Senior Director, Operations Execution

Who are we?

At Vertiv, we’re on a mission to empower the people that will power the future. From a simple swipe to life-changing medicines, from push notifications to generative AI. We design, manufacture, and service the products and solutions that keep the world connected.

We are currently seeking aSenior Director, Operations Execution to join our dynamic team in Italy, Slovakia or Ireland

The Senior Director, Operations Execution is a critical leadership role reporting directly to the VP Operations EMEA. This individual will be responsible for the day-to-day operational execution across 10 manufacturing facilities in the EMEA region, ensuring consistent delivery of safety, quality, service, and productivity targets. The role is instrumental in driving operational maturity from current state to world-class performance while supporting a major revenue growth trajectory over the next three years.

What kind of work will you be doing?

Daily Operations & Execution

• Own the daily operational rhythm and cadence across all 10 factories, ensuring production schedules are met with high reliability
• Drive accountability for key operational metrics: OTD -R, OTD - P, DIO, inventory accuracy, VCM (productivity), and hourly rates as well Quality FPY and Safety SAIR
• Establish and maintain standardized daily/weekly/monthly management operating systems (MOS) across all sites
• Serve as the primary escalation point for operational disruptions and lead rapid resolution

Safety & Compliance

• Champion a zero-harm safety culture; drive continuous improvement in SAIR and LTI metrics
• Ensure all sites maintain compliance with local regulations and company standards

Operational Excellence & Maturity

• Lead the transformation of plant operations from current maturity levels to world-class standards
• Deploy lean manufacturing principles, standard work, and best practice sharing across the network
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering to drive digitization and automation initiatives on the factory floor
• Establish and track plant maturity scorecards with clear progression milestones

Growth Enablement

• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Planning to scale capacity, workforce, and processes in line with demand
• Support CapEx planning and execution for capacity expansion projects

Talent & Organization Development

• Build a high-performing operations leadership team across all sites
• Drive hiring plans to fill critical roles and build bench strength
• Coach and develop Plant Managers to operate with increasing autonomy and accountability
• Foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and operational discipline

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Quality, Supply Chain, HR, and Engineering functions to ensure aligned execution
• Provide operational input into S&OP processes and strategic planning cycles

What will make you successful?

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field; MBA preferred
• 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing/operations, with at least 5 years in a multi-site leadership role
• Proven track record of managing large-scale manufacturing operations (ideally 5+ plants)
• Deep expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence frameworks
• Experience scaling operations through significant growth phases
• Strong financial acumen including P&L management, CapEx evaluation (NPV/IRR), and productivity improvement
• Demonstrated ability to build and develop high-performing teams
• Fluency in English; additional European languages a strong plus

Preferred:

• Experience in a high-growth, scaling environment
• Familiarity with manufacturing digitization, Industry 4.0, and automation technologies
• Experience operating across multiple European countries and cultures
• Track record of transforming operations from low maturity to best-in-class

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

OUR CORE PRINCIPALS: Safety. Integrity.Respect. Teamwork. Diversity & Inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

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

OUR 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

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