Senior Manager Program Management

Caterpillar Inc.•Pontiac, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

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. Leads a team of project management & engineering professionals while overseeing the operational functions and strategies of complex manufacturing processes and workflows, with a focus on identifying and eliminating waste across quality processes, internal logistics, labor, and other areas. What you will do: Manufacturing Process Design: Designs and optimizes complex manufacturing processes to improve throughput, reduce variability, and ensure scalable, cost‑effective production. Quality Assurance & Control: Supports & advises quality leadership to ensure compliance, reduce defects, and drive continuous improvement across all manufacturing operations. Lean Manufacturing: Leads the deployment of lean principles to eliminate waste, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity and flow across the value stream. Problem Solving: Uses structured problem‑solving methodologies (e.g., A3, DMAIC, 8D) to identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence. Project Management: Manages complex, cross‑functional projects by defining scope, timelines, and resources while ensuring on‑time delivery and alignment with strategic goals. Transformation / Industry 4.0: Drives digital transformation by implementing smart manufacturing technologies, data‑driven decision tools, and automation to accelerate operational maturity. Leadership: Develops and leads high‑performing teams through coaching, clear expectations, and continuous capability building across engineering and operations.

Requirements

Engineering Degree – mechanical, industrial, or manufacturing engineering or closely related curriculums
Budgeting: Extensive knowledge of organization's budget process; ability to apply policies and practices for planning and administering a budget. Compares planned budgets vs. actual expenditures, identifies, reports, and explains variances. Participates in developing budget adjustment procedures and practices. Develops and manages large and important budgets. Evaluates past business decisions and associated budgetary considerations and impact.
Conflict Management: Extensive knowledge of managing conflicts; ability to anticipate, recognize, and deal effectively with existing or potential conflicts at the individual, group, or situation level. Mediates and resolves conflicts among individuals, groups, and departments. Practices positive collaboration and converts difficult interactions into productive ones. Guides participants in a conflict to rethink their current views. Demonstrates good judgment in deciding when to involve a third party. Makes parties aware of case studies of constructive and destructive conflicts. Surfaces disagreements in early stages.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Extensive knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment. Differentiates assumptions, perspectives, and historical frameworks. Evaluates past decisions for insights to improve decision-making process. Assesses and validates decision options and points and predicts their potential impact. Advises others in analyzing and synthesizing relevant data and assessing alternatives. Uses effective decision-making approaches such as consultative, command, or consensus. Ensures that assumptions and received wisdom are objectively analyzed in decisions.
Influencing: Extensive knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to impact decisions within and outside own organization. Achieves influence and impact even when holding a position contrary to the majority. Discards examples of persuasive arguments lacking substance or impact. Leads and presents collaborative assessments that persuasively influence decision makers. Advises on techniques to build rapport and commitment to common purpose. Determines and leverages the decision-making style of the individual or group being influenced. Delivers well-received presentations of cost, benefits, risks, and other considerations.
Alignment: Extensive knowledge of the importance of collaboration among team members and the ability to enroll stakeholders in communicating and coordinating activities to support the organization's vision and strategies. Involves team in discussions focused on clarifying and improving broad commitment. Interprets the organization's vision for external stakeholders. Establishes clear expectations and accountabilities linked to the vision. Develops methods for effectively and consistently communicating strategy and operational goals. Helps managers tailor approaches for mobilizing their team around the strategy. Refines operational priorities over time to preserve alignment with vision.
Cross-Team Integration: Extensive understanding of the importance of inter-team collaboration in breaking down silos and achieving business results; ability to lead employees from various functions to communicate, coordinate work across divisions, and collaborate in solving problems as one team. Involves key stakeholders in upfront planning efforts. Enlists formal and informal network contacts to improve collaboration among teams Generates "win-win" strategies to gain support for key initiatives from others across boundaries. Establishes ways to encourage teamwork across functions. Coaches others on best methods for performing teamwork across organizational boundaries. Recommends systems and technology to promote widespread collaboration.
Goal Setting: Extensive knowledge of the value of creating goals that stretch the teams' capabilities; ability to develop and track challenging goals that support business strategies. Sets goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, subject to feedback, and time-bound. Works with team to parse complex goals into manageable units. Advocates for continuous improvement in systems, methods, and technology for goals programs. Revisits targets, success criteria and other parameters as business conditions evolve. Communicates individual and shared accountabilities. Applies consistent methods for setting, cascading, aligning, and revising goals.
Planning and Organizing: Extensive knowledge of the process of planning and arranging tasks and resources; ability to plan and organize both time and resources to get things completed while structuring and maintaining work in a systematic and highly methodical way. Updates stakeholders on potential changes; re-negotiates requirements as necessary. Identifies the critical goals and tasks required to meet daily objectives. Develops contingency plans or to improve processes and to avoid problems before they occur. Evaluates linkages and interrelationships when prioritizing multiple responsibilities. Manages conflicting priorities effectively. Tracks the implementation of plans closely to ensure that desired outcomes are achieved.

Nice To Haves

Six Sigma Black Belt
Demonstrated experience and achievement in high‑volume, high‑complexity manufacturing environments functioning in an industrial, manufacturing engineer, quality operations, or manufacturing operations leadership role

Responsibilities

Manufacturing Process Design: Designs and optimizes complex manufacturing processes to improve throughput, reduce variability, and ensure scalable, cost‑effective production.
Quality Assurance & Control: Supports & advises quality leadership to ensure compliance, reduce defects, and drive continuous improvement across all manufacturing operations.
Lean Manufacturing: Leads the deployment of lean principles to eliminate waste, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity and flow across the value stream.
Problem Solving: Uses structured problem‑solving methodologies (e.g., A3, DMAIC, 8D) to identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.
Project Management: Manages complex, cross‑functional projects by defining scope, timelines, and resources while ensuring on‑time delivery and alignment with strategic goals.
Transformation / Industry 4.0: Drives digital transformation by implementing smart manufacturing technologies, data‑driven decision tools, and automation to accelerate operational maturity.
Leadership: Develops and leads high‑performing teams through coaching, clear expectations, and continuous capability building across engineering and operations.

Benefits

A commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our common values and focus on inclusion and respect drive the decisions made by our company, teams, and people. Here, you can apply your unique life and job experiences, and work in a team environment where your ideas are heard, your contributions are celebrated, and your whole-self matters.
You earn more than just a salary because we value your performance. We offer a total rewards package that provides benefits on day one (medical, dental, vision, RX, and 401K) along with the potential of an annual bonus. Additional benefits include paid vacation days and paid holidays (prorated based upon hire date)
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