Sales & Operations Planning Consultant

Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction equipment manufacturer is looking for a Sales & Operations Planning Consultant to enhance customer solutions. This role is pivotal in engaging with customers, helping optimize supply chain processes, and addressing their needs. Candidates should have 5–7 years of relevant experience in supply chain, operations, and customer relations. The position requires strong analytical, communication, and decision-making skills. Join a diverse team committed to innovation and sustainability.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of supply chain or related experience.
• Experience in inventory management and scheduling.
• A proven understanding of procurement and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Consult with product groups and dealers to develop customer solutions.
• Conduct surveys to determine customer satisfaction.
• Perform contract administration and resolve issues.
• Identify new prospects and introduce products/services.

Skills

Customer Focus

Supply Chain Knowledge

Critical Thinking

Effective Communication

Relationship Management

Value Selling

Job description

Career Area: Sales

Job Description

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team that 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.

At Caterpillar, we’re committed to our customers, who build a better, more sustainable world with our products, services and solutions. We understand and show the value of why they should choose us. We’re exploring new ideas and opportunities – innovating to discover the breakthroughs necessary for tomorrow’s growth. Through it all, we are one team– creating and delivering world-class products, services and solutions superior to the competition. Learn more about the Caterpillar Experience.

Sales & Operations Planning Consultant

We are looking for a Sales & Operations Planning Consultant to join our Customer Facing team within one of Construction Industries’ newly formed divisions: Customer Solutions Growth Regions.

About Customer Solutions Growth Regions Division

This team, alongside dealers, engages closely with customers to create, customize, and adapt solutions to meet their needs by leveraging the extensive range of offerings available today—across products and services, digital and technology, rental and used, and financing.

The division is regionally focused on Africa, the Middle East, Eurasia, Asia (excluding Japan), and Latin America (LATAM) and organized into three functional areas: Customer Facing, Customer Solutions, and Business Enablers.

This role is part of the Customer Facing team, the engine of our business—driving growth by delivering tailored, territory‑specific solutions that solve customer pain points, accelerate decision‑making, and enable profitable sales execution.

Role Definition

Supports achievement of the business plan by monitoring the business and generating recommendations that contribute to both the short‑term and long‑term initiatives of these plans.

What You Will Do (Responsibilities)

• Consult with the product groups, districts, and dealers in developing and implementing customer solutions designed to maximize product value and price.
• Conduct periodic and regular surveys of customers to determine satisfaction and cross‑selling opportunities.
• Perform contract administration support and resolve contract related issues.
• Develop new prospects, establish customers, and find opportunities to introduce an organization's products and services.

What Will Put You Ahead (Preferred Skills)

• 5–7 years of supply chain or related experience.
• Experience in inventory management, scheduling, parts procurement, operations, dealer interactions.
• A proven deep understanding of supply chain, procurement, and manufacturing processes.
• Well‑versed in supply chain planning processes and technologies.

What You Have (Basic Skills Required)

Customer Focus: Knowledge of the values and practices that align customer needs and satisfaction as primary considerations in all business decisions and ability to leverage that information in creating customized customer solutions.

Level Working Knowledge

• Communicates the importance of customer needs/expectations and commits to resolving them.
• Researches and verifies customer needs and expectations.
• Solicits customer satisfaction feedback and acts on improvement opportunities.
• Helps link organizational objectives to customer needs and expectations.
• Meets regularly with customers to understand their wants, needs and expectations.

Industry Knowledge

Knowledge of the organization's industry group, trends, directions, major issues, regulatory considerations, and trendsetters; ability to apply industry knowledge appropriately to diverse situations.

Level Basic Understanding

• Explains how own organization compares to others in the industry.
• Describes key products and services in the industry.
• Identifies key industry segments and associated characteristics.
• Names key industry players, leaders, and trendsetters.

Decision Making and Critical Thinking

Knowledge of the decision‑making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Level Working Knowledge

• Applies an assigned technique for critical thinking in a decision‑making process.
• Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.
• Participates in documenting data, ideas, players, stakeholders, and processes.
• Recognizes, clarifies, and prioritizes concerns.
• Assists in assessing risks, benefits and consideration of alternatives.

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 behaviors.

Level Working Knowledge

• Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient.
• Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness.
• Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work.
• Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate.
• Looks for and considers non‑verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Relationship Management

Knowledge of relationship management techniques; ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.

Level Basic Understanding

• Provides examples of the characteristics of effective business relationships.
• Identifies key business relationships in own organization.
• Describes the nature of a productive business relationship.
• Explains the benefits of building business partnerships.

Value Selling

Knowledge of the principles and practices for selling products, technology and services; ability to provide overall product/service 'value' and to differentiate support offerings that address clearly understood customer needs.

Level Basic Understanding

• Presents product, technology or service costs and benefits in reaction to prospect or customer requests.
• Describes general concepts, practices and benefits of value‑based versus product selling.
• Documents proposed product/service solutions to be presented to potential customers.
• Pursues additional 'value selling' education or training to enhance traditional sales practices.

Additional Information

• Must be able to travel up to 75% – 80% (Domestic & International)

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log‑in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for all positions. Caterpillar commits itself to the realization of employment equity goals as envisaged in the South‑African Employment Equity Act and policies relating to workplace equality. Caterpillar is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation.

For more information, visit https://www.caterpillar.com/en/careers/why-caterpillar.html

Caterpillar takes data privacy seriously and is committed to compliance with The Protection of Personal Information Act in South Africa. Candidate CVs are used for the limited purpose of evaluating suitability for this job role and deleted from our database when it is no longer needed for the purpose as soon as it is practicable. For more information on Caterpillar’s privacy practices, please visit our Global Data Privacy Statement.

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube

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 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. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment.

Posting Dates: January 7, 2026 - January 15, 2026

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

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.