Vendor Management Specialist - IT Negotiator

Caterpillar; East Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 128,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) savings plan

Paid time off

Annual bonus potential

Onsite work environment

Job summary

Caterpillar is seeking a Vendor Management Specialist - IT Negotiator to lead complex negotiations for SaaS, software, hardware, cloud, and professional services. You will influence internal IT customers and matrix partners, guiding strategic deals across multiple regions and vendor relationships.

Ideal candidates bring extensive IT sourcing experience, strong negotiation and communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple initiatives while aligning with budgets and timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 5+ years' equivalent IT sourcing experience.
• Extensive experience with IT sourcing and negotiations.
• Ability to lead multiple initiatives and meet deadlines.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
• Fluent in English; excellent interpersonal abilities.
• Understanding of cost and price analysis techniques.

Responsibilities

• Create detailed negotiation strategies and leverage points for IT procurements.
• Collaborate with 3rd party advisory firms to sharpen market intelligence.
• Advise internal customers on negotiation plans and timelines.
• Work with IT teams on supplier RFx requirements and evaluations.
• Serve as category subject matter expert across functions and locations.
• Engage stakeholders to resolve disputes with tact and business sense.
• Partner with finance to analyze deal financials and budgets.
• Aim for annual savings targets and performance metrics.
• Coordinate with legal, procurement, and other teams on negotiations.
• Develop supplier playbooks and lead executive communications.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Analytical thinking

Project management

English fluency

Cross-functional collaboration

Cost/price analysis

Technology sourcing

Education

Bachelor’s degree or 5+ years’ equivalent IT sourcing experience

Tools

Contract lifecycle management tool

Job description

Career Area:

Technology, Digital and Data

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.

What does it mean to live the Caterpillar Experience?

It means you play a part in building a better world. You contribute to a winning culture—a spirit of accountability that has driven change on every continent for more than 90 years. To work with us is a commitment to improve sustainability, invent for the digital age and innovate in order to bring solutions to millions of people. Sure, you work for Caterpillar. But more importantly, you work for the good of your career, your family, your community, and your world.

Job Summary:

Vendor Management Specialist - IT Negotiator working with Cat Financial’s Information Technology (IT) leaders and teams on their third-party IT business and technical requirements (Professional Services, SaaS, Software, Cloud, Hardware and Telecommunications). Lead deals with varying complexity seeking support from manager as necessary. Negotiate directly with technology vendors to minimize risk and maximize value for the acquisition of SaaS, software, hardware, telecommunications, cloud, and related professional services. Provide thought leadership and sourcing subject matter expertise to internal IT/Business customers and matrix partners.

What You Will Do:

• Create detailed negotiation strategies, including points of leverage, identification of all deal variables, and development of appropriate counteroffers.
• Working with 3rd party advisory firms to enhance Cat Financial’s market intelligence and negotiation strategies.
• Advise internal customers on the negotiation plan and gain alignment on strategy, timing, and process steps.
• Work with the IT teams on supplier RFx requirements, participate on teams working with or evaluating supplier technologies, and partner with IT category procurement (and supporting orgs).
• Act as a category subject matter expert to the organization across multiple functions, divisions, and geographic locations.
• Engage with internal customers and suppliers to support resolution of varying complexity disputes, and other matters requiring a balance of assertiveness, tact, business acumen, and diplomacy.
• Partner with finance to analyze deal financials and impact to annual budget processes.
• Achieve annual savings targets and other performance metrics as assigned.
• Partner with internal matrix partners such as finance, procurement, legal, etc. on negotiations and continuous process improvement.
• Establish a forward-looking demand for contract renewals and net new initiatives. Develop and administer frequent communications and discussions to maintain awareness and monitor progress for such demand.
• Direct negotiations and interaction with the supplier representatives.
• Development and administration of supplier playbook.
• Deliver presentations and communications to IT service owners, Vice Presidents, and Senior Vice President. Draft talking points for executive level supplier discussions.
• Support, participate in, or lead liaison roles with IT service owners and teams helping collaborate with procurement requests and contract completion targets as part of the service owner business needs.
• Conduct Supplier spend analysis on a regular basis to identify opportunities across our suppliers and organization.
• Work within the identified Contract lifecycle management tool to ensure our forecast is accurately reflected and that our contract document safe source is regularly reviewed and updated.

What You Have:

• Ability to simultaneously lead multiple initiatives while consistently meeting timelines and milestones.
• Ability to accurately interpret complex contract language and summarize historical contracts.
• Knowledge of business principles such as, demand management, project management, commercial contracting, technology licensing, and negotiation principles.
• Understanding of cost and price analysis techniques
• Understanding of the unique aspects of technology sourcing as compared to other categories.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Fluent in the English language.
• Well-developed collaboration skills communicating across the organization and reaching consensus on specific actions.
• Functional leadership. Capable of leading teams, suppliers, and customers to effective solutions.
• Analytical, problem solving, and project leadership skill.
• Strong Negotiator, able to interpret, analyze and negotiate commercial terms.
• Bachelor’s degree or more than 5 years’ equivalent experience in an area of study relevant to this position
• Extensive experience with IT sourcing (negotiations).

What You Will Get:

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world.

Here you earn more than just an hourly wage, because we value your performance, we offer a total rewards package that provides day one benefits (medical, dental, vision, RX, and 401K) along with the potential of an annual bonus.

Additional benefits include paid vacation days and paid holidays (prorated based upon hire date).

Additional Info

• The ideal location for this role is Nashville-TN or East Peoria-IL, Irving- TX
• This position may require 10% travel.

About Caterpillar -

For more than a century, Caterpillar has helped build a better, more sustainable world. With 2025 sales and revenues of $67.6 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is shaping the future as the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Backed by one of the largest independent global dealer networks and financing services through Cat Financial, the company’s primary business segments: Power & Energy, Construction Industries and Resource Industries are solving customers’ toughest challenges through commercial excellence and advanced technology, driven by a highly skilled, dedicated global team. Learn more at www.caterpillar.com.

Summary Pay Range:

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

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:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of 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:

October 14, 2026 - October 25, 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.