Production Scheduling Manager – Sanford Advanced Manufacturing

Employer description

Career Area:

Manufacturing

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.

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.   

Job Summary   

In this role, you will lead the planning processes that translate customer demand into executable production schedules. You will oversee production scheduling across both Compact Track Loader (CTL) and Telehandler product lines for the new advanced manufacturing site in Sanford, NC, while balancing capacity, inventory, quality, equipment availability, and customer commitments. This role partners closely with manufacturing operations, supply chain, logistics, quality, procurement, engineering, and sales and operations planning teams. You will guide scheduling decisions, resolve constraints, and improve processes that support reliable production flow and operational excellence. 

What You Will Do 

Lead the development, coordination, execution, and control of complex production schedules across assigned product lines, manufacturing areas, or facilities.  Translate customer demand, capacity, inventory, labor availability, equipment constraints, material availability, and quality requirements into practical production plans.  Oversee Sanford fabrications production calendars and monitor inventory levels to support main assembly line production. Analyze and troubleshoot planned production scheduling problems, bottlenecks, and capacity conflicts; recommend process improvements to optimize the team efficiency and scheduling process. Partner with manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, procurement, quality, engineering, and other teams to incorporate customer and business requirements into production plans.  Provide supply commitments and capacity-based recommendations to support the Sales and Operations Planning process.  Monitor schedule performance, production flow, inventory position, capacity utilization, and delivery risks; communicate changes and recovery plans to affected stakeholders.  Improve scheduling processes using workflow analysis, cycle-time evaluation, standardized work, root-cause problem solving, and continuous improvement methods. Align schedule and capacity plans to JIT inventory strategies as appropriate    

What You Will Have 

Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Understanding the necessity and value of accuracy; ability to complete tasks with high levels of precision. 
 
Cross-Team Integration: Understanding of the importance of inter-team collaboration in breaking down silos and achieving business results; ability to lead employees from various functions to communicate, coordinate work across divisions, and collaborate in solving problems as one team. 
 
Effective Communications: 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. 
 
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. 
 
Production Scheduling and Control: Knowledge of procedures and tools for scheduling and controlling production runs; ability to utilize knowledge of daily manufacturing processes to assure quality deliverables. 
  

Top Candidates Will Also Have 

Experience leading production scheduling, master scheduling, production control, or manufacturing planning in a high-volume manufacturing environment.  Advanced Microsoft Excel, data visualization, or production-performance reporting skills.  Knowledge of prime products and attachments Excellent interpersonal, teamwork, organization, and communication skills Glovia, CMOPS & SAP Experience Sales and Production Planning Experience (S&OP) Experience with capacity planning, inventory management, demand planning, material planning, Sales and Operations Planning, or supply-chain execution.  Knowledge of lean manufacturing, value-stream mapping, structured root-cause analysis, and continuous improvement.  Experience leading schedulers, planners, production-control professionals, or a cross-functional planning team.  APICS or Association for Supply Chain Management certification, such as Certified in Planning and Inventory Management, as a preferred rather than required qualification.   

What You Will Get   

Launch a new advanced manufacturing operation and shape the strategy for packaging solutions.  Improve product protection sustainability, operational efficiency, and supply chain performance.  Collaborate with suppliers, manufacturing, logistics, and engineering teams to optimize packaging designs for distribution networks and production environments.   Evaluate new materials, automation technologies, and packaging processes while reducing transportation damage and total packaging costs.   Opportunity to influence global packaging standards and support new product introductions in a world-class manufacturing environment.    

Additional Info:   

Location: Sanford, North Carolina   Work Arrangement: Onsite, five days per week. Locations may flex between temporary offices while transitioning to new facility.  Travel: High percentage of travel (50-75%) may be required during construction planning, supplier reviews, equipment installation, commissioning, startup and production ramp-up.   Schedule: This will be a demanding and very rewarding role. Selected candidate should have schedule flexibility to meet project requirements.  Relocation: US domestic relocation is available  Visa Sponsorship: Not available    

Summary Pay Range:

$128,470.00 - $192,710.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

401(k) savings plans*

Health Savings Account (HSA)*

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

Health Lifestyle Programs*

Employee Assistance Program*

Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

Career Development*

Incentive bonus*

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Adoption benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

       

• These benefits also apply to part-time employees

  

This position requires working onsite five days a week.  

Relocation is available for this position. 

 

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. 

 

Posting Dates:

October 7, 2026 - October 21, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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