Chief of Staff & Operations - Hardware Engineering

Ford • Dearborn, MI

1d

About The Position

The Chief of Staff & Business Operations Manager for Vehicle Hardware Engineering (VHE) is a leadership position reporting directly to the Vice President of Vehicle Hardware Engineering. The role leads and manages the dedicated VHE Business Operations & Strategic Engineering Management Team, responsible for strategy, process governance, business performance, and cultural execution across global hardware engineering.

As a strategic partner, trusted proxy, and operational integrator for the VP, the Chief of Staff leads the team in connecting Executive Leadership Team (ELT) objectives with engineering execution. The role supports VHE's transition from a traditional product developer into an enterprise Strategic Asset focused on product quality, reliability, and cost efficiency.

The Chief of Staff directs and develops the VHE Business Operations team across executive support and Chief of Staff operations; business operations and enterprise governance; continuous improvement and efficiency leadership; and organizational strategy, culture, and footprint. The role oversees executive communications, strategic planning, KPI/OKR dashboards, enterprise contacts and audits, productivity initiatives, operational improvement, and HRO cultural integration.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or a related technical management field.
• At least 2 years of direct experience managing high-performing teams of operational, process, or program management professionals within complex global manufacturing or automotive organizations.
• At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in automotive hardware engineering, D&R processes, GPDS vehicle gateways, FEDE BoM management, and B10 reliability standards.
• Demonstrated expertise in 8D root-cause problem solving, Failure Mode Avoidance (FMA), DFMEA, Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DFM/DFA), and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Proven track record in multi-year strategic planning, engineering productivity modeling, ED&T should-cost analysis, prototype multiplier management, and footprint optimization.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex technical challenges, present to Executive Leadership Teams, and drive cross-functional consensus.
• Deep commitment to First-Principles thinking, intellectual humility, operational curiosity, and building safe, structural escalation mechanisms for technical risks.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; employment eligibility will be verified at hire.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, or Automotive Engineering is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, direct, and develop the VHE Business Operations & Strategic Engineering Management Team.
• Manage team members representing VHE across enterprise forums, advocating for hardware engineering standards and strategic priorities.
• Orchestrate strategic communications, including executive whitepapers, ELT presentation decks, board materials, and organizational updates on behalf of the VP.
• Establish governance and feedback loops among VP, Director, and Chief Engineer levels to accelerate decisions, remove silos, and maintain transparency.
• Lead rapid-response cross-functional teams addressing urgent operational, technical, or strategic challenges.
• Direct multi-year strategic planning, translating ELT objectives into actionable functional roadmaps.
• Oversee design and implementation of automated, real-time KPI/OKR dashboards for operational visibility into program execution.
• Serve as and manage the team acting as the primary Single Point of Contact for the Office of General Counsel, regulatory compliance bodies, and internal control test audits.
• Direct efficiency initiatives for 2026–2030 and sustain 3% year-over-year engineering productivity gains across labor and non-labor spend.
• Lead cross-functional problem-solving to eliminate engineering waste and friction, increase time to engineer, and optimize workflow execution.
• Institutionalize HRO practices and rapid iteration, fostering psychological safety so weak signals and unknown risks are surfaced and managed early.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, and subsidized back-up child care.
• Family-building benefits, including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement and fertility treatments.
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases.
• Tuition assistance.
• Employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior