Vice President – Manufacturing Operations

Caterpillar Inc.

Vice President of Operations at Caterpillar Inc. leading global manufacturing operations across multiple sites.

Posted 4/30/2026full-timeIllinois, Texas • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $257,430 - $386,150 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Assembly

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide executive leadership across manufacturing and extended supply chain operations, ensuring end‑to‑end alignment from suppliers through fabrication, assembly, and delivery to customers.
Lead the scaling of advanced manufacturing capabilities, including automation, digital manufacturing, and smart factory technologies to improve safety, quality, cost, and delivery.
Lead, develop, and performance‑manage senior manufacturing leaders and operations teams; build a strong leadership bench and high‑performance culture at scale.
Drive a world‑class safety culture, ensuring regulatory compliance and proactive risk mitigation across all sites.
Own operational performance, including production, quality, cost, delivery, and capacity management, using data‑driven systems and disciplined operating rhythms.
Partner closely with engineering, product, sales, and business leadership to align manufacturing strategy with product roadmaps, customer demand, and long‑term business objectives.
Lead continuous improvement and transformation initiatives, including Lean manufacturing, advanced manufacturing technologies, and operational excellence programs across the division.
Enable flexibility and scalability in a complex, low‑volume / high‑mix environment while maintaining durability and quality standards for highly engineered equipment.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Proven ability to lead large-scale, multi-site manufacturing operations, including fabrication and final assembly, with full P&L-level accountability.
Experience defining and executing enterprise-level Lean strategies and sustaining a continuous improvement culture.
Demonstrated success building proactive, high-performing safety cultures in heavy or complex manufacturing environments.
Ability to translate demand forecasts into production and capacity plans across multiple product lines and global facilities.
Strong track record developing senior leaders, aligning incentives, and driving accountability at scale.
Advanced capability in data gathering, analysis, and translating insights into operational actions.
Ability to influence across functions and geographies, lead transformation, and navigate complexity and ambiguity.
Leadership experience in highly customized, complex, low-volume / high-mix manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated success leading large, global, multi-site manufacturing organizations.
Proven track record implementing advanced manufacturing technologies and driving scalable operational improvements.
Deep understanding of global manufacturing practices, supply chain integration, and modern operational frameworks.
Experience operating in capital-intensive, heavy equipment or engineered-to-order manufacturing environments preferred.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Lean manufacturingadvanced manufacturing technologiesdata analysiscapacity planningP&L accountabilityoperational performance managementcontinuous improvementsupply chain integrationrisk mitigationproduction planning

Soft Skills

leadershipinfluenceaccountabilityteam developmentcommunicationstrategic alignmentproblem-solvingadaptabilitycollaborationcultural development