Lead Product Owner - Demand Planning

Career Area:

Technology, Digital and Data

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 Description

The Strategic Procurement & Planning Division (SPPD) is seeking a Lead Product Owner to drive the strategy, development, and delivery of digital solutions that power our Demand Planning, Reporting, and Insights platforms. This senior role will shape the digital vision that enables accurate forecasting, operational transparency, and data‑driven decision‑making across the enterprise. 

As the lead product owner, you will define a multi‑year product roadmap, align technology investments with business priorities, and guide cross‑functional teams to deliver scalable, intuitive, and high‑impact digital capabilities. 

What You Will Do: 

• Own and manage the product backlog, set priorities, and communicate delivery timelines. 

• Translate business needs into clear, actionable requirements for technical teams. 

• Coordinate User Acceptance Testing with process owners and end users. 

• Establish and oversee Service Level Agreements and ensure compliance. 

• Develop and manage the annual digital product budget. 

• Partner with process teams to deliver end‑user training. 

• Work closely with the Digital Customer Support Manager to strengthen IT Service Management processes. 

• Provide direction to a Scrum Master to support product enhancement delivery. 

• Champion a quality‑first approach by ensuring products are designed, built, and tested to meet high standards of reliability, performance, and user experience. 

• Align digital capabilities with SPPD’s strategic objectives and enterprise planning needs. 

• Identify opportunities to enhance forecasting accuracy, reporting efficiency, and analytical insights. 

What You Will Have:  

Software Development Life Cycle: Experience and knowledge of developing and deploying software solutions. Ability to manage software solutions from concept to maturity. 

Business Analysis: Knowledge of business analysis and the set of tasks, techniques and tools required to identify business needs; ability to recommend solutions that deliver value to stakeholders. 

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. 

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