Strategy Manager, DACS Americas

Caterpillar Inc.•Peoria, IL

About The Position

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it. Cat Digital is the digital and technology arm of Caterpillar Inc., leveraging the latest technologies to build industry leading digital solutions for our customers and dealers. With over 1.5 million connected assets worldwide, our teams use data, technology, advanced analytics, telematics and AI capabilities to help our customers build a better, more sustainable world. Job Summary: The Strategy Manager; DACS Americas serves as a critical force multiplier for the Digital Adoption and Customer Success organization, enabling leaders to translate strategic intent into sustained execution at scale. This role operates at the intersection of strategy, governance, and delivery—shaping leadership alignment, setting organizational priorities, and establishing the operating rhythm required to advance complex, cross‑functional initiatives. Acting as a trusted strategic partner to the Director, the Strategy Manager drives clarity across competing priorities, represents leadership perspectives in key forums, and ensures decisions are informed, aligned, and outcome‑focused. The role provides disciplined oversight of major initiatives by converting strategic objectives into structured plans, monitoring execution against milestones, and proactively identifying risks and dependencies. Through strong governance, data‑driven insight, and stakeholder coordination, the Strategy Manager ensures momentum is maintained across evolving business needs—enabling the organization to execute consistently, adapt quickly, and deliver measurable value to dealers and customers.

Requirements

Execution Enablement & Change Leadership Drives execution enablement by aligning leaders, PACs, DARs, enablement, and product teams around shared priorities, success measures, and decision frameworks.
Translates strategic objectives into clear execution paths, ensuring initiatives progress from intent to impact with defined ownership, milestones, and accountability.
Identifies and removes structural, process, and dependency barriers that impede execution, accelerating adoption and improving delivery outcomes.
Ensures regional initiatives are executed consistently through disciplined operating models while allowing for informed adaptation based on market and dealer realities.
Leads complex, cross‑functional strategic initiatives by applying governance, best practices, and lessons learned to continuously strengthen execution effectiveness.
Sustains momentum through ambiguity and competing priorities by reinforcing focus, enabling timely decisions, and guiding leaders through change.
Strategic & Tactical Planning Develops structured regional execution plans that translate strategy into measurable outcomes.
Connects long‑term strategic intent with near‑term priorities and delivery plans.
Manages interdependencies across initiatives to ensure cohesive execution at scale.
Ensures planning is fully aligned with regional business, adoption, and customer success strategies.
Strategy Execution and Governance: Establishes clear governance models to drive focus, prioritization, and accountability.
Tracks progress, dependencies, and risks across DACS initiatives.
Ensures issues are surfaced early and addressed through structured decision‑making.
Drives disciplined execution through clear operating rhythms and stakeholder communication.
Produces variance and performance analysis to support strategic course correction.
Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Applies appropriate decision‑making approaches (consultative, consensus, directive) based on context.
Challenges assumptions and legacy approaches to improve effectiveness and outcomes.
Advises leaders by synthesizing data, insights, and field feedback into clear recommendations.
Project Management: Knowledge of project management; ability to plan, organize, monitor and control projects using appropriate resources.

Nice To Haves

Typically, a College or University degree or certification that is equivalent in computer science, information systems, or closely related disciplines.
Deep understanding of the Cat Dealer network, including dealer decision‑making dynamics, operating models, and how to drive measurable results through the distribution channel.
Extensive experience in strategy, program management, business transformation, or digital adoption roles.
Proven experience with Project Management concepts including Project Charters, Scheduling and Planning Projects and successful completion
Strong background in strategy‑to‑execution leadership, including governance, prioritization, and outcome tracking.
Proven ability to influence and align senior stakeholders without direct authority.
Experience working in matrixed, global organizations with diverse cultural and market dynamics.
Advance knowledge of Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Project
Knowledge of Power BI is highly desirable
Previous agile training (spring planning, daily scrums, sprint, retrospective)

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate digital strategy execution across multiple concurrent initiatives involving PACs, DARs, enablement, product, and data teams.
Translate DACS strategic priorities into clear, executable plans with defined milestones, dependencies, and success measures
Develop agendas based on deliverables and timely topics, finalize with input from leadership
Ad-hoc strategy, special project work, dispositioning projects, opportunities, and challenges, and leading project work or organizing to where work can be handed off.
Coordinating leadership input and positions on various items and acting as extension of Director role representing at meetings as needed.
Enable industry and segment growth through data and reporting on DACS initiatives
Ensure consistent application of DACS operating models, quality standards, and governance across initiatives.
Managing the day-to-day activities of projects, including overseeing project responsibilities and schedules.
Developing contingency plans for potential risks.