Mgr, Purchasing Program

Job description

Job Purpose
Drive early identification of key risks and supply chain constraints through close collaboration with Program Management, Engineering, and Supply Chain ensuring timely mitigation paths that support successful line start dates.

Provide the business with proactive visibility into material issues early in the order cycle, with strong emphasis on capacity analysis and early design procurement to ensure full Supply Chain Readiness.
Lead efforts to effectively implement Plan for Every Part (PFEP) across manufacturing facilities, partnering with diverse, cross functional teams to apply supply chain planning processes and develop lean, end to end material flow strategies.

Support the creation and maintenance of holistic master data governance to enable accurate, efficient, and sustainable material planning.
Run material availability analyses and serve as the supply representative to support customer inquiries, ensuring accurate, timely insights into part readiness and delivery feasibility.
Ensure flawless execution of delivery and material flow for each locomotive production order, aligning with executive requirements while upholding overarching supply chain strategy goals.
Company Description
Progress Rail stands at the intersection of legacy and innovation—driving the future of rail with a pioneering spirit.

Since its founding in 1983, the company has grown to become one of the world’s largest and most trusted providers of railroad products, services, and technologies.

Today, Progress Rail delivers a comprehensive portfolio of cost-effective solutions to railway customers around the globe.

From the rails themselves to the EMD® locomotives that ride them, the company’s products are in operation across more than 100 countries—powering progress and connecting communities.

In 2006, Progress Rail joined Caterpillar Inc., further strengthening its ability to lead the rail industry with cutting-edge technology, unmatched expertise, and a commitment to excellence.

At Progress Rail, the team is not just building the future of rail—they are making history every day.
Key Job Elements
• Manage material readiness for multiple locomotive production orders exceeding $20M+, consisting of thousands of new designs with slim margin for sourcing errors.
• Direct sourcing decisions and material flow, demonstrate focus upfront in order execution process for improved visibility, and press need for early design release through new process implementation, helping improve on time delivery metrics.
• Serve as liaison between engineering and supply base, lending support for early requirement identification, drawing release, and drawing modification communication.
• Foster relationship management by conducting regular reviews with stakeholders with an emphasis on objective alignment.
• Conduct frequent supply chain readiness reviews with cross functional team members with intent of encouraging participation and transparency for seeking out roadblocks, possible opportunities, and mitigation strategies impacting order execution success.
• Lead efforts to implement Plan for Every Part (PFEP) within manufacturing facilities, developing lean material flow plans and ensuring alignment with holistic master data governance requirements.
• Collaborate with diverse, multi-functional teams to apply supply chain planning processes that enable accurate material routing, replenishment logic, storage strategies, and presentation standards.
• Construct What if scenario analysis, on an as needed basis, to determine supply chain’s ability to support business needs.
• Maintain project order dashboard as a tool to keep the business informed of project health status.
• Run material shortage reports, analyze metrics, and drive actions on shortages and past due items.
• Run material availability analyses to assess part readiness and represent Supply Chain during customer inquiries, providing accurate visibility into supply constraints and delivery feasibility.
• Develop top list of components to drive early material release through organizational processes.
• Key participation in fabricated structure Majors supply tracking meetings, with focus on capacity planning, and communicate key milestone dates to stakeholders.
• Take primary lead on project ownership, critical risk mitigation, and material impacts from a supply chain perspective.
• Communicate material status and foreseeable risks to plant planning organization ahead of production line starts.
• Identify non-recurring costs and drive ownership to the responsible parties for development.
• Work with locomotive assembly plant to minimize downtime and the impact of schedule changes.
• Identify supplier weaknesses and suggest improvements to improve delivery performance.
• Collaborate with Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Quality Teams to develop supply base.
Qualifications and Experience
• Creative thinking to remove barriers to success.
• Expediting and planning knowledge.
• Ability to read general prints and details of locomotive features/EDLs.
• Collaborations with buyers, engineers, and supplier contacts to accomplish goals.
• Data driven analysis and decision making.
• Ability to influence without direct control.
• New product introduction, Purchasing and/or Engineering discipline.
• Experience in MS Project, MS Visio preferred.
• High proficiency in pivot tables, SUMIF, COUNTIF, and VLOOKUP functions required.
• Previous Supply Chain experience required.
• Previous ERP experience required (LN or SAP).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills required.
• Experience developing or implementing Plan for Every Part (PFEP), including knowledge of material flow design, part routing, storage logic, and replenishment strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multi-functional teams to establish and maintain accurate master data to support PFEP and lean material flow principles.
• Proficiency conducting material availability analysis, generating clear recommendations, and presenting supply readiness insights to support internal and customer facing discussions.
Benefits
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 Progress Rail.**

• Competitive Salary
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% company match (no waiting period with immediate vesting)
• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life/Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Accident, Critical Care, and Hospital Insurance available along with an HDHP and HSA with seed money
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time-Off (PTO)
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Education Assistance Program
• Employee Recognition Programs
• Site specific Production and Incentive Plans
• Site specific Step and Skill Level Wage Adjustment Plans
• Site Specific Relocation and Sign-on Bonus Programs

*Benefits eligibility varies by job position, full-time/part-time and regular/temporary status.

The provisions of the plan documents control such benefits.

**Subject to position, eligibility, and plan guidelines.

Required Skill Profession

Business Operations Specialists