Category Manager
San Diego, CA - USA
Job Summary
Career Area:
Job Description:
Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.
When you join Caterpillar yourejoining 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 dontjust 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.
Role Definition:
This role is critical to shaping the future of Solars Global Supply Chain by developing commercial strategies across assigned categories. The Category Manager drives innovation anticipates market and technology trends maintains visibility into supplier capacity and identifies alternative manufacturing and supply solutions that position the organization for success over a 510 year horizon.
The ideal candidate is a proactive and strategic leader who partners closely with crossfunctional teams to build resilient scalable and costeffective supply networks while balancing risk performance and sustainability objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Develop Supplier & Category Roadmaps
Create maintain and continuously improve roadmaps for assigned categories.
Ensure roadmaps align with organizational goals future market trends and global supply chain strategy.
Drive standardization automation and consistency of category and supplier planning tools and systems across the organization.
Strategic Sourcing
Work with Sourcing Specialists to develop category sourcing strategies that optimize cost quality delivery and risk while supporting innovation and sustainability initiatives.
Establish clearly defined sourcing plans milestones and performance metrics.
Partner with teams at the valuestream level to ensure alignment and effective integration.
Supplier Market Intelligence
Maintain deep knowledge of global supplier markets emerging technologies and alternative manufacturing methods relevant to assigned categories.
Identify new sourcing opportunities potential suppliers and disruptive capabilities that enhance competitiveness and supply chain resilience.
Supplier Capacity & Scalability Analysis
Assess and monitor supplier production capacity scalability and contingency capabilities to ensure alignment with demand forecasts and growth plans.
Support sourcing decisions with robust capacity and risk evaluations as sourcing strategies mature.
Conference & Industry Engagement
Represent Solar Global Supply Chain at industry conferences trade shows and networking events.
Leverage external engagement to stay ahead of market developments identify emerging suppliers and strengthen industry partnerships.
Risk Assessment & Mitigation
Identify assess and mitigate supply chain risks including capacity constraints geopolitical exposure and supply continuity threats.
Develop and maintain contingency and risk mitigation plans in collaboration with valuestream and stakeholders.
CrossFunctional Collaboration
Work closely with Engineering Operations Finance and other internal teams to align category strategies with business needs technical requirements and financial objectives.
Continuous Improvement
Monitor category and supplier performance metrics.
Implement best practices and continuous improvement initiatives to drive efficiency resilience and cost savings across the supply base.
Desired Qualifications
Bachelors degree with 10 years or a Masters degree with 7 years of experience in Supply Chain.
Experience creating Sourcing & Commodity Strategies
Preferred Qualifications
Degree in Supply Chain Management
6-Sigma Blackbelt
This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. 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. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of essential job functions as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Summary Pay Range:
$128470.00 - $192710.00
Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors job level market locationjob-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.
This position requires working onsite five days a week.Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.Posting Dates:
June 19 2026 - July 31 2026Any 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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Required Experience:
Manager
About Company
Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.