Career Area:

Procurement

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.

Note: This is a 3‑month contract with a 5‑day in‑office work arrangement.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Buyer on a 3-month contract to join our Asia Pacific South Team. Selected incumbent will be based in Solar Turbines’ Rowville Office looking after the following regions; Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

Position Objective

This position is responsible for day-to-day and strategic supplier management including, but not limited to purchase order placement, follow-up, issue resolution; communication of demand and forecasts; preparing contracts; negotiating contract terms; managing supplier relationships and performance metrics; facilitating communications; and mitigating risk that could impact Solar’s ability to meet the business plan.

Dimensions 

• Spend & Contractual Commitments: Annually typically, between $5-6 Millon USD.
• People: This position supports multiple internal business groups, engages in cross functional interactions, and provides back-up coverage for other Buyers.
• Suppliers: Can be Sole, Single, Dual, or Multiple sources. Can provide indirect goods & services.
• Buyer-Supplier Relationships: Arms-Length, Preferred Suppliers, Partnerships, Strategic Alliances.
• Supplier Complexity & Risk: Works with suppliers that fall within the following Portfolio Analysis categories: Acquisition, Leverage, Critical, Strategic.
• Balance of Power: Works with suppliers across the spectrum (Buyer, Neutral, Seller).

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 Buyer will manage relationships of non-strategic suppliers as well as critically strategic or complex suppliers. This individual has no direct reports and works within a team structure typically including a Sourcing Specialist, Supply Chain Coordinator/Planner, Supplier Technical Engineer, Supplier Development Engineer and reports directly to Supply Chain Manager.

The primary functions of the job include but are not limited to:

Supply Chain Management –

• Applies advanced Supply Chain concepts and performs complex analyses to develop procurement strategies ensuring supplier capacity that supports Purchase Order (PO) commitments.
• Develops and maintains relationships with internal clients and lower-level supplier executives functioning as the Supply Chain and Solar ambassador.
• Monitors and manages ownership of risk from financial, business continuation, and compliance perspectives. Ensures procurement processes meet audit, regulatory, and legal standards.
• Maintains all detailed documentation for performing the role.

Contract Management –

• Develops agreements that align with sourcing strategies. Utilizes appropriate standard Solar contracts and templates with legal review, as required. Identifies and balances key risks at all stages. Integral in tracking contract execution, leading contract teams, closing contracts, and enforcing any applicable rights beyond contract completion.
• Works closely with users defining supplier performance measurements and reporting frameworks.
• Manages the transition process when changing contracted suppliers.

Negotiation –

• Able to collect and synthesize a complete data package as well as assist in developing the strategy in preparation of negotiation.
• Able to ethically execute negotiation strategies for low criticality/low complexity items displaying varied negotiation techniques to achieve best results.
• Identifies and resolves areas of risk.

Purchasing Execution –

• Resolves high complexity purchasing related grief issues with minimal assistance.
• Executes risk mitigation strategies to avoid Supply Chain disruption.
• Validates data integrity, identifies data gaps, and updates & corrects system data.

The work environment is mostly office based.

Internal clients include, but not limited to, the following:

Global Supply Chain, Finance, Global Enabling Systems, Logistics, Legal, Customer Services (Field Services, Overhaul & Repair, Service Parts), and external Suppliers.

The primary challenges of this position include:

• Making sound decisions with the Business’ best interest in mind and knowing the impact decisions will have on organizational objectives.
• Improving and sustaining supplier performance with regards to Quality, Cost, Delivery, and Field Support (when required).

• Achieving business commercial objectives where minimal supplier leverage exists.
• Management of critical supplier contract development and execution.
• Concurrently managing multiple critical priorities.

The decisions that are made by the Buyer will be based on:

Supply Chain Management, Sourcing Specialist input or direction, our Values in Action, Worldwide Procedures, Solar Policies, Quality Management System, other process documentation, import/export compliance guidelines as well as adherence to State, Federal, and international regulations. Failure to achieve results, erroneous decisions, or recommendations, could result in legal issues, production delays, impact to supplier relationships and/or the allocation of additional resources.

This position could use all or any of the following tools: COUPA P2P, LN ERP software, Windchill, Cognos (or other analytical tool), MS Office, Sourcing Tools, Virtual Conferencing (TEAMS), industry research tools and codes, cost analysis and make/buy decision tools, supplier financial health reporting (D&B, 10-k, 10-Q, etc.), travel expense reporting tools.

Principal Accountabilities

• Continuously practices and demonstrates Safety and acts 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.
• Manages and maintains the supplier relationship at a day-to-day. Day-to-day activities include purchase order issuance and maintenance, grief resolution, and business review meetings.
• Assists in commercial negotiations with accountabilities for contract execution and maintenance. (NDA’s, GP’s, PSAs, JDAs, etc.).
• Initiates and promotes cross functional teaming in support of supplier development, problem resolution, and continuous improvement efforts.

Interpersonal and Analytical Skills

• Well-developed people skills are required in dealing with sensitive issues and reaching consensus on specific actions.
• Capability to influence or 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.
• Effective communicator in written and oral form.

• Dedicated to meeting or exceeding the expectations of internal clients and external customers.
• 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.
• Uses rigorous logic and methods for analyzing and solving difficult problems.

Required Qualifications

• The position requires a bachelor’s degree with 1-3 years of relevant experience in multinational company.
• Proficient with MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Fluent in Business English in written and oral form

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, Supply Chain, or another related field.
• Supply Chain Certification from a professional institution (ie. APICS, IIPMR, ISCEA, ISM, etc.)
• Understanding of 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing principles.

This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require work visa sponsorship tied to a specific employer.

For more information on Solar Turbines: www.solarturbines.com.

DISCLAIMER: The preceding job description has been designed to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization.

Posting Dates:

March 16, 2026 - April 4, 2026

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

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