Manager Procurement Operations

Career Area:

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.

We are seeking a Procurement Operations Manager to lead the North America Procurement Contracting Center of Excellence team in Peoria, IL. This role is ideal for an experienced procurement operations leader who enjoys developing teams, standardizing processes, strengthening compliance, improving service delivery, and driving continuous improvement across contracting operations.

As Procurement Operations Manager, you will oversee contract execution support, purchase-order management related to contracting requests, systems, data, reporting, compliance, and operational performance. You will partner with Procurement, Business Units, Category Management, Suppliers, Legal, and other functional teams to align priorities, mitigate risk, resolve issues, and improve service quality across North America.

What You Will Do

• Lead, coach, and develop the North America Procurement Contracting Center of Excellence team.

• Set clear expectations for quality, responsiveness, service, accountability, and ethical business conduct.

• Establish performance goals aligned with regional and enterprise objectives.

• Build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, and knowledge sharing.

• Oversee contract execution support, purchase orders related to contracting requests, operational transactions, systems, data, workflows, reporting, and issue resolution.

• Ensure effective execution of requisition-to-purchase-order processes, contract approvals, purchase-order compliance, and procurement governance.

• Partner with sourcing, category management, contracting, legal, business, supplier, and functional teams to align procurement processes and priorities.

• Monitor contract requests, workloads, service levels, cycle times, quality, compliance, and business performance indicators.

• Identify operational risks, implement corrective actions, and maintain documentation and audit readiness.

• Standardize and simplify North American procurement processes to improve quality, efficiency, cycle time, and stakeholder experience.

• Use metrics and analytics to identify trends, prioritize improvements, and communicate performance, risks, and opportunities to leadership.

• Support adoption of procurement tools, systems, controls, and best practices.

• Resolve escalated operational and customer-support issues while providing guidance regarding procurement policies, sourcing strategies, and contracting decisions.

• Support major business initiatives and regional projects requiring procurement leadership.

• Promote a culture of inclusion, collaboration, engagement, continuous improvement, and strong team performance.

What You Will Bring

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

• Advanced English proficiency.

• Strong procurement, purchasing, supply chain, contracting, shared services, or procurement operations experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading teams, operational execution, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Knowledge of procurement systems, contract management processes, supplier onboarding, purchase-order management, and purchasing workflows.

• Strong understanding of procurement policies, controls, governance, compliance, and risk mitigation.

• Experience managing operational metrics, analytics, reporting, performance reviews, and service-level expectations.

• Ability to standardize processes, improve cycle times, and strengthen customer and stakeholder experience.

• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder-management skills across Procurement, Business Units, Category Management, Suppliers, Legal, and other functions.

• Proven ability to navigate complex, cross-functional environments and resolve escalated operational issues.

What Will Set You Apart

• Experience supporting procurement operations in a regional or global environment.

• Experience leading cross-functional process improvement or transformation projects.

• Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement expertise.

• Experience improving contract execution, purchase-order compliance, supplier onboarding, or requisition-to-purchase-order workflows.

• Ability to use procurement data and analytics to improve quality, cycle time, compliance, efficiency, and service performance.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistent transaction quality, accuracy, compliance, and operational performance.

• Improved service levels, cycle times, and stakeholder satisfaction.

• Strong execution of contract-support and purchase-order processes with effective risk controls and governance.

• Successful delivery of continuous improvement initiatives that simplify work and enhance service quality.

• Strong team engagement, capability development, succession readiness, and retention.

Additional Information

• Location: Peoria, Illinois, Building AB.

• Work model: Five days per week in the office.

• Travel: Up to 10%, including domestic and international travel.
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position.

Summary Pay Range:

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

Posting Dates:

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.

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