Director, Inventory Strategy and Planning

Vertiv Group Corporation; Westerville (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv is seeking a Director of Inventory Strategy and Planning to lead regional inventory strategy development for the Americas. This role will drive alignment across Operations, Finance and Commercial teams, overseeing the monthly forecast and SIOP processes with a focus on optimizing inventory investment and working capital.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in inventory management with manufacturing experience, strong data analytics, and executive communication skills to report to senior

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, finance or related field required; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years in inventory management, materials management, or supply chain planning.
• 5+ years leading teams and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience leading inventory planning and working capital improvement in manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of SIOP/S&OP processes and inventory optimization.
• Advanced analytics, data modeling, BI, and executive storytelling skills.
• Proven ability to translate analyses into actionable recommendations.
• Strong financial acumen with inventory investment and working capital management.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management at executive level.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing Inventory Management team with clear objectives and metrics.
• Present inventory performance, risks, opportunities, and mitigation plans to executives.
• Drive the inventory portion of SIOP and own the monthly inventory forecast process.
• Evaluate forecast accuracy, root causes of variation, and systemic drivers.
• Drive process improvements and tools to enhance forecast quality and reliability.
• Develop strategies to optimize inventory levels and set targets for each factory.
• Collaborate with Finance on excess and obsolete inventory management.
• Lead inventory risk management and escalation reviews.
• Establish inventory segmentation strategies and policies.
• Lead cross-functional change management related to inventory strategy and system enhancements.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Inventory management

SIOP/OPP processes

Data analytics

Executive storytelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/related field

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

Data visualization tools

Data modeling tools

ERP systems

Job description

Position Summary

Vertiv is seeking a Director, Inventory Strategy and Planning to support the Americas region. This role will lead the development and execution of inventory strategies that ensure material availability in support of production requirements while optimizing inventory investment and trade working capital performance. The Director will provide executive-level visibility to inventory risks, opportunities, and mitigation plans through the SIOP (Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning) process and drive alignment across Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing Inventory Management team, establishing objectives, performance metrics, and professional development plans.
• Present inventory performance, risks, opportunities, and mitigation plans to executive leadership teams.
• Drive the inventory portion of the sales, inventory, and operations planning (SIOP).
• Own and execute the monthly inventory forecast process
• Evaluate forecast accuracy and performance, identifying root causes of variation and systemic drivers
• Drive process improvements and establish tools to improve the quality and reliability of inventory forecasts.
• Develop strategies to optimize inventory levels
• Establish inventory targets for each factory and create supporting plans to achieve the targets.
• Partner with Finance and drive excess and obsolete inventory management
• Lead inventory risk management processes and escalation reviews.
• Establish and maintain inventory segmentation strategies and inventory policies.
• Lead cross-functional change management efforts related to inventory strategy, planning processes, and system enhancements.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, finance, economics, accounting, or a related field required. MBA or other advanced degree is preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in inventory management, materials management, supply chain planning, or related disciplines.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams and influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience leading inventory planning and working capital improvement initiatives within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of SIOP/S&OP processes and inventory optimization methodologies.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and synthesize large data sets to support business decisions.
• Strong experience with data modeling, business intelligence, visualization tools, and executive-level storytelling.
• Proven ability to translate complex analytical findings into actionable business recommendations.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing inventory investment, working capital, excess and obsolete inventory, and related performance metrics.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, including experience presenting to executive leadership.
• Adaptable, results-oriented leader with strong problem-solving capabilities and a continuous improvement mindset.

Physical & Environmental Demands

• The role is primarily based in an office environment but may requiring site visits and interaction with production teams.
• Required to wear personal protective equipment and adhere to safety protocols.
• The role involves extended periods of sitting in front of a computer.
• Occasional standing or walking may be required during meetings, presentations, or site visits.

Travel Requirements

Up to 25%