Senior Director Operations

Career Area:

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.

Job Summary:

The Senior Director of Operations provides strategic leadership and oversight for the day-to-day operations of all shifts within a major facility or across multiple manufacturing sites. This executive position is charged with ensuring operational excellence, executing corporate initiatives, and cultivating an organizational culture grounded in safety and continuous improvement. The role demands advanced managerial acumen to direct diverse teams, optimize resources, and maintain robust interdisciplinary relationships with business, sales, and engineering divisions.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee staffing, talent development, and performance management for all operational staff, including managers.
• Supervise operations to meet schedules, productivity goals, and performance standards, optimize resource use.
• Coordinate and strengthen business, sales, and engineering relationships across multiple locations through strategic initiatives and communication.
• Monitor performance, applying production, cost, and quality controls.
• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture throughout operations.
• Guide data collection and analysis methods, ensuring validity and reliability of organizational data activities.
• Develop strategies to influence decision makers at all levels and coach others in effective tactics.
• Maintain efficient workflow and compliance by facilitating interdepartmental communications.
• Evaluate risks and safety in manufacturing, recommending industry best practices.
• Apply sound judgment in complex situations to anticipate market trends and opportunities.
• Lead lean manufacturing efforts, provide training, and set benchmarks for success.
• Partner with R&D to plan resources and capacity for new products and facilities.
• Prepare forecasts and advise on capacity planning for products and sites.
• Set priorities and maintain focus using advanced time management and productive work habits.

Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain or related field.
• English and Spanish Advanced

Skills:

Data Gathering & Analysis:

• Provides expert guidance on advanced methodologies and technologies.
• Oversee organizational data initiatives, thoroughly documents sources, and ensure analytic precision.
• Establishes data processing protocols, educates on enhancing validity and reliability, and evaluates industry-leading practices.

Influencing:

• Formulates strategies to engage decision makers, facilitates critical discussions, and secures executive alignment.
• Mentor's others in effective influencing methods and skillfully manage complex scenarios at all organizational levels.

Manufacturing Operations:

• Ensures compliance with established policies and fosters interdepartmental collaboration for efficient operations.
• Conducts risk assessments, recommends best-in-class benchmarks, supervises production processes, and employs tools for demand forecasting.

Strategic Thinking:

• Exercises sound judgment in complex situations, aligns the organization with emerging market trends, and steers the company within competitive environments.
• Cultivates strategic partnerships, prepares the organization for sustained competition, and delivers comprehensive briefings.

Lean Manufacturing:

• Leads the development and execution of lean transformation initiatives.
• Designs and delivers lean training, communicates the evolution of lean methodologies, establishes performance benchmarks, and sustains lean practices.

Capacity Planning & Management (MFG):

• Partners with R&D assess resource requirements, generate accurate forecasts, advise on planning cycles, and evaluate alternative approaches.
• Projects costs and translate forecasts into actionable operational plans.

Maintaining Focus:

• Prioritizes objectives, sustains consistent focus, and instills productive work habits.
• Promotes regular breaks, minimizes interruptions, and implements effective time management strategies.

Top Candidates also have:

• Doctoral degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or Organizational Leadership (preferred for premier candidates and organizations).
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt Certification
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) through APICS
• Certification in Safety Management
• Advanced certification in Data Analytics or Business Intelligence
• Change Management Certification

Additional Information:

• Location: Santa Catarina, Nuevo León Facility.
• This position is five-day a week in-office model.
• This position will require travelling up to 25% of working time (Domestic and International).
• Valid Travel Visa and Passport
• Sponsorship for foreign candidates is not available.
• Domestic Relocation assistance is available for this position.
• Do not forget to include a resumé in English in your profile in Workday​.

Final details 

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.    

The Caterpillar Code of Conduct states that we will select, and place employees based on their qualifications for the job to be performed, without regard to race, religion, national origin, color, gender, gender, gender, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. In this company we do not request pregnancy tests, nor HIV tests as requirements for employment entry, permanence or promotion.

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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