Senior Director, Product Operations

Your Title: Senior Director - Product Operations

Location: Dayton, OH, Westminster, CO, or Corvallis, OR

Department: CTCT (Joint venture between Trimble and Caterpillar)

Application Window: July 1st - 9th, 2025

The Opportunity: Lead Hardware Operations at CTCT

Are you a seasoned and analytical leader passionate about hardware operational excellence? CTCT is seeking a Product Operations Director to ensure the seamless delivery and sustained success of our innovative hardware portfolio.

What You Will Do

This pivotal role serves as the critical link between product development, manufacturing, supply chain, and our parent companies, Caterpillar and Trimble. You'll define, implement, and optimize the strategies that bring our hardware products to market and sustain them throughout their lifecycle.

With a significant portion of our daily operations currently outsourced to Trimble Operations, you will act as the central hub between CTCT and Trimble Operations. Your mission will be to establish a data-driven mindset, continuously optimizing processes, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring the most cost-effective delivery of our hardware solutions. You'll drive strategic advantage through assured supply, optimized manufacturing costs, and superior in-service quality.

If you thrive in a fast-paced, global environment, excel at building partnerships, leveraging data for decisions, mitigating risks, and championing continuous improvement, we want to hear from you.

• Lead Strategic Operations: Develop and execute comprehensive hardware product operations strategies, aligning with business objectives and product roadmaps. Oversee New Product Introduction (NPI) planning from design to mass production, ensuring manufacturability, testability, and serviceability from early development stages. Establish and track KPIs to drive data-informed decisions.

• Optimize & Innovate: Champion operational excellence by overseeing and optimizing end-to-end hardware product lifecycle processes. Implement best practices including lean principles, automation, and data analytics to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance quality. Drive operational readiness for launches and lead root cause analysis for issues.

• Foster Collaboration: Act as the primary liaison between Trimble Operations, Product Management, Engineering, Manufacturing Partners, and Supply Chain, ensuring seamless alignment. Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including CMs and ODMs.

• Manage Risk: Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks throughout the hardware product lifecycle, balancing speed, cost, and quality. Ensure compliance with all relevant industry standards and quality requirements.

What Skills & Experience You Should Bring

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial), Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related technical field. Master's preferred.

• Experience: 10+ years in Product Operations, Manufacturing Operations, or Supply Chain with a strong focus on hardware products. 5+ years in a leadership role managing teams and complex projects.

• Technical Acumen: Deep understanding of the hardware product development lifecycle from concept to mass production. Proven track record of successfully launching complex hardware products. Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes (PCBA, assembly, testing), supply chain management, and quality control principles.

• Leadership & Analytics: Demonstrated ability to use data and analytics to drive operational improvements and strategic decisions. Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels.

• Global Experience: Experience working with global manufacturing partners (CMs/ODMs) and navigating international supply chains.

• Tools: Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A background in Trimble Operations is a significant advantage for quick integration and partnership.

• Certifications in Lean, Six Sigma, or Project Management (PMP).

• Experience with advanced manufacturing technol