Director, Global Parts Category Management

Ford • Dearborn, MI

15h

About The Position

The Director, Global Parts Category Management is responsible for the global parts catalog and all aspects of lifecycle parts category management. This leader defines product and brand strategies and coordinates efforts across the enterprise with partners in FCSD, Ford Pro, Finance, Field Operations, dealers, and authorized distributors to deliver an optimal catalog and grow the parts business. The role owns end-to-end global strategy, partners with purchasing on supplier negotiations, and delivers financial performance for the automotive parts portfolio. The director leads Product Category Managers, Product Specialists, and Service Engineers to drive category growth, optimize inventory turn rates, and align product assortment with global market demand and individual market needs. The position reports to the Executive Director, Global Parts Operations and Business Development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business administration, marketing, or a related technical field.
• At least 10 years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, or product lifecycle management within the automotive parts or manufacturing industry.
• At least 5 years of supervisory experience in a leadership role.
• Experience in strategic financial analysis and cross-functional leadership.
• Deep knowledge of automotive aftermarket or OEM parts.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with executive leadership, team members, cross-functional teams, and external stakeholders.
• Strong command of Microsoft, AI, and data analytics tools.
• Detail-oriented, with a commitment to accuracy and quality.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Global product strategy experience.
• Bilingual abilities.

Responsibilities

• Build and execute long-term category cycle plans, brand strategies, and product assortment plans to maximize sales and gross margins.
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, the competitive landscape, and customer preferences, and develop actionable plans.
• Lead a team of service engineers responsible for engineering, testing, validating, and overseeing mechanical service parts and innovative advanced manufacturing solutions.
• Work with purchasing to identify optimal global suppliers, rebates, and lead times while building supplier relationships.
• Monitor inventory health and minimize slow-moving or obsolete stock.
• Partner with marketing, sales, yield management, and supply chain teams to launch products, ensure product availability, and coordinate promotional tactics.
• Partner with the Yield Management Director to create pricing strategies aligned with product lifecycle, brand, and market dynamics, optimizing volume and profitability.
• Maintain category management tools and processes to support seamless strategy execution across the organization.
• Use PDCA competencies to drive continuous improvement.

What This Job Offers

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