Career Area:
Manufacturing
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.
ROLE DEFINITION:
The Senior Manager Production is accountable for and leads the day-to-day operations for Pontiac’s Alternate Work Schedule (AWS) weekend shift. As a leader of leaders, this role will recruit, grow and develop talent and provide leadership and direction to a team of Production Managers, leading operations across the facility. This shift will include Assembly and Test operations for Fuel Systems injectors and pumps, while also manufacturing components in both machining and heat treat.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
- Manages staffing, development, and performance management programs for assembly, machining and heat treat; manages, motivates, and develops management team.
- Oversees operations activities, ensuring that safety, schedules, and performance requirements are met, and system resources are used effectively.
- Drives improvements for overall operations PQVC performance and implements production safety, cost, and quality control mechanisms.
- Ensures compliance of all regulatory guidelines and forges a safe and sound manufacturing environment.
- Spearheads weekly customer shipments, especially Reman trucks on Fri and Sat nights, coordinating flow of material, support resources, elimination of roadblocks to achieve on-time shipments and improved customer delivery performance.
WHAT YOU WILL HAVE:
Bachelor’s degree or extensive experience in assembly, logistics, machining or heat treat.
Performance Management (extensive knowledge): Knowledge of successful performance management techniques; ability to apply organization's performance management system, practices, and tools to developing and improving individual, team, and organizational performance.
- Ensures performance goals, checkpoints, and feedback focus on behaviors.
- Provides documented input to formal performance review conducted by manager.
- Observes individual performance and provides fair and objective feedback as a Leader of Leaders.
- Uses formal and informal rewards and recognition programs for employees.
Planning and Organizing (extensive experience): 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.
- Identifies the critical goals and tasks required to meet daily objectives.
- Develops contingency plans to improve processes and to avoid problems before they occur.
- Manages conflicting priorities effectively.
- Tracks the implementation of plans closely to ensure that desired outcomes are achieved, including meeting Build to Plan targets, achieving strategic buffer levels, improving customer delivery performance and driving past dues to zero.
Manufacturing Operations (extensive experience): Knowledge of manufacturing operations; ability to perform day-to-day operations of a manufacturing plant or facility for products.
- Align staffing levels and execution plans to meet business plan commitments.
- Monitors organizational adherence to policies and procedures.
- Facilitates communications across departments to ensure a smooth workflow in the plant or facility.
- Evaluates the risks and safety hazards present in manufacturing operations.
- Recommends key industry benchmarks of manufacturing operations and relates to own organization.
- Promotes workplace safety among supervisors and workers; communicates safety rules and regulations.
- Assesses and reports unusual or new safety hazards or violations; initiates corrective action.
- Supervises daily operations to ensure production targets and forecasts are achieved.
- Employs tools and techniques for anticipating demand and assuring capacity.
Quality Management (extensive experience): Knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques and ability to create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organization.
- Leads value stream BIQ Deployments and directs quality reviews, ensures customers are protected through strong Stop Capability and drives out business pain through effective RCCA problem solving.
- Develops programs for motivating employees to meet or exceed departmental quality goals including As-Delivered Quality (PPM) and Scrap/COPQ.
TOP CANDIDATES MAY ALSO HAVE:
- Experience with Built in Quality (BIQ) and Lean Leadership.
- Working knowledge of Caterpillar’s Fuel Systems products.
- Proven ability to recruit and develop the best talent.
- Creates the vision and leads change.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- AWS shift: Friday – Sunday 6:00AM – 6:00PM.
- This position requires the selected candidate to work on-site at least three days a week in the Pontiac, IL facility.
- Must be able to work some overtime shifts (between Monday - Thursday), as needed, to cover other Senior Managers, attend key Leadership meetings, or support PQVC initiatives.
- Domestic relocation assistance is available.
- Visa sponsorship is NOT provided.
- Please ensure you frequently sign in to your Candidate Home for any updates or correspondence for positions that you have applied for: https://cat.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CaterpillarCareers
Summary Pay Range:
$112,710.00 - $169,060.00
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.Relocation is available for this position.Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.
Posting Dates:
February 20, 2026 - March 6, 2026
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.
Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.
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