Program Manager (New Source Introduction) – Sanford Advanced Manufacturing

Caterpillar Inc.•Sanford, NC

1d•$147,760 - $221,640•Onsite

About The Position

Caterpillar is developing a new advanced manufacturing campus in Sanford, North Carolina, to expand production capacity for compact track loaders and telehandlers. The modern, technology-enabled operation is expected to incorporate automation, robotics, digital production systems and integrated logistics capabilities to enhance safety, quality and operational performance. Employees will help build the products our customers rely on while developing skills in advanced manufacturing and supporting the continued growth of Caterpillar’s Cat Compact℠ business. Caterpillar is seeking two Program Managers for New Source Introduction (NSI): one focused on Telehandlers (TH) and one focused on Compact Track Loaders (CTL). Both roles will support the advanced manufacturing launch in Sanford, North Carolina, with a focus on supplier readiness, sourcing transitions, production location readiness, and the implementation of new sources across the product portfolio. You will work across Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Logistics, Supplier Development, Operations, and supplier teams to move new sources from selection through ramp-up. The Program Manager for New Source Introduction (NSI) is responsible for leading supplier onboarding, sourcing transitions, production location readiness, and launch execution for existing Caterpillar products. The focus is to ensure that suppliers, parts, processes, capacity, quality requirements, logistics flows, production approvals, and readiness plans are in place for a successful launch and stable production ramp-up. This role requires a hands-on problem solver who can quickly assess complex supplier and launch issues, determine root causes, develop practical recommendations, and lead cross-functional teams through implementation and resolution.

Requirements

Program Management: Ability to define the problem, establish a clear path forward, and lead complex programs from scope definition through implementation, ramp-up, verified results, and follow-up. Will have demonstrated experience leading complex programs across functions such as supply chain, purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing, logistics, supplier management, or operations. This includes managing interdependencies, mitigating risks, and driving practical solutions and decisions to achieve program objectives.
Project Planning and Execution: Ability to develop integrated project plans, manage milestones and dependencies, intervene when work is off track, recommend recovery actions, and drive accountability across multiple stakeholders. Will have previous experience leading programs, projects, production transfers, sourcing transitions, or complex business initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
Supplier Readiness: Knowledge of supplier onboarding, readiness reviews, production approval activity, capacity validation, quality planning, material flow, and launch milestone management.
Risk Management and Problem Solving: Ability to move beyond identifying issues by anticipating risks, determining root causes, evaluating alternatives, recommending a clear course of action, and driving mitigation and corrective actions through verified resolution.
Stakeholder Alignment: Ability to influence Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Logistics, Supplier Development, Operations, and supplier teams; build alignment around recommended solutions; and drive clear decisions and ownership.
Data Analysis and Reporting: Ability to use project data, supplier readiness metrics, launch dashboards, and performance reports to diagnose issues, recommend actions, support decisions, and verify that solutions deliver the intended results.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related field.
Experience supporting New Source Introduction (NSI), supplier transitions, supply base changes, production location changes, or closely related New Product Introduction (NPI) work.
Experience supporting supplier qualification, APQP, production approval, PPAP, run-at-rate, capacity validation, or manufacturing launch readiness.
Experience working with heavy equipment, including Telehandlers or Compact Track Loaders, or in automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, material handling, construction equipment, or related engineered-product industries.
Experience supporting production transfers, sourcing transitions, supplier onboarding, or new manufacturing location launches.
Experience managing launch readiness dashboards, risk registers, milestone plans, and executive-level status updates, including recommendations and required decisions.
Experience supporting production ramp-up activities for greenfield or brownfield projects, plant start-ups, or major expansions.
Ability to balance competing priorities while managing launch and supplier readiness, production timing, issue resolution, and stakeholder communication.
Supplier Development or Supplier Quality experience.
PMP, PgMP, APICS CSCP, APICS CPIM, or Lean Six Sigma certification.
Experience with SAP, ERP platforms, Power BI, Tableau, or related business analytics tools.

Responsibilities

Lead NSI programs for Telehandler (TH) or Compact Track Loader (CTL) product lines, depending on assignment.
Drive launch readiness by identifying gaps, recommending solutions, and leading supplier, sourcing, quality, logistics, and production teams through implementation.
Develop and actively manage integrated project plans, milestones, readiness reviews, risk registers, dashboards, and leadership updates, using project data to identify emerging issues, recommend actions, and keep execution on track.
Anticipate risks and resolve complex constraints by determining root causes, evaluating alternatives, recommending a path forward, and driving mitigation and corrective actions through closure.
Lead problem resolution during production ramp-up, ensuring issues are contained, root causes are addressed, corrective actions are implemented, and results are sustained through stable operations.
Confirm supplier readiness through evidence-based reviews of capability, capacity, tooling, quality planning, material flow, production approval activity, logistics readiness, and launch timing.
Partner with Engineering, Purchasing, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, Logistics, Operations, and suppliers to diagnose issues, align on recommended solutions, and drive actions to closure before production is impacted.
Analyze project and supplier performance data to identify trends, diagnose problems, recommend actions, validate results, and improve launch execution.
Ensure NSI execution supports existing product requirements while enabling a successful transition to a new source, supply base, or production location.