Manager, Logistics (3rd Shift)

Caterpillar Inc.•Champaign, IL

2d•$112,710 - $169,060•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Logistics leads all warehouse and automation operations during the third shift at Caterpillar’s Midwest Logistics Center in Champaign, Illinois. This leader of leaders directs and holds operations leadership accountable for safe, efficient, reliable material flow and timely recovery from disruptions across inbound, storage, fulfillment, and outbound processes. 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), material handling equipment, and warehouse execution systems. The manager maintains close awareness of shift performance through floor observation, leader standard work, Power BI dashboards, operational metrics, and real-time indicators. The role drives results in safety, quality, productivity, throughput, inventory accuracy, and customer service through disciplined execution, data-driven problem solving, continuous improvement, staffing alignment, and development of operations leaders. The position is located in Champaign, IL, is 100% onsite with no hybrid or remote schedule, and offers relocation. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 10:30 PM–6:30 AM CST, with up to 5% domestic travel. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Knowledge of analytical thinking techniques and tools, including identifying root causes and developing alternative 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, with the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.
Knowledge of planning and organizing tasks and resources systematically and methodically.
Knowledge of problem-solving approaches and tools for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational, or process problems.
Knowledge of relationship-management techniques and the ability to maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.
Knowledge of results orientation and the ability to drive critical activities to completion and meet or exceed targets.

Nice To Haves

Previous leader-of-leaders experience, 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, including AutoStore, AMRs, robotics, automated material handling, or similar technologies.
Data-driven leadership experience using Power BI, operational dashboards, KPIs, and real-time metrics to monitor performance and guide decisions.
Ability to maintain detailed operational oversight, identify performance gaps quickly, and drive issues through resolution.
Experience establishing and executing leader standard work with consistent follow-through and accountability across a leadership team.
Experience leading through operational disruptions, system downtime, volume changes, or other rapidly changing conditions with urgency.
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, and/or manufacturing logistics.
Demonstrated ability to develop other leaders and build a high-performing leadership team.

Responsibilities

Lead third-shift warehouse and automation operations across inbound, storage, fulfillment, and outbound processes.
Coach and develop operations leaders and establish clear expectations and accountability for team and shift performance.
Monitor shift operations through direct floor observation, leader standard work, Power BI dashboards, operational metrics, and real-time performance indicators.
Identify, escalate, and resolve operational issues quickly, ensuring clear ownership and follow-through.
Champion a zero-injury culture through visible leadership, engagement, accountability, 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 resolve 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 high-performance culture centered on accountability, ownership, collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, IT, Maintenance, EHS, HR, and Operations leadership on improvements and warehouse optimization initiatives.
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.