Operations Manager

In this position ...

• Oversee vehicle upfit and operations.
• Engineer and implement logistics processes that eliminate operational bottlenecks, reduce transit/dwell times, and minimize finished vehicle inventory aging.
• Direct full lifecycle vehicle logistics operations, ensuring vehicles are efficiently routed, processed, upfitted, and delivered to meet dealer, commercial, and retail customer commitments.

Responsibilities

What you will do ...

Network Strategy & Logistics Operation

End-to-End Execution: Direct full lifecycle vehicle logistics operations, ensuring vehicles are efficiently routed, processed, upfitted, and delivered to meet dealer, commercial, and retail customer commitments.
Specialized Network Management: Drive the strategic design and continuous optimization of Ship-Thru, Drop Ship, and Upfitter networks to expand logistics flexibility, shorten fulfillment cycles, and unlock revenue opportunities.
Launch & Account Readiness: Spearhead cross-functional operational readiness, process design, and launch execution for major commercial fleet accounts, new vehicle lines, and evolving Ford Pro business models.
Operational Continuity: Provide operational oversight and support during non-standard operating windows (weekends, off-shifts, holidays) to maintain seamless alignment with plant production schedules.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
Cycle Time & Dwell Reduction: Engineer and implement logistics processes that eliminate operational bottlenecks, reduce transit/dwell times, and minimize finished vehicle inventory aging.
Performance Metrics & Analytics: Track and optimize core performance indicators, including ETA accuracy, milestone reliability, transit performance, and miss-ship prevention.
Root-Cause & Corrective Actions: Lead structured problem-solving initiatives to identify root causes and execute corrective countermeasures for miss-ships, routing errors, inventory discrepancies, and system disruptions.

Partner Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
Ecosystem Alignment: Build collaborative partnerships across plants, carriers, upfitters, suppliers, railroads, and 3PL providers to clear operational hurdles and optimize vehicle velocity.
Executive Communication: Deliver executive-ready briefings, KPI dashboards, business cases, and operational reviews for NAVL and Ford Pro senior leadership.
Cross-Functional Team Leadership: Coach, mentor, and guide cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.

Governance, Technology & Financial Stewardship
Operational Governance: Oversee routine operational reviews, DCC/ZCC reporting cadence, and action-plan tracking to ensure full alignment with strategic targets.
Financial Management: Govern logistics expenditures, including the review and approval of premium freight, spot-buy authorizations, cost recovery, and budget management to deliver cost savings.
Digital Transformation & Systems: Partner with IT and software vendors to define functional requirements, deploy logistics visibility tools, and lead multi-plant technology rollouts without disrupting daily operations.

Qualifications

You'll have ...
o Strong written and oral communication skills: you will be speaking or presenting to Senior Ford Leadership, regularly
o Ability to positively influence change
o Ability to handle complexity and multi-tasking
o Ability to work with cross-functional groups to resolve concerns
o Strong organizational skills required
o Ability to make decisions and work independently
o Proficiency in Excel (required), PowerPoint (required), Analytics/Data-mining mindset, experience leveraging AI tools to enhance work productivity
o Ford system QLS, AVS, understanding preferred

Even better, you may have...
o Interface with other Ford departments (FCSD, Marketing & Sales, Finance, Plants)
o Interface with industry groups (other OEMs, AIAG)

o Material Planning & Logistics (MP&L) experience (highly preferred)
o Plant Operations Understanding (highly preferred)
o Travel required – Approximately 25%; overnights required if plant assigned is not in SE Michigan area. Travel frequency may increase during launches and other plant campaign activities
o Meetings with Ford Teams around the globe require early or late arrivals and departures

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage

• Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and more

• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases

• Tuition assistance

• Established and active employee resource groups

• Paid time off for individual and team community service

• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day

• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here:

This position is a leadership salary grade 6 and ranges from $112,680-212,760.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are 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. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call View phone number on aiapply.co. This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.

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At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow’s transportation.
We build world-class vehicles in our plants around the world, constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. It’s our people who really make the difference. We encourage all of our employees to think outside the box to help us find better and more efficient ways to manufacture our vehicles.