Senior Program Manager, Operations Strategy
Vertiv · Milan
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. With $6.9 billion in sales, a strong customer base and global reach spanning nearly 70 countries, we are uniquely positioned to deliver greater value to our customers and create new opportunities for our people.
We are now looking for a Senior Program Manager Operations Strategy to join our team in Milano, Italy!
The Senior Program Manager Operations Strategy is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the execution of Vertiv's 3-year Global Operations Strategic Roadmap and the portfolio of cross-functional strategic initiatives that drive operational excellence across all regions. This role serves as the central program management authority for strategy deployment, ensuring breakthrough objectives cascade effectively from the X-Matrix through regional and functional execution, with rigorous governance, milestone tracking, and cross-regional alignment.
Reporting to the VP, Operations Strategic Planning & Governance, this individual owns the end-to-end program lifecycle for strategic operations initiatives, from strategy formulation support through execution coordination and benefits realization, ensuring alignment with Vertiv's five strategic priorities: Customer Focus, Operational Excellence, High Performance Culture, Innovation, and Financial Strength.
This role works in close partnership with the VOS organization to ensure that Lean methodology, strategy deployment (Hoshin Kanri), and continuous improvement are embedded in how strategic initiatives are planned, executed, and sustained.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1.Strategic Initiatives Portfolio Management
- Drive the program management of Vertiv's 3–5 year Global Operations Roadmap, ensuring all strategic initiatives progress on schedule, within budget, and deliver targeted outcomes.
- Manage the full strategic initiative portfolio maintaining visibility across all active programs via standardized tracking, milestone management, risk registers, and executive reporting
- Coordinate the execution of Breakthrough Objectives across all strategic pillars.
- Support the annual strategy deployment cycle supporting X-Matrix development, Hoshin Kanri cascading from global to regional to site level, and quarterly business review (QBR) updates for Operations
- Provide project planning, milestone management, scope management, resource forecasting, financial management, and change management across the strategic initiative portfolio
- Develop and continually improve the quality of information to help guide future strategic decisions, including external benchmarking, industry best practice identification, and adoption plans
- Interface with key stakeholders on program status, constraint resolution, and strategic decision support
2. Cross-Regional & Cross-Functional Program Alignment
- Serve as the central coordination point ensuring strategic initiatives are aligned and synchronized across all five operating regions (Americas, EMEA, Greater China, India, Asia) and all global functions
- Drive standardization of program management practices globally; ensuring consistent governance cadences, reporting formats, milestone definitions, and escalation protocols across regions
- Coordinate cross-functional teams within the matrixed organization toward common strategic objectives
- Facilitate effective communication among regional operations excellence leaders, global function heads, and management teams; ensuring strategic intent translates into aligned regional execution
- Coordinate regional X-Matrix alignment; ensuring each region's breakthrough objectives and annual targets are consistent with global strategy while respecting local operational context
- Facilitate cross-site sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and read-across activities to accelerate improvement velocity across the network
- Act as business partner in transactional complexity reduction and provide program management capabilities during new systems deployment and enhancements
3. VOS Integration & Operational Excellence Deployment
- Work in close partnership with the VP VOS and Global VOS Governance Team to ensure strategic initiatives leverage VOS methodology; embedding Lean thinking, waste elimination, and systemic performance management into all programs
- Support the acceleration of VOS deployment across plants and functions; coordinating the program management of VOS certification roadmaps, site maturity assessments, and exit criteria achievement
- Drive strategy deployment (Hoshin Kanri) discipline; ensuring the X-Matrix process connects 3-year breakthrough objectives to annual objectives, specific initiatives, and measurable targets with clear ownership
- Coordinate the governance cadence linking VOS tools to strategic execution: Tier Accountability integration, 5S/Visual Management sustainment, and Continuous Improvement (PDCA/Kaizen) activities
- Ensure strategic initiatives incorporate VOS principles: standardization, visual management, root cause analysis, rapid problem solving, and focus on cycle time and efficiency
- Drive the connection between strategic objectives and daily execution; monitoring whether strategy deployment, KPIs, and initiatives are being executed as intended, closing the gap between planning and results
- Support the establishment of a Culture of Quality across the organization where continuous improvement and harmonized processes are critical success factors for Manufacturing Excellence
4. Performance Management & Governance
- Support the Global Operations Scorecard; ensuring strategic initiative outcomes are reflected in KPI
- Establish and maintain governance cadences: monthly steering committees, quarterly executive reviews, and annual strategy refresh cycles
- Develop executive-ready reporting and presentations for VP Operations Strategy, EVP Operations, and C-suite audiences; translating complex program status into clear, actionable insights
- Drive risk management and contingency planning across the strategic initiative portfolio; including scenario planning for geopolitical risk, trade barriers, and supply chain resilience
- Collaborate with senior management and project teams on project initiation, requirements, documentation, and implementation
- Provide external benchmarking, best practice identification, evaluation, and adoption plans to inform strategic direction
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related technical field
- 10+ years of progressive experience in program management supporting Manufacturing Operations, with demonstrated expertise in managing strategic initiative portfolios in global, matrixed organizations
- Global scope experience; coordinating programs across multiple regions (Americas, EMEA, Asia) in a matrixed manufacturing environment with 30+ plants
- Strong understanding of strategy deployment methodologies (Hoshin Kanri, X-Matrix, Breakthrough Objectives) and ability to translate strategic intent into executable program plans
- Proven ability to manage cross-functional and cross-regional alignment; getting results through influence in a matrixed structure without direct authority
- Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools: MS Project, Smartsheet, Power BI, PowerPoint, Agentic AI
- Proven ability to interface with senior leadership; translating complex program status into executive-ready communications
- Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage 10+ concurrent strategic initiatives simultaneously
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills across Engineering, Finance, Procurement, Sales, IT, and Plant Operations
- Must be a change agent; never satisfied with the status quo, initiates action, overcomes obstacles, and drives programs from start to finish
- Experience with Hoshin Kanri / X-Matrix strategy deployment methodology; including facilitation of strategy sessions and cascading workshops
- AI literacy — ability to leverage AI tools for project analytics, scenario modeling, and reporting automation
- Risk management and scenario planning experience in global manufacturing contexts
Preferred Qualifications
- PMP Certification (required within 12 months if not held at hire)
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification
- Experience in organizations with $5B+ revenue and 30+ manufacturing plants
- Deep knowledge of Lean Operating Systems and their deployment at scale
- Experience supporting VOS or equivalent operating system certification and maturity assessment programs
- Understanding of Tier Accountability systems, 5S/Visual Management, and Continuous Improvement governance
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
The anticipated salary range for this role in Milano, Italy is between 67,898 euros to 84,872 euros gross per year (based on a full-time working week). Certain roles may be eligible for variable compensation and benefits. Where applicable, a comprehensive overview of the full benefits package and any additional compensation will be provided during the recruitment process in accordance with local legal requirements. Compensation is determined based on objective, gender-neutral criteria, including skills, experience, and job responsibilities.
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 help.join@vertivco.com. If you are interested in applying or learning more about this role, please visit the company’s career page located on Vertiv.com/Careers.
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The Senior Program Manager Operations Strategy is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the execution of Vertiv's 3-year Global Operations Strategic Roadmap and the portfolio of cross-functional strategic initiatives that drive operational excellence across all regions. This role serves as the central program management authority for strategy deployment, ensuring breakthrough objectives cascade effectively from the X-Matrix through regional and functional execution, with rigorous governance, milestone tracking, and cross-regional alignment.