Program Manager

at  Caterpillar

SKILL DESCRIPTORS:

• Data Gathering & Analysis: Knowledge of data gathering and analysis tools, techniques, and processes; ability to collect and synthesize data from a variety of stakeholders and sources in an objective manner to reach a conclusion, goal, or judgment.
• Follows proper data gathering and analysis processes and policies.
• Reports problems that arise in the data collection process.
• Participates in gathering and analyzing an organization’s data based on requirements.
• Documents data from various sources and in various formats.
• Utilizes basic data collection and evaluation tools and techniques.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Knowledge of the data-driven decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to gather and analyze data to make organizational decisions that align with strategic business objectives and goals.
• Applies an assigned technique for data-driven thinking in a Decision-Making process.
• Discerns between “signal” and “noise” when interpreting data.
• Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas.
• Participates in the process of choosing KPIs and metrics to influence decisions.
• Utilizes the basic data collection and evaluation tools and techniques.
• Influencing: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to impact decisions within and outside own organization.
• Develops basic persuasive arguments.
• Discusses organizational culture around providing input on decisions.
• Uses active listening skills and probing techniques to surface opportunities to influence.
• Identifies who the decision makers are and how they receive information.
• Regularly presents ideas or suggestions to associates in persuasive terms.
• Alignment: 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: 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.
• Maintains a strong internal network that promotes informal collaboration.
• Shares information that may be relevant to other teams across divisions.
• Assesses the potential synergies from combining common practices across teams.
• Identifies differences among teams that could cause barriers to effective integration.
• Applies relevant information gathered from comparable teams to own team.
• Program Management: Knowledge of the policies and techniques to manage a set of related projects within a program; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control the set of projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve program objectives.
• Evaluates risks and vulnerabilities and creates contingency plans.
• Advises others on preferred tools, techniques, and methods for estimating program cost and time.
• Conducts regular and ad-hoc program reviews with project managers, team, and clients.
• Coach others in maintaining open communication among project managers and interested parties.
• Oversees reporting requirements and creates monitoring and control mechanisms.
• Plans, estimates, staffs, organizes, and monitors a set of projects within a program.
• Team Management: Knowledge of effective team building techniques; ability to form and manage effective teams.
• Brings projects to closure and ensures capture of what can be learned from the experience.
• Leads the definition of team mission and objectives for a variety of teams.
• Employs appropriate techniques for maintaining team enthusiasm, energy, and focus.
• Ensures that team members are on board, unified, and moving in the same direction.
• Communicates both within the team and to stakeholders.
• Learns and utilizes special talents and work styles of team members.
• Product Development Life Cycle: Knowledge of the methodology and associated phases, activities, and deliverables of product development life cycle in manufacturing organizations; ability to bring new or enhanced products to the marketplace.
• Designs training programs for structured development methodologies.
• Predicts industry and marketplace trends and directions and cites relevant case studies.
• Consults on effective application of structured product development methodologies.
• Leads in establishing policies, strategy, and best practices of product development.
• Develops multiple product development methodologies.
• Promotes enterprise experience in product development; recommends and institutes improvements.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Our Caterpillar Remanufacturing Division currently has an opening for a Program Manager position located in the Mossville, IL facility or Nuevo Laredo, Mexico facilities. In this role, you will be key leader for identifying and developing competitive remanufactured engine system (fuel systems, air systems, and aftertreatment) solutions for Reman business growth opportunities, part margin optimization, enterprise aftermarket partner alignment, Reman facility operations alignment, external supply base relationship management, and executing focused Reman projects supporting Reman’s growth strategies.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Data gathering, analysis tools, techniques, and processes to collect and synthesize data from a variety of stakeholders/sources in an objective manner reaching a conclusion, goal, or judgment.
• Conducting market/competitive research to identify new Reman opportunities and industry trends.
• Lead projects on parts margin optimization, New Product Introduction (NPI) program velocity, and inventory management.
• Collaborate cross-enterprise with process partners to understand customer requirements and address Reman aftermarket challenges to drive growth.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships and/or supplier contracts that enable NPI and growth goals.
• Establishing metrics and maintaining data systems to monitor/review the effectiveness of existing growth strategies, suggesting necessary interventions for improvement.