About Ford
Do you want to change the world? The Ford Motor Company had endured and thrived for 118 years – through every imaginable challenge – because we have the vision to imagine the future and the courage to change. Ford is redefining how it will build a better world for the future by creating a culture and opportunities where employees will capitalize on Ford’s excellence in designing and building the most iconic products while also helping develop the future of world-class connected BEVs. Ford is transforming our global automotive business to scale EVs, strengthen operations, and unlock value. We will deliver the speed of a startup, with the deep expertise of high-volume production. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.
The Opportunity
Ford is aggressively pursuing leadership in the electric vehicle (EV) market and driving operational excellence across North America. This highly impactful leadership role will be instrumental in shaping the future of Ford's manufacturing strategy, ensuring our operations remain at the forefront of innovation and efficiency. Reporting directly to the Managing Director - EV, Digital, and Manufacturing Strategy, you will be responsible for developing and executing manufacturing strategies that support Ford's ambitious EV and broader North American production goals. You will own the creation and cross-functional execution of the Hoshin Kanri, strategic action plans (SAPs), and digital integration strategies for our manufacturing operations. You will work closely with the Digital Manufacturing and Ford Production Systems Leader to ensure successful and tech-enabled strategy deployment and execution. A key aspect of this role will be guiding and enabling skill teams and manufacturing plants to focus on key metrics and breakthrough capabilities, driving best-in-class transformation. This requires a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, emerging technologies, and the evolving automotive landscape.
This role requires significant experience in lean methodologies, SAP deployment, and Hoshin Kanri execution. This role demands a collaborative leader who can effectively translate strategic vision into actionable plans, driving operational excellence across a large and diverse organization.
The Position
As Manufacturing Strategy Director, you will be a key leader in shaping Ford's manufacturing future, driving strategic decision-making, and ensuring the long-term competitiveness of our operations. Reporting to the Managing Director - EV, Digital, and Manufacturing Strategy, you will own the development and execution of the Hoshin Kanri process, translating strategic objectives into actionable plans and ensuring cross-functional alignment. You will partner closely with the Digital Manufacturing, Ford Production Systems Leader and VP of Manufacturing North America to ensure seamless integration of digital technologies and effective execution of strategic initiatives. You will play a key role in guiding skill teams and manufacturing plants to focus their efforts on achieving breakthrough capabilities and key performance indicators (KPIs), driving best-in-class transformation.
Your expertise in lean methodologies, SAP deployment, and Hoshin Kanri will be critical to the success of this role. Your responsibilities will encompass: developing and implementing long-term manufacturing strategies; conducting market research and competitive analysis to identify industry best practices and emerging trends; leading the development and implementation of new manufacturing technologies and processes; optimizing manufacturing footprints and capacity planning; collaborating with cross-functional teams to align manufacturing strategies with overall business objectives; and identifying and mitigating potential risks to manufacturing operations. You will play a crucial role in ensuring Ford's manufacturing capabilities remain at the forefront of the industry, leveraging digital technologies to enhance efficiency and responsiveness.
Organizational Structure Alignment:
This role reports directly to the Managing Director – EV, Digital Manufacturing, and Manufacturing Strategy. You will collaborate closely with key departments, including Product Development, Engineering, Supply Chain, Plant Operations, and Quality Assurance to drive and enable strategic action plans and hoshin deployment.
Functional & Technical Knowledge The minimum requirements we seek
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field. An MBA or equivalent advanced degree is strongly preferred. 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, preferably within the automotive or a related industry.Our preferred requirements
Experience in the EV or automotive industry. Experience with Industry 4.0 technologies and their impact on manufacturing operations. Experience working in a global manufacturing environment. Lean manufacturing certification (e.g., Six Sigma). Proven track record of exceeding expectations in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Proven experience in developing and implementing manufacturing strategies and plans. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, technologies, and best practices. Experience conducting market research and competitive analysis. Proven ability to lead and manage cross-functional teams. Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and relevant analytical software. Experience with Hoshin Kanri or similar strategic planning methodologies. Proven experience in lean manufacturing methodologies. Proven experience in deploying Strategic Action Plans (SAPs).What You'll Receive in Return
As part of the Ford family, you’ll enjoy excellent compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous PTO, retirement, savings and stock investment plans, incentive compensation, and much more. You’ll also experience exciting opportunities for professional and personal growth and recognition. Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Ford Motor Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status.
What you’ll be able to do
Develop and Implement Long-Term Manufacturing Strategies: Develop and implement comprehensive manufacturing strategies aligned with Ford's overall business objectives for EV and broader North American operations, ensuring operational efficiency, scalability, and long-term competitiveness. Lead Hoshin Kanri Execution: Lead the creation and execution of the Hoshin Kanri x-matrix, ensuring alignment of strategic objectives with tactical plans across all relevant manufacturing directors, plants and skill teams. This includes defining breakthrough capabilities, annual objectives, improvement priorities and defining key performance indicators (KPIs) and target to improve (TTI) metrics, tracking progress, and driving accountability. Leverage your Hoshin Kanri expertise to drive strategic alignment and execution. Partner with Process and Productivity Director: Collaborate closely with the Process and Productivity Director to leverage their expertise in best-in-class research and operational insights, benchmarking and target setting, ensuring alignment between strategic plans and operational realities. Lead the Adoption of New Technologies: Lead the identification, evaluation, and implementation of new manufacturing technologies and processes, ensuring that Ford's manufacturing capabilities remain at the forefront of innovation, with a specific focus on digital integration. Collaborate with the Digital Manufacturing and Ford Production Systems Leader to ensure successful technology implementation and integration. Optimize Manufacturing Footprints and Capacity Planning: Develop and implement strategies for optimizing Ford's manufacturing footprint and capacity planning, ensuring that we have the right resources in the right locations to meet current and future production demands. Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate effectively with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, product development, and IT teams to ensure alignment between manufacturing strategies and overall business objectives. Identify and Mitigate Risks: Proactively identify and mitigate potential risks to manufacturing operations, developing contingency plans to ensure business continuity and operational resilience. Communicate Effectively: Effectively communicate manufacturing strategies and plans to senior leadership, providing regular updates and insights to inform strategic decision-making. Ensure Tech-Enabled Execution: Work closely with the Digital Manufacturing and Ford Production Systems Leader to ensure the successful and tech-enabled deployment and execution of all manufacturing strategies. Drive Best-in-Class Transformation: Lead, guide, and enable skill teams and manufacturing plants to focus on key metrics and breakthrough capabilities, driving best-in-class transformation across Ford's manufacturing operations. Deploy Strategic Action Plans (SAPs): Lead the development and deployment of Strategic Action Plans (SAPs), ensuring alignment with the Hoshin Kanri and overall manufacturing strategy. This includes tracking progress, identifying roadblocks, and driving accountability for results and driving it across the enterprise.