Lead Product Owner - Demand Planning

Caterpillar Inc.•Mossville, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Strategic Procurement & Planning Division (SPPD) is seeking a Lead Product Owner to drive the strategy, development, and delivery of digital solutions that power our Demand Planning, Reporting, and Insights platforms. This senior role will shape the digital vision that enables accurate forecasting, operational transparency, and data‑driven decision‑making across the enterprise. As the lead product owner, you will define a multi‑year product roadmap, align technology investments with business priorities, and guide cross‑functional teams to deliver scalable, intuitive, and high‑impact digital capabilities.

Requirements

Software Development Life Cycle: Experience and knowledge of developing and deploying software solutions. Ability to manage software solutions from concept to maturity.
Business Analysis: Knowledge of business analysis and the set of tasks, techniques and tools required to identify business needs; ability to recommend solutions that deliver value to stakeholders.
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.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Extensive knowledge of UAT activities, tasks, tools and techniques; ability to design, implement and evaluate acceptance tests for end-users.
Software Product Business Knowledge: Deep understanding of the business operations and lifecycle of a software product, including the ability to manage the installed user base, monitor current usage patterns, plan future enhancements, and shape the overall product vision.

Nice To Haves

A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Analytics, Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Business Administration, Statistics, or a related discipline
Hands‑on experience working in Agile/Scrum environments
Familiarity with Sales & Operations Planning fundamentals and core supply chain concepts, processes, and methodologies
Proven leadership in cross‑functional settings, including coordinating development activities, managing dependencies, and mitigating risks to ensure successful product delivery
Strong stakeholder management capabilities paired with excellent communication skills
Exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style
A demonstrated ability to prioritize effectively in a fast‑paced, evolving environment
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess details, develop solutions, clearly communicate issues, lead root‑cause investigations, and drive effective resolutions

Responsibilities

Own and manage the product backlog, set priorities, and communicate delivery timelines.
Translate business needs into clear, actionable requirements for technical teams.
Coordinate User Acceptance Testing with process owners and end users.
Establish and oversee Service Level Agreements and ensure compliance.
Develop and manage the annual digital product budget.
Partner with process teams to deliver end‑user training.
Work closely with the Digital Customer Support Manager to strengthen IT Service Management processes.
Provide direction to a Scrum Master to support product enhancement delivery.
Champion a quality‑first approach by ensuring products are designed, built, and tested to meet high standards of reliability, performance, and user experience.
Align digital capabilities with SPPD’s strategic objectives and enterprise planning needs.
Identify opportunities to enhance forecasting accuracy, reporting efficiency, and analytical insights.