Manufacturing Strategic Capacity Planner

Vertiv Corporation; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv Corporation is seeking a Manufacturing Strategy & Operations Lead to drive global footprint optimization, capacity planning, and CAPEX management across multiple product lines and regions.

The role requires hands-on manufacturing leadership, a global mindset, and strong cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure scalable, cost-effective operations that support growth at a Fortune 500 company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering/Technology or equivalent.
• 7-10 years of experience in manufacturing operations or plant leadership.
• Knowledge of global supply chain dynamics and total landed cost analysis.
• Strong communication, leadership, and project management skills.
• Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement background.
• Experience managing manufacturing footprint requirements and facility planning.
• Strong CAPEX planning and justification experience.
• Analytical skills including financial modeling and capacity planning tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global manufacturing strategies including footprint optimization and capital investment planning.
• Perform capacity modeling, scenario planning and throughput analyses for multiple product lines.
• Lead make-vs-buy and vertical integration analyses aligned with product/process needs.
• Collaborate with regional and plant teams to align with growth forecasts and demand variability.
• Drive data-driven decision making using MES, ERP and capacity tools.

Skills

Leadership

Industrial engineering

Capacity planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Data-driven decision making

Strategic planning

Communication

Cost analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering/Technology, Manufacturing Eng., Mechanical, Electrical or related field

Tools

Simio

MES

ERP

Capacity planning software

Job description

Manufacturing Strategy & Operations Lead

We are seeking a highly skilled candidate with deep expertise in manufacturing operations, industrial engineering, and capacity planning. This individual will support the development and execution of global manufacturing strategies - including footprint optimization and capital investment planning - to ensure scalable, cost-effective operations that align with long-term business growth at an expanding F500 company. The ideal candidate brings hands‑on manufacturing leadership experience, a global mindset, cross‑functional collaboration skills, and proven experience working across multiple product lines, facilities, and regions.

Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Strategy & Global Footprint Optimization

• Evaluate and recommend manufacturing footprint strategies considering factors such as cost, geopolitical risk, technology enablement, supply chain resiliency, and customer proximity.


• Identify demand signals, determine capacity constraints, and drive cross-functional collaboration to solve for any capacity gaps.


• Support make-vs-buy and vertical integration analyses aligned with product and process needs.

Capacity Planning & CAPEX Management

• Conduct in-depth capacity modeling, scenario planning, and throughput analysis for multiple product lines.


• Lead capital expenditure planning and justification for manufacturing investments, equipment, and facility expansions.


• Identify and implement solutions to optimize plant loading, equipment utilization, and capital deployment.


• Partner with regional and plant teams to ensure alignment with growth forecasts and demand variability.

Scalability & Industrial Engineering

• Apply industrial engineering principles to drive efficiency, throughput, and continuous improvement across manufacturing sites.


• Conduct manufacturing research to evaluate emerging technologies, processes, and production methodologies.


• Promote scalable manufacturing processes, modular BoP strategies, and digital factory principles.


• Support new product introduction by integrating design for manufacturability principles and capacity readiness into early planning.

Cross-Functional & Global Collaboration

• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure cross-functional alignment on strategic manufacturing decisions.


• Own stakeholder management to the executive level, presenting to senior leadership on a regular basis.


• Support product transfers and ramp-ups across regions, ensuring minimal disruption and operational continuity.

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Leverage manufacturing and business intelligence data (e.g., MES, ERP, capacity tools) to drive strategic planning.


• Develop and maintain models for manufacturing cost, utilization, and capacity scenario analysis.

A Strong Candidate Will Bring:

• Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering/Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, or equivalent experience


• 7-10 years of experience in manufacturing operations, industrial engineering, or plant leadership


• Knowledge of global supply chain dynamics, geopolitical influences, and total landed cost analysis


• Strong communication, leadership, and project management skills; able to influence at all levels


• Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement background


• Experience managing manufacturing footprint requirements and facility planning


• Strong CAPEX planning and justification experience


• Strong analytical skills, including financial modeling and use of simulation or capacity planning software (e.g., Simio or equivalent)


• Experience with digital manufacturing tools (e.g., MES, digital twins) is a plus.


• Prior experience in plant management, production management, or multi-shift operations leadership preferred

TRAVEL REQUIREMENT: 10%