Career Area:Supply Chain and Logistics
Job Description:The Senior Manager Supply Chain will lead machine Sales & Operations Planning, S&OP, transformation initiatives that improve end-to-end planning performance, inventory planning, production alignment, and customer availability. This role manages a team that oversees the order-to-delivery supply chain to ensure necessary commodities are available to support manufacturing or distribution, while developing and managing supply chain strategies and solutions.
This leader will partner across product groups, manufacturing, supply chain, operations, procurement, logistics, distribution, sales, engineering, facilities management, and commercial teams to align demand signals with production capabilities. The role is designed for a senior leader with a supply chain background, factory-level experience, and strong S&OP, forecasting, inventory planning, MRP, production alignment, and cross-functional leadership capabilities.
What you will do:- Lead transformational projects to modernize and optimize machine S&OP processes, tools, governance, and planning capabilities.
- Lead a team of supply chain professionals while coaching, developing, and aligning the team around planning performance, inventory health, production readiness, and customer availability.
- Oversee the order-to-delivery supply chain to ensure the availability of necessary commodities supporting manufacturing or distribution operations.
- Develop, implement, and manage supply chain strategies and solutions that improve material availability, supply responsiveness, inventory performance, and business integration.
- Design and implement improved inventory planning strategies that balance availability, cost, and risk.
- Ensure production plans consistently support customer demand and reduce the risk of sales being constrained by supply limitations.
- Partner with product groups, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial teams to align demand signals with production capabilities.
- Maintain communication with operations, procurement, logistics, distribution, sales, engineering, facilities management, and other stakeholders to support integrated supply chain planning.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance forecast accuracy, inventory health, production responsiveness, and planning decision quality.
- Lead cross-functional programs that improve visibility, scenario planning, and decision-making across the S&OP cycle.
- Ensure new processes, tools, and planning capabilities are developed, tested, deployed, and transitioned into operational integration for machine production readiness.
- Identify and resolve structural bottlenecks in supply, sourcing, or production that impact machine availability.
- Analyze labor, material, and production requirements to support optimized supply chain and production planning decisions.
- Establish key performance metrics and benchmarks to guide supply chain planning, forecasting, and business integration; monitor planned versus actual performance and present results to senior management.
- Interact with sales, engineering, and facilities management on production schedules and expected deliverables.
What skills you will have:Effectiveness Measurement- Knowledge of effective measurement techniques and the ability to use metrics, benchmarks, and performance indicators to improve quality, productivity, and supply chain outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to define, capture, monitor, analyze, and communicate performance metrics across multiple functions.
- Ability to leverage data-driven insights to guide planning decisions and continuous improvement initiatives.
Analytical Thinking- Ability to define business problems, evaluate alternatives, analyze data patterns, identify root causes, and develop effective solutions.
- Skilled in using data and structured analysis to support operational and strategic decision making.
- Ability to assess organizational impacts and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Cross-Team Integration- Ability to lead across organizational boundaries and collaborate effectively with stakeholders from multiple functions.
- Demonstrated experience building partnerships, aligning priorities, and creating solutions that support enterprise objectives.
- Ability to influence outcomes and gain support for initiatives in a matrixed environment.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking- Ability to evaluate complex business situations, assess risks and opportunities, validate alternatives, and make sound decisions using informed judgment.
- Experience translating business data into practical recommendations and operational actions.
- Ability to guide teams through ambiguity while maintaining focus on customer and business outcomes.
Forecasting- Knowledge of forecasting methodologies, demand planning practices, and production forecasting principles.
- Ability to integrate information from multiple sources to support short-term and long-term planning decisions.
- Experience using forecasting insights to improve operational readiness and business performance.
Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP)- Knowledge of manufacturing planning processes, production scheduling, capacity planning, and materials planning.
- Ability to align demand, supply, and production capabilities to support operational objectives.
- Experience optimizing planning processes to support customer demand and business requirements.
Strategic Thinking- Ability to understand broader business objectives and develop plans that support organizational success.
- Experience identifying opportunities, risks, trends, and business implications to guide decision making.
- Ability to balance tactical execution with long-term business priorities.
Supplier Management - Manufacturing- Knowledge of supplier relationship management, supplier performance evaluation, quality controls, and supplier development.
- Ability to build productive supplier partnerships and support effective supply chain execution.
- Experience addressing supplier issues, balancing business needs, and achieving operational objectives.
Top candidates will also have:- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, Business, or related field.
- Experience leading machine S&OP processes, planning transformations, and inventory optimization initiatives.
- Manufacturing or factory-level experience supporting production planning, materials management, or supply chain operations.
- Supply chain leadership experience within complex manufacturing or industrial environments.
- Demonstrated success improving forecast accuracy, inventory health, and production responsiveness.
- Proven people leadership experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders across manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, commercial, and product organizations.
Additional information:- Primary Work Location: This role can be based in Peoria, IL and will require working onsite five days a week.
- Relocation: Domestic relocation assistance is not available.
- Travel: This position will require occasional travel projected at 25%.
- Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship, international assignments, and payroll transfers are not available for this role.
Summary Pay Range:$159,120.00 - $238,680.00
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 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.
Posting Dates:August 11, 2026 - August 24, 2026
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
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