Senior Supply Chain Manager

Caterpillar; Peterlee; On-site; GBP 99,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A global manufacturing leader in Peterlee is seeking a Senior Supply Chain Manager to drive strategic supply chain activities and manage a team of approximately 250 employees. Candidates should have extensive experience in supply chain or operations and be capable of ensuring compliance with sourcing strategies. This position offers competitive compensation, benefits like an annual bonus, and a supportive work environment focused on personal development.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Up to 31% annual bonus

Contributory pension scheme

Stock Options

Monthly Car Cash Allowance

Flexible health and dental care plans

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Supply Chain or Operations environment.
• Experience in inventory management, purchasing, and logistics is desired.

Responsibilities

• Lead all facility supply chain activities to drive strategic direction.
• Manage department resources, including coaching and mentoring team members.
• Ensure production schedules meet product availability needs.

Skills

Decision Making and Critical Thinking

Analytical Thinking

Logistics Management

Supplier Management

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

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.

Job Title: Senior Supply Chain Manager

Location: Peterlee, County Durham

Salary: £99,310 - £124,138

Hours: Full Time, Permanent, 36.5 hours per week

Job Reference: R0000344109

Hiring Manager: Jason Maw

Additional Information:

• Relocation: Domestic relocation is offered for this position
• Travel: 10%

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave
• Up to 31% annual bonus
• Contributory pension scheme - Caterpillar will double the employee's contribution Up to 10%
• Stock Options
• Monthly Car Cash Allowance
• Contributory share scheme - Caterpillar will match 50% of the employee's contribution.
• Optional flexible benefits including access to family health and dental care plans, EV car lease, holiday purchase.

About Caterpillar Peterlee

Caterpillar Peterlee is the worldwide source of Cat® Articulated Trucks, currently producing an 8-model range used in many industries including mining, construction and aggregates. The facility's manufacturing activities use the latest computer analysis techniques, robotic technology and automated dump body paint plant. Machines from the site are shipped to customers around the world.

The Opportunity

Manage and lead all facility supply chain activities including strategic direction and transformation, supply chain planning, material requirements management, inventory management, facility supply management, supply chain performance and logistics operations. Ensures linkage between process planning and execution, and collaborate with wider Caterpillar stakeholders to develop and optimize our wider value chain.

Direct responsibility for an organisation of c.250 employees.

Job Duties/Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

Strategic & Leadership Responsibilities

• Contribute to business unit goals and strategy as part of the Business Unit Leadership Team.
• Develop the supply chain organizational design and long‑term strategy.
• Lead and sustain category strategies through deep category knowledge.
• Support facility Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process and ensure process compliance.
• Ensure alignment of supply chain and sourcing strategies with global sourcing plans.
• Achieve PQVC targets and key enterprise supply chain metrics (e.g., inventory turns, committed ship date performance).

Supply Chain Performance & Operational Responsibilities

• Develop and drive supplier resilience and implement ongoing supplier improvement plans that ensure support for our operational activities at all points in our business cycle.
• Support cost modeling (geographic and component-based) to support supply chain decisions.
• Ensure production schedules meet product availability needs while managing manufacturing constraints.
• Guarantee material, prime product, and service parts availability at point of use.
• Manage the full order‑to‑delivery supply chain to meet global machine and service parts demand.
• Drive supply chain performance improvements, including supplier performance and supplier S&OP.
• Assign resources to supply chain performance improvement initiatives.

People Leadership & Department Management

• Manage department resources, providing direction, motivation, and support.
• Coach, develop, and mentor team members.
• Handle all personnel issues, performance evaluations, capability development, and succession planning.
• Improve internal communication and align logistics and manufacturing activities.

Relationship Management

• Build and maintain effective relationships with key suppliers at senior levels.
• Collaborate closely with internal customers: department employees, operations teams, and resource managers.
• Maintain external relationships with customers and vendors across global business units and markets.

Metrics & Performance Accountability

• Accountable for metrics covering supplier delivery performance, logistics operational performance, inventory and outbound delivery to customers.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired.

Skills, experience & qualifications you will have:

Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Level Extensive Knowledge: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyse situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment.

Analytical Thinking: Level Extensive Knowledge: 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

Forecasting: Level Extensive Knowledge: 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

Inventory Management - MFG: Level Extensive Knowledge: Knowledge of processes and methods of inventory management; ability to effectively manage local or distributed inventories of raw materials, work‑in‑progress and finished goods.

Logistics Management: Level Extensive Knowledge: Knowledge of logistics and management; ability to follow proper processes and run operations for effective and efficient movement of materials and finished products.

Manufacturing Requirements Planning (MRP): Level Extensive Knowledge: Knowledge of the processes, practices and systems used in manufacturing requirements planning (MRP); ability to optimize planning for manufacturing cycles and ensure capacity and materials availability.

Strategic Thinking: Level Extensive Experience: Knowledge of the importance of "big picture" thinking and planning; ability to apply organizational acumen and competitiveness to identify and maintain focus on key Caterpillar: Confidential Green success factors for the organization.

Supplier Management - MFG: Level Extensive Knowledge: Knowledge of processes and methods to effectively manage business relationships and transactions with suppliers of raw materials or product components; ability to apply related knowledge, experience and skills into real practice.

Top candidates will have:

• Knowledge and experience with 6 Sigma and Lean
• APICS CPIM or CSCP National Certification desirable
• Possess strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Develop and deploy creative / original solutions to complex problems
• High level of business acumen, with the ability to lead large-scale enterprise transformation activities for a business division
• Ability to translate strategic vision to actionable performance
• Ability to establish and monitor policies and guidelines
• Thorough understanding of best practice supply chain policies and procedures
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and leadership skills

Background and Experience

• Extensive experience in Supply Chain or Operations environment
• Experience in inventory management and control, purchasing, parts distribution and/or supply chain/logistics is highly desired.
• Experience in information technology, modern supply chain & logistics concepts, global purchasing, operations and / or quality is desired.
• Evidence of delivering significant safety improvements in an operations environment

What You Will Get

We look forward to welcoming the successful candidate to our dynamic, diverse and friendly team. We have a culture of openness, autonomy, support, personal development as well as a continuous drive for improvement.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced‑carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. #LI

Posting Dates:

January 16, 2026 - January 29, 2026

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job. At the discretion of management, this description may be changed at any time to address the evolving needs of the organization. It is expressly not intended to be a comprehensive list of “essential job functions” as that term is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Pending the number of applications, the criteria for the position may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.

NB. The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting therefore please demonstrate your qualifications and experience on your CV relevant to the criteria outlined

This Job Description is intended as a general guide to the job duties for this position and is intended for the purpose of establishing the specific salary grade. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive summary of all responsibilities, duties and effort required of employees assigned to this job.