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.
Discipline: Procurement 12 Month Industrial Placement Scheme
Location: Stafford
Salary: £26,000, Share Scheme, Pension and 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays).
At Caterpillar, you build what matters — whether it’s the career you want, crucial work skills, strong relationships, or new technologies. – Our work is powered by our people.
Who is Caterpillar?
We are the world's leading manufacturer of Construction and Mining Equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. Operating from 50 countries around the globe, the Caterpillar brand has developed into a symbol of strength, respect, and integrity. The organisation has a clear vision to be the global leader in providing customer value in the markets in which it operates. Our core values (Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Commitment and Sustainability) are key to our success.
What do we do?
The Stafford facility is part of Caterpillar’s Large Power Systems Division. Within our state-of-the-art facilities we are able to design & manufacture engines tailored to meet the precise requirements of our customers, for use anywhere in the world from the Arctic Circle to the Deserts of Chile, providing power solutions exactly when and where required. Our engines are reliable in a crisis keeping hospitals online, sporting fixtures playing or powering the grid when power stations fail.
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?
You will be given the opportunity to experience different aspects of procurement, designed to provide you with an excellent foundation in the function.
These aspects may include:
Facility Supply – supporting supply chain and quality departments to improve supplier performance
Product Supply – supporting New Product Introduction programmes
Category Purchasing – supplier relationship and performance management of engine component suppliers covering multiple Caterpillar facilities
Cost Centre of Excellence – development of data analytics to support optimised product cost
You will face a wide variety of challenges and have responsibility for either NPI (new product introduction) programs or managing supplier accounts as you will work closely with the extended global procurement teams, engage and visit UK suppliers and directly contribute to Caterpillar’s success.
Who are we looking for?
We’re looking for people who can show us a highly participative working style, and who thrive in a team of committed professionals. Great analytical, presentation skills and an ability to communicate at all levels. You should be on track to achieve a 2:2 in a Business, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Economics or Engineering (Manufacturing, Automotive, Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical) degree.
We are looking for talented, ambitious people from various backgrounds who are interested in setting out on the road to success.
Recruitment Process:
Here is a brief overview of what you can expect when applying to our Early Career roles…
Online Application: The first stage of the process is to complete the online application and attach your CV, this must be done before the closing date of the role that you're applying for. Once we reach the close date, we will begin reviewing all our applications, this may take a little while and we will contact you as soon as possible to let you know if you have been successful in moving forward to the next stage.
Stage one – Video Interview: If selected, you will be invited to attend a pre-recorded user-friendly video interview which you have one week to complete and submit. You are able to record your answers several times to allow you plenty of practice if required. Please ensure that you check your spam emails for this invite. At this stage if you are successful, you will be invited to attend an onsite Assessment Centre which we envisage will take place on 12th February 2026.
Stage two – Assessment Centre: The Assessment Centre day will look at a range of behaviours such as teamwork, decision-making, communication, and problem-solving. We aim to make these days fun, inclusive and as relaxed as possible.
Stage three – Offer: After the Assessment Centre, the Caterpillar team will review the feedback and extend offers to our preferred candidates, we aim to do this as quickly as possible. Placement Students will start on 6th July 2026. We look forward to receiving your application to join Caterpillar!
If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please let us know and we will accommodate wherever possible.
NOTE:
Posting Dates:
November 27, 2025 - December 25, 2025
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply
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