Project Lead

Career Area:

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.

Role Definition

Manages the planning, organization and implementation of programs.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for planning, monitoring, and executing projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. 
• Technical coordination including defining of the technical architecture, design solutions, and schedule tasks 
• Monitoring and report on project progress , and provide regular updates to stakeholders 
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and standards 
• Risk management - collaboration with cross-functional teams to identify and mitigate project risks and issues
• Interact with functional managers and business leaders to communicate regarding critical project risks, questions, or challenges  
• Ensure technical acceptance with the customer 
• Other responsibilities may include - Defining the project's technical requirements, conducting studies for the project, leading team technical reviews, and updating and releasing documents. 
• Overseeing project processes and procedures ; monitoring the productivity and delivery of project.
• Managing all aspects of projects like setting deadlines, assigning responsibilities , and monitoring and summarizing progress of project .
• Reviewing and ensuring adherence to project materials, deliverables methodologies and procedures.
• Preparing and presenting program level reporting for upper management.
• Should be proficient in using PMP tools and working with cross functional teams to generate program pans and deliver on the plans.
• Should have good level of working knowledge om diesel/gas engine programs CPI/NPI/BIQ.
• Should have good level of technical knowledge on diesel/gas engines along with hand on experience of working on multiple engine systems.
• A project lead should have a strong understanding of project management principles, theories, and concepts. They should also have excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. 

Degree Requirement

Degree or equivalent experience desired

Skill Descriptors

Planning: Tactical, Strategic: Knowledge of effective planning techniques and ability to contribute to operational (short term), tactical (1-2 years) and strategic (3-5 years) planning in support of the overall business plan.

Level Extensive Experience:

• Develops, refines, and communicates tactical plans for own responsibilities.
• Provides the right level of detail as input for strategic plan development.
• Demonstrates the value and necessity of linking tactical plans to overall strategic plan.
• Ensures attention to the detail and dependencies of existing departmental-level plans.
• Works with respective resource owners to plans for allocation of resources in line with unit goals, technical and business objectives.
• Ensures the planning process is integrated with the overall business plan.

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.

Level Extensive Experience:

• Seeks discrepancies and inconsistencies in available information; explains variances.
• Organizes and prioritizes the sequence of steps to be taken to remedy the situation.
• Identifies many possible causes for a problem based on prior experience and current research.
• Quantifies the costs, benefits, risks and chances for success before recommending a course of action.
• Approaches a complex problem by breaking it down into its component parts.
• Chooses among a diverse set of analytical tools according to the nature of the situation.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Knowledge of successful approaches and techniques for dealing with change; ability to adapt to a changing environment and be comfortable with change.

• Adjusts to new or changing assignments, processes, and people.
• Demonstrates willingness to listen to other opinions.
• Provides examples of shifting from task to task.
• Identifies and considers alternative approaches to situations or problems.
• Accepts new or radical ideas with an open mind; avoids snap reactions.

Influencing: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to impact decisions within and outside own organization.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Develops basic persuasive arguments.
• Discusses organizational culture around providing input on decisions.
• Uses active listening skills and probing techniques to surface opportunities to influence.
• Identifies who the decision makers are and how they receive information.
• Regularly presents ideas or suggestions to associates in persuasive terms.

Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation.

Level Working Knowledge:

• • Recognizes changing demands and priorities; validates changes with management.
• • Obtains information about how current assignments contribute to organizational goals.
• • Completes current work according to assigned priorities.
• • Responds to day-to-day operational priorities while still making progress on project work.
• • Performs at least 2-3 concurrent activities without reducing productivity.

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

Level Working Knowledge:

• • Provides prompt and effective responses to client requests and interactions.
• • Monitors client satisfaction levels on a regular basis.
• • Alerts own team to problems in client satisfaction.
• • Differentiates the roles and responsibilities in a business relationship.
• • Works with clients to address critical issues and resolve major problems.

Project Management: Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.

Level Extensive Experience:

• • Utilizes preferred tools, techniques and methods for estimating project cost and time.
• • Plans, estimates, staffs, organizes and monitors significant projects.
• • Identifies risks and vulnerabilities; creates contingency plans.
• • Conducts regular and ad-hoc project reviews with project team, sponsors, and clients.
• • Maintains open communication among project participants and interested parties.
• • Communicates reporting requirements; creates monitoring and control mechanisms.

Requirements Analysis: Knowledge of tools, methods, and techniques of requirement analysis; ability to elicit, analyse and record required business functionality and non-functionality requirements to ensure the success of a system or software development project.

Level Working Knowledge:

• Follows policies, practices and standards for determining functional and informational requirements.
• Confirms deliverables associated with requirements analysis.
• Communicates with customers and users to elicit and gather client requirements.
• Participates in the preparation of detailed documentation and requirements.
• Utilizes specific organizational methods, tools and techniques for requirements analysis.

Role Definition

Designs, develops, builds and evaluates engine systems with existing and new technologies.

Responsibilities

• Executing the design strategy as defined by the L4 Design Architect (e.g. modular design / part minimisation / re-manufacturability / etc)
• Generate concepts/design sets to meet Technical Objectives, refine concept and down select to 1 or 2 design sets/concepts to take through to detailed design
• Verify/ validate residual risk in the design through virtual risk verification techniques such as component and sub-system simulation (Post-freeze)
• Perform modal and structural analysis where required
• Collating and Authoring the T echnical A uthorization N otes (with solicited contributions from others) to document approval of a design/change
• Present Design Review Packs and presentation at Design Review
• Identify and Assess product risk through Sub-system and component DFMEAs. Create DFMEAs from scratch and take to full completion by discussing with cross functional teams.
• Risk mitigation and verification planning through the DVP
• Use of virtual risk mitigation techniques (e.g. Stack-tolerance analysis, Hand calculations, component & sub-system simulation) (Pre-freeze)
• Use of SME review, best practice guides to mitigate risk in potential designs (Pre-freeze)
• Use of lab tests (e.g. CTAES/AMT) to mitigate risk in potential designs (Pre-freeze)
• Use the output from the risk mitigation to create a robust, detailed design including: Models & Prints, Configured Groups & Assembly Drawings
• Completing technical sign-off of the completed design
• Supplier collaboration
• APQP planning, monitoring and reporting
• Providing product development technical and project management interface to management and internal clients.
  Performing data extraction/analysis, failure analysis and problem solving, application of simulation tools and methods, and practical application of theory and concepts.
• Requires a degree in an accredited Engineering.

Skill Descriptors

• 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.:
• Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue and determining its significance.
• Makes a systematic comparison of two or more alternative solutions.
• Uses flow charts, Pareto charts, fish diagrams, etc. to disclose meaningful data patterns.
• Identifies the major forces, events and people impacting and impacted by the situation at hand.

• Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyse 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.
   

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 Extensive Experience:
• Reviews others' writing or presentations and provides feedback and coaching.
• Adapts documents and presentations for the intended audience.
• Communicates well downward, upward, and outward.
• Employs appropriate methods of persuasion when soliciting agreement.
• Maintains focus on the topic at hand.

Technical Excellence :

Knowledge of a given technology in engine systems including rotating components like Camshafts, Crankshafts, Flywheels, Dampers, Gears and various application methods; ability to develop and provide solutions to significant technical challenges.
Level Working Knowledge:
• Provides effective technical solutions to routine functional challenges via sound technical competence, effectively examining implications of events and issues.
• Effectively performs the technical job aspects, continuously building knowledge and keeping up-to-date on technical and procedural job components.
• Applies technical operating and project standards based on achieving excellence in delivered products, technologies and services.
• Applies current procedures and technologies to help resolve technical issues in one's general area of technical competence.
• Helps others solve technical or procedural problems or issues.

Project Management:

Knowledge of effective project management strategies and tactics; ability to plan, organize, monitor, and control projects, ensuring efficient utilization of technical and administrative resources to achieve project objectives.
Level Working Knowledge:
• Provides input for Gantt or PERT charts or their equivalent to track project progress and status.
• Under guidance, plans and estimates simple projects.
• Assists in detailed project plans including cost, schedule, and resource requirements.
• Obtains information from stakeholders during the planning stage of a project.
• Produces standard project status reports.

Manufacturing Standards, Procedures and Policies:

Knowledge of organizational standards, procedures and policies in manufacturing activities; ability to plan, guide, and monitor manufacturing processes for compliance.
Level Basic Understanding:
• Discusses the relevance of standards for a manufacturing environment.
• Researches process and product blueprints for own area.
• Describes and follows all policies, standards and procedures.
• Obtains documentation and information on standards and their usage.

 

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO).

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