Procurement and Supply Chain (12 Month Placement Scheme)

Career Area:

Students and Graduates

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.

12 Month Placement Scheme  

Discipline: Procurement and Supply Chain

Location: Desford, Leicester  

Salary: £26,000, Share Scheme, Pension, and 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays).  

   

*Please note that in order to be eligible to complete a 12-Month Industrial Placement commencing July 2027, you must be in your penultimate year of study unless enrolled in an integrated master’s program.  

  

What do we do?   

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Since 1925, we’ve been driving sustainable progress and helping customers build a better world through innovative products and services. Throughout the product life cycle, we offer services built on cutting-edge technology and decades of product expertise. These products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value to help our customers succeed.   

  

We have a clear vision to be the global leader in providing customer value in the markets in which we operate. Our core values (Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Commitment and Sustainability) are key to our success.  

  

Resource Industries Supply Management (RISM) is Caterpillar’s procurement organisation, supporting the business through end-to-end procurement lifecycle solutions. RISM works collaboratively with internal stakeholders and suppliers to build a resilient supply base, create sustainable value, improve quality and support customer success, while maintaining high standards of safety, compliance and integrity.

   

Diversity at Caterpillar  

When we leverage our people's experiences, backgrounds, and cultures in an inclusive environment, we enable every individual to achieve their full potential, which drives business success. We are proud to be active partners with both the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) & Women's Engineering Society (WES). We also have numerous well supported employee resource groups. Caterpillar is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds.    

   

What experiences can we offer you?   

As an equal opportunity employer, we value diversity at Caterpillar and believe the more experience you can gain early in your career the further you can go. That’s why during our yearlong scheme we place an emphasis on multiple diverse projects. You will have the opportunity to work and collaborate with people in Caterpillar facilities worldwide and we are looking for you to bring fresh, innovative ideas to solve complex technical problems. You will be a fully involved team member with responsibility and accountability for key project deliverables. That said, you will be given all the support you require to be successful.  

  

Our placement roles have the additional benefit of a workplace mentor; this could be your manager or a technical expert who will support you throughout your time at Caterpillar and help you gain the professional development and skills you need to be set up for success!  Our placement students can expect to return to university with further developed technical skills and experience of how University learning is applied to the workplace.  

  

We also operate a conditional offer process; our highest performing placement students are fast tracked to our graduate development scheme. This includes a financial incentive and the potential of a summer work placement. Offers will be made based on the condition that a graduate role is available at the time of your graduation and that you achieve a min of 2:2.  

  

The Team and Role:  

During this 12-month placement, you will have the opportunity to experience a variety of procurement activities within Resource Industries Supply Management (RISM), giving you valuable insight into working as part of a professional procurement team.

 

The Desford Procurement Team supports the facility through site purchasing activities, supplier relationship management, risk mitigation, process excellence and continuous improvement. The team provides exposure to a broad range of procurement activities and cross-functional projects, offering the opportunity to understand how effective procurement supports Caterpillar’s wider business objectives.

  

Job duties and responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Gain practical experience across the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, supporting the procurement of goods and services required by the facility
• Support sourcing and RFQ activities, including gathering requirements, reviewing specifications, supplier research, quotation analysis and preparing information to support sourcing decisions
• Use procurement systems and tools, including PROcure, to support sourcing activity and maintain accurate procurement, pricing and supplier records
• Analyse supplier, spend, cost, quality and delivery data, identifying trends, risks and opportunities and presenting clear findings and recommendations to procurement stakeholders
• Support supplier relationship management, including supplier reviews, visits, performance discussions, risk identification and action tracking
• Work collaboratively with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Quality and other internal stakeholders, as well as external suppliers, to support business requirements
• Contribute to process excellence and continuous improvement, including reviewing KPIs, developing standard work and identifying opportunities to improve internal procurement processes
• Support projects focused on supply resiliency, sustainable value, quality, compliance and risk mitigation
• Take ownership of agreed activities and project deliverables, providing clear updates and presenting recommendations to wider procurement team

 

We hold a Meet and Greet day for all new UK placement students to provide you with an opportunity to meet fellow new starters across the UK before you start your placement.   

   

Who are we looking for?  

• Applicants will be on target to achieve a minimum of 2:2 honours degree level in one of the following disciplines: Business Management, Economics, Supply Chain/Logistics, Data Analytics

   

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate the following attributes:  

• Self-motivated with a drive to succeed  

• Be able to work collaboratively within a team and across the company  

• Natural curiosity and a desire to learn new things  

• Dynamism and energy  

• Flexible and agile – we work in a very fast-moving industry  

• A strong work ethic and personal pride  

• Microsoft Office Skills (Outlook, MS Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)  

• Creativity and ambition to bring about new and better ways of doing things  

• Excellent problem solvers and who have an ability to learn quickly  

• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals  

• Prior knowledge is not required, just an enthusiasm for your development  

   

Recruitment Process Guidelines:

We’re excited that you’re considering a career with Caterpillar. Below is an overview of our Early Careers recruitment process and what you can expect at each stage.

 

Step 1 – Online Application: To apply, simply complete our online application form and upload your CV before the advertised closing date. Our team will review all submissions, and we’ll keep you updated and let you know as soon as possible if you’ve been selected to progress to the next stage.

 

Step 2 – Online Assessments & Video Interview: If you are selected to move forward in the process, you’ll be invited to complete some online assessments, followed by a user-friendly video interview. Your responses will be reviewed by the hiring team, and successful candidates will then be invited to attend an in-person Assessment Centre, which we anticipate will take place on 2nd February at our Desford facility. If possible, we recommend keeping this date available.

 

To ensure you don’t miss any communications from us, please regularly check your text, email inbox (including your spam/junk folder) and your Workday account for updates.

 

Step 3 – In Person Assessment Centre: Our Assessment Centre is designed to help you showcase your potential through a range of interactive activities focused on competencies such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving and decision-making.

 

We aim to make the experience engaging, inclusive, and relaxed, giving you the best opportunity to demonstrate your strengths and learn more about Caterpillar.

 

Step 4 – Offer: Following the Assessment Centre, the Caterpillar team will review all feedback to make hiring decisions. We aim to communicate outcomes and extend offers to successful candidates as quickly as possible.

 

Placement students will begin their placement on 5th July 2027.

 

NOTE: Only one application is required, please do not apply for multiple roles. You may be given the opportunity of being considered for other roles/locations at a later stage.

 

The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting therefore please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined.  

 

Pending the number of applications, the criteria for the position may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

 

Posting Dates:

November 9, 2026 - December 10, 2026

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

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