Manager, Logistics (3rd Shift)

Career Area:
Supply Chain and Logistics

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

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.

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you’re joining a global team who care not just about the work we do – but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers and future work 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.

Our Product Support and Logistics Division (PSLD) is one of the most innovative divisions within Caterpillar. In PSLD, as within all of Caterpillar, our priority is our customers and helping them build a better world. We touch nearly every element of the services value stream. PSLD is responsible for Aftermarket Parts Distribution of Cat Parts, Integrated Logistics and Global Services supporting Caterpillar dealers and customers. Our teams work together in critical areas that leverage digital capabilities, technology and operational excellence.

As a Manager, Logistics (3rd Shift), you will be responsible for leading all warehouse and automation operations during 3rd Shift at the Midwest Logistics Center (MWLC) in Champaign, IL. As a leader of leaders, you will provide direction and accountability to operations leadership responsible for front-line teams, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable material flow, with timely recovery from disruptions. You will use operational data, Power BI reporting, leader standard work, and real-time performance indicators to maintain a detailed understanding of shift performance, quickly identify issues, and drive decisive action. Operating in a fast-paced, highly automated environment, you will partner with Automation, Maintenance, and IT to improve the reliability and throughput of AutoStore, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), and supporting warehouse execution systems. This role requires a strong sense of urgency, disciplined execution, and the ability to develop and hold leaders accountable while delivering results in safety, quality, productivity, and customer service.

Additional Information:

- This role is located in Champaign, IL and does offer relocation.
- This role does not offer sponsorship.
- This role is 3rd shift, Monday – Friday (10:30 PM – 6:30 AM CST).
- This role is 100% on-site with no opportunity for hybrid or remote schedules.
- This role requires up to 5% domestic travel.

What You Will Do:

- Lead all 3rd-shift warehouse and automation operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable execution across inbound, storage, fulfillment, and outbound processes.

- Lead, coach, and develop operations leaders, establishing clear expectations and accountability for team and shift performance.

- Maintain comprehensive awareness of 3rd-shift operations through direct floor observation, leader standard work, Power BI dashboards, operational metrics, and real-time performance indicators.

- Drive a strong sense of urgency, ensuring operational issues are identified, escalated, and resolved quickly with 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, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), material handling equipment, and supporting warehouse systems.

- Adapt leadership practices to a fast-paced, highly automated operation where data, technology, and changing conditions drive daily decision-making.

- Establish disciplined operating routines that ensure priorities, disruptions, performance gaps, and corrective actions are consistently tracked through resolution.

- Use operational data to identify trends, anticipate risks, remove bottlenecks, and drive improvements in safety, quality, productivity, throughput, inventory accuracy, and customer service.

- Partner with Automation, Maintenance, and IT teams to quickly 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, prioritizing recurring losses and verifying that corrective actions prevent recurrence.

- Develop organizational capability through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, performance management, and development of frontline leadership.

- Foster a high-performance culture built around accountability, ownership, collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

- Partner cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Engineering, IT, Maintenance, EHS, HR, and Operations leadership on operational improvements and warehouse optimization initiatives.

- Align staffing and labor deployment with workload and operating priorities, adjusting resources as conditions change.

- Ensure disciplined shift handoffs that communicate operating status, unresolved issues, customer risks, and recovery priorities.

What You Have (Basic Requirements):

- Analytical Thinking: Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.

- Continuous Transformation: Knowledge of evolving the business to remain competitive; ability to understand, adapt oneself to, respond to and proactively seek changes and innovation in the business environment to improve the competitive advantage of an organization.

- Data Gathering & Analysis: Knowledge of data gathering and analysis tools, techniques, and processes; ability to collect and synthesize data from a variety of stakeholders and sources in an objective manner to reach a conclusion, goal, or judgment.

- Planning and Organizing: Knowledge of the process of planning and arranging tasks and resources; ability to plan and organize both time and resources to get things completed while structuring and maintaining work in a systematic and highly methodical way.

- Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

- Relationship Management: Knowledge of relationship management techniques; ability to establish and maintain healthy working relationships with clients, vendors, and peers.

- Results Orientation: Knowledge of the importance of meeting or exceeding established targets; ability to drive critical activities to completion.

What Will Set You Apart (Top Candidates Will Have):