Director, Inventory Strategy and Planning

Vertiv; Westerville (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv seeks a Director, Inventory Strategy and Planning to lead the Americas inventory strategy and planning. You will drive the SIOP process, own the monthly forecast, and partner with Finance and Operations to optimize working capital and reduce excess inventory.

You will present to executive leadership, guide a high-performing team, and implement process improvements across factories and supply chain functions. This role requires strong analytics, storytelling, and cross-functional influence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, finance, economics, accounting, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree 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.

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.

Skills

Leadership

SIOP planning

Data analytics

Financial acumen

Executive storytelling

Stakeholder management

Inventory optimization

Inventory forecasting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business / supply chain / finance

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

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%

About Us

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv's Core Principles & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities.

OUR CORE PRINCIPLES

Safety. Integrity. Respect. Teamwork. Inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

• High-Performance Culture
• Customer Focus
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation
• Financial Strength

VERTIV BEHAVIORS

• Own it
• Act with urgency
• Foster a customer-first mindset
• Think big and execute
• Lead by example
• Drive continuous improvement
• Learn and seek out development
• Promote transparent & open communication

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers’ vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extend from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs around 34,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. Visit Vertiv.com to learn more.

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability. If you have a disability and are having difficulty accessing or using this website to apply for a position, you can request help by sending an email to [e-mail]