Senior ISC IT Manager - Grand Rapids

Be a part of our mission! As a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable, and efficient climate solutions for buildings, homes and transportation, it's our responsibility to put the planet first. For us at Trane Technologies, and through our businesses including Trane® and Thermo King,  sustainability is not just how we do business—it is our business.  Do you dare to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities?  Do you want to contribute to making a better future?  If the answer is yes, we invite you to consider joining us in boldly challenging what's possible for a sustainable world.

Learn about our benefits designed for you to Thrive at work and at home. 

We boldly go.

Where is the work:

What's in it for you:
The Senior IT Leader – Grand Rapids is responsible for providing strategic technology leadership and operational excellence across our multi-facility manufacturing campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan, within the Commercial HVAC Americas strategic business unit (SBU). Serving as a trusted advisor to the Operations Leader and Plant Staff, the Senior IT Leader directs the local site IT team, aligns operational technology with long-term business goals, and champions digital factory initiatives.

This role acts as a primary liaison connecting plant operations, SBU IT, enterprise architecture, and shared services teams. As Grand Rapids continues its rapid expansion to meet growing demand for mission-critical and data-center cooling solutions, the Senior IT Leader plays a pivotal role in scaling digital infrastructure, modernizing manufacturing execution systems (MES), fortifying OT cybersecurity, and driving lean productivity and safety across the campus.

What you will do:

Strategic IT Leadership & Business Partnership

• Partner closely with the Grand Rapids Plant Director, Operations Leadership, and SBU IT executives to shape and execute a 3- to 5-year technology roadmap supporting site capacity growth, operational efficiency, and sustainability targets.
• Serve as the principal technology advisor and primary escalation point for all plant IT/OT systems, major incident management, and business continuity across the campus.
• Lead governance and demand management processes to prioritize capital (CapEx) and operational (OpEx) technology investments, system enhancements, and facility initiatives.

Operational Excellence & Service Delivery

• Direct, mentor, and develop a high-performing site IT team while managing onshore/offshore technical partner engagements and service-level agreements.
• Ensure maximum uptime, reliability, and resiliency for mission-critical manufacturing, assembly lines, testing chambers, warehousing, and quality systems.
• Lead incident response, root cause analysis (RCA), and disaster recovery planning for all campus compute, network, and industrial edge architectures.

Digital Transformation & Manufacturing Systems (MES / Smart Factory)

• Champion Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory initiatives, including advanced manufacturing execution systems (MES), automated material handling, IoT sensor integration, and predictive maintenance tools.
• Direct campus execution and governance for enterprise system rollouts, including ERP systems (Oracle), MES platforms (e.g., DELMIA Apriso), and product lifecycle systems.
• Drive shop-floor data architecture, machine-to-system integrations, and real-time operational analytics to enable data-driven decision-making.

Operational Technology (OT) & Cybersecurity

• Partner with Enterprise Information Security to implement robust industrial cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST CSF, IEC 62443) across SCADA, PLC, and plant network environments.
• Maintain rigorous software lifecycle, patch management, and asset configuration standards across both enterprise IT and manufacturing OT networks.

Lean Thinking & Continuous Improvement

• Apply Lean manufacturing principles (Standard Work, 5S, MDI, waste elimination) across IT service management and digital operational workflows.
• Actively sponsor and participate in Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), Value Stream Mapping (VSM), and business process re-engineering efforts across the plant.
• Oversee site IT operational budgets, hardware/software asset management, vendor contracts, and license compliance.

What you will bring:

Required Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Operations Management, or related technical field is required. Master’s Degree (MBA or MS in Technology Management) is preferred.
• Experience: 15+ years of progressive IT experience, including a minimum of 5+ years in a discrete manufacturing, industrial, or smart factory environment.
• Leadership: 8+ years of direct people leadership experience, demonstrating a strong track record of building, coaching, and inspiring technical teams.
• Manufacturing Technology Acumen: Deep experience with manufacturing execution systems (MES), industrial automation, shop-floor traceability, inventory management/WMS, and quality inspection systems.
• Safety & Compliance: Demonstrated commitment to working safely in industrial machinery environments and upholding environmental, health, and safety (EHS) protocols.

• Experience with enterprise platforms such as Oracle ERP and Dassault Systèmes DELMIA Apriso MES (or equivalent modern MES).
• Practical experience leading Industry 4.0 / Digital Factory transformations, machine connectivity (OPC UA, MQTT), and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) or robotics.
• Proven application of Lean / Six Sigma methodologies (Lean Green Belt or Black Belt certification is an asset).
• Understanding of industrial network segmentation and Purdue Model security architecture.
• Industry certifications such as PMP, ITIL v4, CISSP, or equivalent operational credentials.
• Travel: Ability to travel occasionally (5–15%) across North American sites for regional coordination, strategic workshops, or peer plant reviews.

Annual Base Salary Range or Hourly Base Pay Range:

Compensation Type:

Incentive Eligible:

Sales Commission Eligible:

Disclaimer: We strive to provide competitive compensation for this position, tailored to a variety of factors. The actual compensation will depend on elements such as seniority, merit, geographic location, education, experience,  travel requirements, and union designation.   Our compensation range is generally based on the national average for the country.  Additionally, benefits may vary depending on the region, business alignment, union involvement, and employee status.

Thrive at work and at home:

• Benefits kick in on DAY ONE for you and your family, including health insurance and holistic wellness programs that include generous incentives – WE DARE TO CARE!
• Family building benefits include fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
• Paid time off includes  up to 15 vacation days, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional options to support volunteer and parental leave. 
• 401K match up, educational and training opportunities through company programs along with tuition assistance and student debt support.    

Disclaimer:  Benefit offerings may vary by site as well as Collective Bargaining Agreements and local/state regulations

Safety Sensitive Role:

The company designates certain roles as Safety Sensitive. Safety Sensitive roles may require that you pass additional drug screening.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs. We are an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally protected status.