Director Analyst - MES & Ops Tech

Director, Analyst – Manufacturing Operations Technology

Location: Remote US / North America

Gartner Analysts are industry thought leaders who create must-have research, market predictions, and best practices for world-leading organizations. A Director serves as a leader within Gartner's Business and Technology Insights (BTI) group. Utilizing research and analytical skills, a Director produces pragmatic and provocative research that clients use to drive key business outcomes.

They are a trusted source of advice, reinforcing Gartner's value every day by engaging them via in-person meetings, virtual meetings, sales support interactions, and Gartner conferences to address complex challenges and deliver actionable recommendations.

At a time when manufacturing organizations are rapidly adopting AI-driven and autonomous technologies, Gartner is seeking a Manufacturing Operations Technology Analyst focused on smart manufacturing technologies, including Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and next-generation capabilities such as AI and generative AI, agentic systems, digital twins, advanced automation, robotics, and cloud and edge computing.

This role will drive thought-leading research on tools, solutions, and technology ecosystems that address critical Supply Chain and Manufacturing Operations challenges. This research will be targeted to CSCOs and COOs, Heads of Manufacturing, Manufacturing Strategy, and Manufacturing Operations Technology Leaders within end-user organizations, as well as practice and product leaders within leading services and software providers.

What you will do:

• Advise our business and technology clients on market landscape, vendor selection, and implementation to solve mission critical priorities, including reviewing software proposals.
• Research, write, and advise on digital transformation and the changing vendor landscape for manufacturing solutions, new and defining emerging technology developments, ecosystems, architectures, and business models.
• Create innovative, thought provoking, and highly leveraged "must-have research" content on digital transformation and the evolution of current Manufacturing Operations technologies and related use cases, including Magic Quadrants, Market Guides, Hype Cycles and/or Toolkits.
• Develop forward-looking research and thought leadership that provides actionable approaches to accelerate client decision-making.
• Diagnose root causes of client challenges and reframe strategies to unlock progress.
• Develop and articulate clear research positions by synthesizing market trends, emerging technologies, and independent insights that shape Gartner's research agenda.
• Provide clients and prospects with actionable advice and insights through virtual and face-to-face interactions.
• Create and deliver high value presentation materials on and off stage for Gartner events, industry and professional association conferences, and client briefings
• Support Research and Sales by acting as a voice of the market, contributing to content development and client engagement.
• Provide high quality and timely research content peer review.
• Build credibility as an industry expert to represent Gartner research, methodology and strategy.
• Actively participate in innovation, ideation, and research discussions and collaborate effectively with peers in the research community.
• Identify research process improvements or develop new processes that help the team and Research & Advisory provide excellent service delivery.
• Be a mentor and a coach by supporting more junior team members.
• Drive ongoing client engagement with Gartner research and advisory interactions.

What you will need:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience; Graduate degree preferred
• 10+ years of relevant field or industry experience
• Significant experience in developing, managing, implementing and/or using manufacturing operations technologies and a robust understanding of key cross industry manufacturing processes with an emphasis on manufacturing operations management, manufacturing execution systems and IT/OT integration.
• In-depth experience of MES and at least two to three of the following processes and the technologies that support them:
• Manufacturing Operations
• Production Management
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Operations Excellence / Continuous Improvement
• Production automation
• Production Logistics
• Demonstrate executive presence; can immediately establish credibility with executives and additional stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills: ability to work under tight deadlines and produce high quality deliverables.
• Excellent research, writing, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, compelling insights.
• Strong analytical skills: ability to synthesize data, apply frameworks, and defend conclusions
• Strong business and financial acumen.
• Deep knowledge of the global and competitive landscape within subject area as well as the interplay in that market.
• Ability to work independently, while also being intrinsically motivated to collaborate across teams and support the workflow of others, in a multicultural global team.
• Learning agile and adept with navigating highly matrixed environments.
• Ability to represent Gartner's research methodology and strategies effectively at all levels.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% (where applicable)