Manager, Logistics (3rd Shift)

Caterpillar•Champaign, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Logistics leads all warehouse and automation operations during 3rd shift at Caterpillar’s Midwest Logistics Center in Champaign, Illinois. As a leader of leaders, this position directs and holds operations leaders accountable for frontline team performance, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable material flow and timely recovery from disruptions. The manager uses operational data, Power BI reporting, leader standard work, and real-time performance indicators to monitor shift performance, identify issues, and drive action. The role operates in a fast-paced, highly automated environment and partners with Automation, Maintenance, and IT to improve the reliability and throughput of AutoStore, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and warehouse execution systems. It requires urgency, disciplined execution, and the ability to develop leaders while delivering results in safety, quality, productivity, and customer service. The position is based onsite in Champaign, IL, Monday through Friday from 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM CST, with up to 5% domestic travel. Relocation is available; visa sponsorship is not available. The role is 100% onsite with no hybrid or remote schedule.

Requirements

Knowledge of analytical techniques and tools, including the ability to determine root causes and develop solutions.
Knowledge of continuous transformation and the ability to adapt to and proactively seek business changes and innovation.
Knowledge of data-gathering and analysis tools, techniques, and processes; ability to synthesize information from varied sources.
Knowledge of planning and organizing tasks and resources systematically.
Knowledge of problem-solving approaches and tools for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational, or process problems.
Knowledge of relationship-management techniques and ability to maintain effective relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.
Knowledge of results orientation and ability to drive critical activities to completion and meet or exceed targets.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading leaders, including coaching and holding operations managers or frontline leaders accountable for results.
Experience leading high-volume warehouse, distribution, logistics, or manufacturing operations in a fast-paced environment.
Experience managing automated operations, such as AutoStore, AMRs, robotics, or automated material handling.
Data-driven leadership experience using Power BI, operational dashboards, KPIs, and real-time metrics to monitor performance and inform decisions.
Ability to maintain detailed operational oversight, identify performance gaps quickly, and drive issues through resolution.
Experience establishing and executing leader standard work and maintaining accountability across a leadership team.
Ability to lead through operational disruptions, system downtime, volume changes, or other rapidly changing conditions.
Experience using Lean, CPS, root-cause analysis, or continuous-improvement methods to improve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity.
Knowledge of end-to-end material flow, transportation, warehousing, or manufacturing logistics.
Ability to develop other leaders and build a high-performing leadership team.

Responsibilities

Lead 3rd-shift warehouse and automation operations across inbound, storage, fulfillment, and outbound processes.
Coach and develop operations leaders and set clear expectations and accountability for team and shift performance.
Maintain operational awareness through floor observation, leader standard work, Power BI dashboards, operational metrics, and real-time performance indicators.
Identify, escalate, and resolve operational issues quickly, with clear ownership and follow-through.
Champion a zero-injury culture through visible leadership and partnership with EHS.
Oversee the safe and effective operation of AutoStore, AMRs, material handling equipment, and supporting warehouse systems.
Establish operating routines to track priorities, disruptions, performance gaps, and corrective actions through resolution.
Use operational data to identify trends, anticipate risks, remove bottlenecks, and improve safety, quality, productivity, throughput, inventory accuracy, and customer service.
Partner with Automation, Maintenance, and IT to address system or equipment issues affecting material flow and shift performance.
Lead recovery efforts during automation disruptions, volume fluctuations, backlog conditions, and other operational challenges.
Drive continuous improvement using CPS, Lean principles, root-cause analysis, and data-driven problem solving; prioritize recurring losses and verify corrective actions prevent recurrence.
Develop organizational capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, performance management, and frontline leadership development.
Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, IT, Maintenance, EHS, HR, and Operations leadership on improvements and warehouse optimization.
Align staffing and labor deployment with workload and operating priorities, adjusting resources as conditions change.
Ensure shift handoffs communicate operating status, unresolved issues, customer risks, and recovery priorities.