Thermal Capacity & Footprint Planner

Vertiv Co; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv Co is seeking a Manufacturing Strategy & Operations Lead with deep expertise in manufacturing operations, industrial engineering, and capacity planning to shape global strategies that scale with growth. The role emphasizes footprint optimization, capital investment planning, and cross‑functional collaboration across product lines, facilities, and regions.

The ideal candidate has hands‑on leadership, a global mindset, and experience driving efficiency through digital factory principles,

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and optimize manufacturing footprint strategies across regions.
• Perform capacity modeling, scenario planning, and throughput analysis.
• Lead CAPEX planning and justification for investments and expansions.
• Drive plant loading optimization, equipment utilization, and capital deployment.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance.
• Present to executive leadership on strategic manufacturing decisions.
• Support product transfers and ramp-ups across regions.

Skills

Manufacturing operations

Industrial engineering

Capacity planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Lean Six Sigma

Financial modeling

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

Simio

MES

ERP

Digital twins

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%