NPI Team Leader - Electric Power

Caterpillar•Lafayette, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar's Electric Power Division (EPD) offers integrated solutions, parts, and services to meet the needs of various commercial and industrial electric power customers. EPD supports a wide range of customer applications globally, including back-up power for hospitals, emergency power during natural disasters, and support for critical infrastructure for data centers and municipalities. With over 95 years in the electric power business, EPD has world-class expertise and a proven ability to adapt to changing demands, committed to providing sustainable and reliable solutions. The Large Electric Power Solutions (LEPS) business is seeking an NPI Team Leader for LEPS Controls & Hybrid Solutions projects. This role involves leading a multi-functional team in the development of the Energy Control System (ECS) through Caterpillar's NPI and NTI processes, and general program/project leadership. The position is responsible for leading and coordinating 3 to 6 high-visibility programs to strategically position LEPS' Electric Power Control systems and Hybrid Solutions for the ongoing Energy Transition and the future. The NPI Team's scope spans multiple business units and global geographies, with key members in the US, Germany, and India.

Requirements

Extensive knowledge of effective planning techniques and ability to contribute to operational, tactical, and strategic planning in support of the overall business plan.
Develops, refines, and communicates tactical plans for own responsibilities.
Provides the right level of detail as input for strategic plan development.
Demonstrates the value and necessity of linking tactical plans to overall strategic plan.
Ensures attention to the detail and dependencies of existing departmental-level plans.
Plans for allocation of resources in line with unit goals, technical and business objectives.
Ensures the planning process is integrated with the overall business plan.
Working knowledge of major products and services and product and service groups; ability to apply knowledge of product and service appropriately to diverse situations.
Obtains information about product and service linkages with other products and services elsewhere in organization.
Researches the target market and how the product and services are sold and delivered.
Explains status, delivery alternatives and announced updates to products and services.
Summarizes key features of major products or services in own unit.
Assesses own unit's product alternatives, costs, and pricing.
Expert knowledge and 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.
Works to create a climate that values and rewards good oral and written communication.
Communicates effectively with diverse audiences, using appropriate media and language.
Monitors developments in communications tools for potential use by organization.
Ensures important messages are clearly understood.
Coaches others on methods of improving their own communications.
Extensive knowledge of customer service priorities and ability to utilize tools and techniques for maintaining an environment where all understand and are committed to providing excellent service to internal and external customers.
Communicates with clients on quality of service measurements.
Ensures teams maintain focus on value-added services.
Conducts and acts on reviews of open service requests.
Identifies and resolves gaps in customer expectations versus actual service levels.
Negotiates the terms of deliverables, service level agreements, and expectations.
Verifies client satisfaction and keeps customers informed.
Extensive knowledge of the policies and techniques to manage a set of related projects within a program; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control the set of projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve program objectives.
Evaluates risks and vulnerabilities and creates contingency plans.
Advises others on preferred tools, techniques and methods for estimating program cost and time.
Conducts regular and ad-hoc program reviews with project managers, team and clients.
Coaches others in maintaining open communication among project managers and interested parties.
Oversees reporting requirements and creates monitoring and control mechanisms.
Plans, estimates, staffs, organizes and monitors a set of projects within a program.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Business, Engineering, or Marketing field preferred.
At least 3-5 years of Product Development experience.
Knowledge of electric power systems.
Strong commercial, business, engineering, and manufacturing skills, and an understanding of product test & development, materials, accounting, and pricing functions.
Proven ability to work directly with partners to solve customer’s problems with innovative solutions.
Proven ability to build strong interpersonal relationships and constructively manage challenging situations.
The ability to lead and manage a cohesive team and provide clear direction to the wider organization.
A desire to continue learning and developing in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Own the overall management of the team and the day-to-day resource issues.
Identify and find improvement opportunities across different processes and execute strategies to address them.
Identify and define product problems and ensure they are passed to the relevant person within the business for resolution.
Act as the link between the product teams and the process teams.
Work with LEPS Product Definition teams to identify and prioritize product opportunities and determine technology enhancements which offer cost/value for the customer.
Direct the activities of the NPI Team and determine the scope of work, including costing and pricing, selecting, negotiating, and administering agreements.
Develop specific plans for program execution and monitor actual performance.
Negotiate changes to programs, including cost, price, supplier selection, etc.
Direct changes required due to performance or reliability problems.
Provide input into departmental marketing strategies for assigned products and markets.
Act as the product development process expert in supporting all project teams.
Communicate effectively across functional areas, including Engineering, Marketing, Product Definition, Service, Supply Chain/Operations, and Aftermarket to gain understanding and acceptance of ideas and recommendations.
Work and collaborate with people from many different backgrounds and cultures, internally and externally, with the appropriate influence and ability to resolve differences.
Apply strong communication and influencing skills to develop a collaborative and cooperative working relationship with others inside of Caterpillar.