Senior Production Manager

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.

Senior Production Manager

Location: East Peoria, IL (LL)
Travel: Up to 5%
Relocation Assistance: Available
Visa Sponsorship: Not Available

Caterpillar is hiring a Senior Production Manager to lead end‑to‑end production performance across multiple value streams, departments, or shifts at its East Peoria, facility. This role represents the next level of leadership above Manager Production and is accountable for strategic execution, leader development, cross‑functional alignment, and sustained operational excellence, while reinforcing Caterpillar’s Safety Driven culture.

The Senior Production Manager leads through other managers, translating business plan objectives into executable strategies, ensuring disciplined execution and developing a strong leadership bench capable of delivering predictable results across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.

Job Duties/Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Lead end‑to‑end manufacturing operations across assigned fabrication, machining, assembly, and/or paint areas, ensuring safe, stable, and predictable execution across multiple value streams and shifts.
• Own safety performance for assigned areas by leading through Manager Production leaders, reinforcing zero tolerance for unsafe behaviors, and ensuring effective risk identification, incident investigation, and corrective action closure.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and Caterpillar safety, quality, and environmental standards while reinforcing a strong Safety Driven culture.
• Lead Lean Daily Management execution, including tiered accountability meetings, escalation routines, performance review cadence, and closure of cross‑functional issues impacting PQVC results.
• Drive Built‑In‑Quality governance by ensuring control plan adherence, defect containment, layered audits, root cause analysis, and sustained corrective actions for repeat and systemic quality issues.
• Deliver sustained improvements in productivity, cost, quality, and delivery through structured problem solving, standard work maturity, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Directly manage and develop Manager Production leaders while indirectly leading large hourly teams through clear expectations, coaching, and accountability.
• Develop and execute talent, succession, and capability plans for salaried leaders to ensure depth and readiness of the leadership bench.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, Maintenance, HR, and Business Resources to align daily execution with business plan commitments.
• Utilize manufacturing systems and performance data (e.g., MDI reports, ERP/SAP, dashboards) to make fact‑based decisions, identify trends, and drive predictable operational results.

What Skills you will have:

Planning & Organizing: Balances competing priorities, develops recovery and contingency plans, and ensures execution against safety, quality, delivery, and cost commitments.

Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.

Performance Management: 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.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Knowledge of successful approaches and techniques for dealing with change; ability to adapt to a changing environment and be comfortable with change

Influencing: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to impact decisions within and outside own organization.

Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Preferred Background

• Experience leading operations in large‑scale, high‑volume manufacturing environments with multiple value streams or shifts.
• Demonstrated success in lean transformation, BIQ execution, and sustained safety leadership.
• Leadership experience across fabrication, machining, and/or assembly operations.
• Strong cross‑functional leadership with the ability to deliver results through other leaders.
• Data‑driven decision maker with experience using manufacturing systems and performance metrics to improve operational outcomes.

Summary Pay Range:

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

Posting Dates:

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.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.