Distribution Manager

Caterpillar; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off plan

401(k) savings plans

Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts

Career Development

Incentive bonus

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Caterpillar's Lafayette Engine Center in Lafayette, IN is seeking a Distribution Manager to oversee a complex production line, prepare schedules, resolve issues, and ensure strict safety and quality standards.

You will create production reports, manage tool issues, monitor inventory, train new hires, schedule, and coordinate between teams to foster collaboration and continuous improvement; this is an on-site role with relocation assistance.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience.
• Previous experience leading teams.
• Distribution experience.

Responsibilities

• Create reports and records of production processes, tools issues and inventory; share with managers and provide improvement suggestions.
• Prepare, maintain, and update operating procedures and safety/quality documentation; ensure adherence to standards.
• Supervise daily production line activities, assign tasks, coordinate between teams, and monitor safety and performance.
• Train new hires, manage scheduling and conflicts, monitor safety, and promote internal communication for collaboration.

Skills

Leading teams

Distribution experience

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Job 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.

Distribution Manager The Large Power Systems Division (LPSD) is part of Caterpillar’s Power & Energy segment. Through this global organization, Caterpillar designs and manufactures large (greater than 18 liters) diesel and natural gas engines, powertrains and key engine systems. LPSD products and solutions support customers across power generation, industrial, marine, oil & gas, rail, services and Cat® machine applications worldwide. LPSD teams work across regions and function to deliver safe, reliable and compliant solutions that help solve our customers’ toughest challenges.

About LEC (Lafayette Engine Center)

The Lafayette Engine Center (LEC) manufactures the Cat 3500, Cat 3600 and C175 engines helping Caterpillar become the world’s leading manufacturer of off-highway diesel and natural gas engines. The units built at LEC power mining trucks carrying ore to be processed, tugboats guiding ships to harbor, drill rigs tapping oil and gas reserves and generators bringing electricity to communities, hospitals and data centers.

Job Summary

The 1st shift Distribution Manager oversees and coordinates the activities of a more complex production line, prepares schedules, resolves issues, and ensures adherence to safety and quality standards.

What you will do

Creating reports and records of production processes, tools issues performance, and inventory; sharing them with managers and providing suggestions to improve safety, productivity and quality. Preparing, maintaining, and updating documentation related to operating procedures and safety and quality standards; ensuring all processes and products meet desired safety and quality standards. Supervising and directing the daily activities of production lines workers, assigning tasks, ensuring coordination between different teams, ensuring their safety and monitoring their performance. Training new hires, managing scheduling and work conflicts, monitoring safety, and promoting internal communication to create a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired

What will put you ahead

Previous experience leading teams Distribution experience

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. Level Working Knowledge: Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution alternatives. Examines a specific problem and understands the perspective of each involved stakeholder. Develops alternative techniques for assessing accuracy and relevance of information. Helps to analyze risks and benefits of alternative approaches and obtain decision on resolution. Uses fact-finding techniques and diagnostic tools to identify problems.

Decision Making and Critical Thinking

Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment. Level Working Knowledge: Applies an assigned technique for critical thinking in a decision-making process. Identifies, obtains, and organizes relevant data and ideas. Participates in documenting data, ideas, players, stakeholders, and processes. Recognizes, clarifies, and prioritizes concerns. Assists in assessing risks, benefits and consideration of alternatives.

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. Level Working Knowledge: Raises awareness of potential bottlenecks and disruptions to the schedule. Breaks tasks into manageable steps that can be incorporated into a personal work plan. Escalates concerns over competing or conflicting priorities. Monitors progress continuously and adjusts tactics for handling situations on a case by case basis. Creates action plans that ensure the accomplishment of responsibilities.

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. Level Working Knowledge: Delivers helpful feedback that focuses on behaviors without offending the recipient. Listens to feedback without defensiveness and uses it for own communication effectiveness. Makes oral presentations and writes reports needed for own work. Avoids technical jargon when inappropriate. Looks for and considers non-verbal cues from individuals and groups.

Additional Information

This position is Lafayette, IN. Domestic relocation assistance is available for this position. Candidates must attach an updated resume. 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.

Summary Pay Range

$89,210.00 - $133,810.00 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

• 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

Position Details

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 13, 2026 - October 22, 2026

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

Employer Culture

There’s more to work at Caterpillar than just the work itself. We hire smart, friendly people and it shows in our culture. We hold ourselves to high standards and make sure our values of integrity, excellence, teamwork, commitment and sustainability come to life in the way we work. We make sure our employees feel continuously challenged while also supported. We provide professional growth opportunities, including leadership programs. We celebrate the diversity of our team, while also working together as one Caterpillar. Our culture, like everything at our company, is made possible by each employee’s contribution. Person by person, we create the environment we work in, and we are proud of the Caterpillar we’ve built.