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.

At Caterpillar’s Sanford, NC facility, we manufacture and assemble Compact Track Loaders. In this role as a Senior Paint Manager, you will be primarily responsible for managing the day-to-day operations, supporting staff, and future planning of all shifts in the Paint department.  

As a member of the Manufacturing Operations team, you will need to have a growth mindset, promote continuous improvement, and help build a defect-free culture. You will partner across Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Human Resources, and site leadership to remove barriers, improve flow, and deliver consistent operational results.

What you can look forward to in this role:

• Lead all aspects of Paint Shop operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective execution of surface preparation, pretreatment, blasting, powder coating, liquid paint application, curing, and finishing processes while consistently meeting production schedules, quality standards, and cost targets.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that optimize the utilization of labor, paint systems, coating equipment, materials, and manufacturing assets to achieve world-class performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory management.
• Establish and monitor critical paint operations performance indicators, including first-pass yield, defect rates, rework, throughput, schedule attainment, coating quality, labor efficiency, equipment uptime, and customer satisfaction metrics.
• Drive operational excellence by integrating Paint Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Maintenance functions to improve performance, enhance product quality, and support plant-wide business objectives.
• Manage multiple operational areas within the Paint Department while partnering with the Director of Operations to support long-term business strategy, capital investment planning, capacity expansion initiatives, and operational transformation efforts.
• Partner with Engineering and Maintenance organizations to improve paint system reliability, optimize preventative maintenance strategies, support new technology implementation, and drive paint process modernization initiatives.
• Serve as the site's senior subject matter leader for industrial paint and coating operations, providing expertise in coating technologies, corrosion protection systems, powder coat processes, liquid paint applications, appearance quality standards, and manufacturing best practices.

A successful candidate in this role will showcase their skills in:

• Manufacturing Operations: Knowledge of manufacturing operations; ability to perform day-to-day operations of a manufacturing plant or facility for products.
• 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.
• Performance Management: Knowledge of successful performance management techniques; ability to apply organization's performance management system, practices, and tools to developing and improving individual, team, and organizational performance.
• 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.
• 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 for this position may also have:

• 7 or more years’ leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• Experience with powder coat systems, liquid paint systems, pre-treat chemical application, shot blast operations. 
• Robotic manufacturing experience 
• Experience managing teams to production, budgetary, and efficiency targets. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop a cooperative work relationship with others inside and outside the department.
• Six Sigma Greenbelt. 
• Strong business acumen and proven excellent decision making.
• Thorough knowledge of Lean Manufacturing processes. 

Additional Information:

• The primary location for this position is Sanford, NC.
• Domestic relocation assistance is available
• Sponsorship is not available

 

 

Summary Pay Range:

$147,760.00 - $221,640.00

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posting Dates:

July 16, 2026 - July 23, 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.

Not ready to apply? Join our Talent Community.