problem resolution.
• Support NPI, global sourcing, and supplier selection.
• Communicate effectively in writing and oral form.

Skills

ERP software

MS Office Suite

Education

Bachelor’s degree (Business/Engineering/Supply Chain)

APICS/ISM/ISCEA certifications

Six Sigma Black Belt

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description

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.

Career Area

Procurement

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.

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 (NDA’s, GP’s, 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 Bachelor’s degree with 5-7 years of experience.
• Experience with ERP software and proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Visio)
• Experience with planning, ideally in construction services
• Fluent in Business English in written and oral form.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s 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

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Summary Pay Range

$112,704.00 - $169,056.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*
• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*
• 401(k) savings plans*
• Health Savings Account (HSA)*
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
• Health Lifestyle Programs*
• Employee Assistance Program*
• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*
• Career Development*
• Incentive bonus*
• Disability benefits
• Life Insurance
• Parental leave
• Adoption benefits
• Tuition Reimbursement
• These benefits also apply to part-time employees

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Posting Dates

September 16, 2026 - September 30, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.