Director, Manufacturing Strategy

AboutFord

Do you want to change the world The Ford Motor Company had endured and thrived for 118 years througheveryimaginablechallengebecausewehavethevisiontoimaginethefutureandthecourage to is redefining how it will build a better world for the future by creating a culture and opportunities where employees will capitalize on Fords excellence in designing and building the most iconic products while also helping develop the future of world-class connected is transformingourglobalautomotivebusinesstoscaleEVs strengthenoperations andunlockvalue. We will deliver the speed of a startup with the deep expertise of high-volume 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 Fords 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 Fords 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 Fords 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 Fords 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.

Whatyoullbeabletodo

• Develop and Implement Long-Term Manufacturing Strategies:Develop and implement comprehensive manufacturing strategies aligned with Fords 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 Fords 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 Fords 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 Fords 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.

Functional&TechnicalKnowledge Theminimumrequirementsweseek

• Bachelors 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.

Ourpreferredrequirements

• 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 Youll Receive in Return

As part of the Ford family youll enjoy excellent compensation and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous PTO retirement savings and stock investment plans incentive compensation and much more. Youll 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.