Connectivity Strategy Manager

Caterpillar Inc.•Mossville, IL

15h•Onsite

About The Position

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: This specific role will have responsibility for leading and being a team member on multiple projects inside the Cat Technology Connectivity Strategy team. These projects will typically be pre-NPI, evaluating new technologies, driving future roadmaps, incorporating process improvements, or a variety of other strategy initiatives related to connecting current and future Caterpillar machines in the field globally. The Connectivity organization builds innovative and scalable connectivity solutions that enable seamless data flow between onboard and offboard systems - delivering exceptional customer value through unified, intuitive integration. We enable IoT connectivity via multiple technologies, including cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and more. This team has enterprise accountability for the telematics product line and network strategy, rationalization, quality, and cost. Connected devices and telecom management are critical enablers to our services growth strategy as well as being foundational to the deployment of effective digital solutions for our dealers and customers. What You Will Do: As a Connectivity Strategy Manager, you will help assess and define the direction and high-level needs and requirements for particular Connectivity initiatives, technologies, projects, or processes. Your role includes gathering customer connectivity-related pain points, needs, and desires, then assessing those against available technologies and vendors and defining the enterprise direction for meeting these customer needs. This could include build/buy decisions, collaborating to define hardware and software roadmaps, leading Requests-For-Proposal to assess vendor and cost options, etc. The candidate will work with a variety of other teams within Connectivity, across the enterprise, and with outside potential and current vendors. Leads cross-functional collaboration with business partners across the organization and outside consultants to gain industry trends and collect voice of the customer and voice of the business to propose ideas for business growth. Leads development and execution of the mid- to long-term Connectivity strategy with relevant business partners and external technology vendors globally. Exploring new IoT, Telecom, and Telematics technologies, analyzing technical, operational, and commercial fit of new technologies and services for Caterpillar, recommending strategies to leadership, and working in conjunction with Connectivity Solutions team on execution. Guiding strategy projects through the planning, development and validation process providing written and verbal project status updates. Gather information and assess the market including competitive issues, market dynamics, market service needs and the company position in the industry, related to Connectivity solutions and technologies. Understanding, refining and documenting operational, technical, and financial project requirements. Work with architecture, onboard and backoffice software, and telematics hardware technical organizations. Scheduling and leading project team meetings. Coordinating with the business, engineering, marketing, and platform groups to manage resources for each deliverable within the project. Overseeing project progress and costs; communicating status with stakeholders and participating functional areas; addressing and resolving problems. Influencing project staffing; motivating and developing project team and team members. Communicating with internal customers and managing expectations; ensuring effective use of project controls and reporting mechanisms.

Requirements

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.
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.
Negotiating: Knowledge of successful negotiation concepts and techniques; ability to negotiate successfully across the organization and with external vendors and clients in a constructive and collaborative manner.
Relationship Management: Knowledge of relationship management techniques; ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.
Strategic Thinking: Knowledge of the importance of "big picture" thinking and planning; ability to apply organizational acumen and competitiveness to identify and maintain focus on key success factors for the organization.

Nice To Haves

Experience with IoT/Telematics solutions, architecture, business models, etc.
Knowledge of cellular, satellite or IoT emerging technologies
Experience analyzing product or service strategy options, generating business cases, structuring strategy recommendations to leadership
Familiarity with planning processes such as gathering and deciphering market and technology research and analyst reports, gathering and organizing customer needs and requirements, collaborating with internal technology partners to create a roadmap vision and specific project definitions
Knowledge of Caterpillar products, solutions and processes
Experience managing complex, technical projects

Responsibilities

Assess and define the direction and high-level needs and requirements for particular Connectivity initiatives, technologies, projects, or processes.
Gather customer connectivity-related pain points, needs, and desires, then assessing those against available technologies and vendors and defining the enterprise direction for meeting these customer needs.
Collaborate to define hardware and software roadmaps, leading Requests-For-Proposal to assess vendor and cost options
Work with a variety of other teams within Connectivity, across the enterprise, and with outside potential and current vendors.
Lead cross-functional collaboration with business partners across the organization and outside consultants to gain industry trends and collect voice of the customer and voice of the business to propose ideas for business growth.
Lead development and execution of the mid- to long-term Connectivity strategy with relevant business partners and external technology vendors globally.
Explore new IoT, Telecom, and Telematics technologies, analyzing technical, operational, and commercial fit of new technologies and services for Caterpillar, recommending strategies to leadership, and working in conjunction with Connectivity Solutions team on execution.
Guide strategy projects through the planning, development and validation process providing written and verbal project status updates.
Gather information and assess the market including competitive issues, market dynamics, market service needs and the company position in the industry, related to Connectivity solutions and technologies.
Understand, refine and document operational, technical, and financial project requirements.
Work with architecture, onboard and backoffice software, and telematics hardware technical organizations.
Schedule and lead project team meetings.
Coordinate with the business, engineering, marketing, and platform groups to manage resources for each deliverable within the project.
Oversee project progress and costs; communicating status with stakeholders and participating functional areas; addressing and resolving problems.
Influence project staffing; motivating and developing project team and team members.
Communicate with internal customers and managing expectations; ensuring effective use of project controls and reporting mechanisms.