Team Leader, Manufacturing ​/ Production

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.

Job Title: Team Leader - Days – Permanent and 12m Contract

Salary: £35,200 rising to £39,000 when role objectives are reached

Contract: Full‑time,
permanent and 12‑month fixed‑
term contracts available

Location: Desford, Leicestershire

The Opportunity:

As a Team Leader on the Backhoe Loader product line, you’ll lead and support a production team building our world‑class machines. You’ll keep the line running safely, smoothly and to standard, making sure your team has what they need to deliver quality work on time.

What You Will Do:

• Lead the shift and daily targets:
  Run start‑up meetings, set priorities, and keep your team focused on hitting Safety, People, Quality, Velocity and Cost goals.

• Keep production running smoothly:
  Allocate tasks, respond to issues quickly, and remove blockers so the Backhoe Loader line builds safely, to standard and on schedule.

• Champion safe working practices:
  Carry out safety checks and audits, challenge unsafe behaviours, and complete required safety training to lead by example.

• Develop your people:
  Coach and support team members, handle day‑to‑day queries, and maintain an accurate skills matrix aiming for 100% versatility.

• Maintain and improve standards:
  Keep standard work updated, support 5S, and help resolve defects to maintain high build quality.

• Drive continuous improvement:
  Generate CI ideas, lead simple root‑cause actions, and participate in Rapid Improvement Workshops (RIWs) to improve Safety, Quality, Velocity and Cost.

NB: The panel cannot make assumptions when shortlisting. Please clearly show on your CV how your skills and experience meet the criteria.

What You Can Demonstrate:

• Assembly/Production Knowledge: Understands build processes, standard work and defect reporting so the Backhoe Loader line stays stable and productive.

• Quality Awareness: Able to report issues clearly and support simple root‑cause investigation to protect right‑first‑time build.

• Team working & Communication: Works well with others, communicates clearly and confidently challenges behaviours not in line with our values.

• Self‑Motivation & Adaptability: Able to adapt to changing priorities, support the team when needed and maintain strong organisation and attention to detail.

What You May Have:

• Proactively looks to build team capability through clear feedback, support and development conversations.

• Consistently applies this training to complete structured safety checks and put effective controls in place.

• Draws on this knowledge to follow production processes correctly and keep build standards high.

• Actively uses these tools to analyse data, solve problems and drive continuous improvement.

Pending the number of applications, the criteria for the position may be enhanced to facilitate shortlisting.

Just a quick heads-up: We start reviewing applications as soon as they come in, so if you’re interested, don’t wait too long! We may close the advert early if we feel we’ve got a strong pool of potentially suitable applicants.

Don’t miss out, get your application in soon!

What You Will Get
One Company, Limitless Opportunities

Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel‑electric locomotives. We do business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment.

Careers at Caterpillar are limitless, we have opportunities in Engineering, Human Resources, Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain and so much…