Director, Supply Chain - Exteriors

Ford Motor • Dearborn, MI

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Supply Chain – Exteriors will be a member of the Supply Chain leadership team and report to the Global Director, Supply Chain - Exterior and Structural Systems. This role will lead a large global organization consisting of senior managers, managers, and individual contributors, while influencing cross-functional teams across the enterprise. Ford’s Supply Chain team works to ensure that parts sourced from around the globe are of the highest quality, at optimal cost, and delivered on time. We aim to build strong relationships with the supply base so that Ford can produce vehicles that our customers want and value. Building and maintaining strong, mutually beneficial relationships with a diverse range of suppliers helps us lower costs, improve quality, and make progress toward our sustainability goals. We recognize that a diverse supply base is an integral part of our overall success, providing fresh perspectives that lead to cutting-edge innovations and accelerated business development. We continue to foster productive relationships from a wide range of backgrounds to meet our customers’ needs and expectations. This role will be instrumental in defining and executing the long-term sourcing and supply chain strategy for the Exteriors portfolio, including resiliency, quality, cost, delivery, sustainability, and innovation objectives. We are seeking a strategic executive with extensive experience leading global supply chains and large organizations. This role will leverage data, market intelligence, and industry expertise to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, influence business decisions, and drive sustainable competitive advantage. The successful candidate will have proven success and experience in the areas of: Leadership roles with a demonstrated ability to drive enterprise-wide transformation and business results. Development and execution of global commodity and supply chain strategies aligned with corporate objectives, product roadmaps, and growth priorities. Establishing and governing sourcing and material cost roadmaps, value creation strategies, and long-term opportunity pipelines. Building and managing strategic supplier partnerships while leveraging advanced cost analytics and market intelligence. Driving enterprise resiliency planning, risk management, and supply continuity strategies across global operations. Leading organizational capability development and succession planning while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field (Master’s degree or MBA strongly preferred)
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in Supply Chain, Purchasing, Operations, or a related discipline
• 10+ years of leadership experience
• Extensive experience developing and executing enterprise-level supply chain and sourcing strategies
• Strong financial, commercial, and business acumen with demonstrated success influencing executive-level decisions
• Proven ability to lead complex global negotiations and manage strategic supplier relationships
• Deep understanding of global supply chain operations, risk management, and market dynamics
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate data into business action
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale transformation initiatives and influencing change across complex, matrixed organizations
• Exceptional executive communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage senior leadership and external stakeholders
• Skilled at building high-performing teams, developing talent, and creating an inclusive, high-accountability culture
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, solve complex business challenges, and deliver innovative solutions that drive sustainable competitive advantage.

Responsibilities

• Enterprise Supply Chain Strategy: Define and execute the long-term supply chain vision and strategy for the Exteriors commodity portfolio, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities, technology roadmaps, sustainability commitments, and financial objectives.
• Executive Supplier Relationship Management: Establish and maintain strategic executive-level partnerships with key global suppliers, driving innovation, performance, and mutual growth while ensuring alignment with Ford’s business objectives.
• Global Risk Management & Resiliency: Lead enterprise risk identification, mitigation, and business continuity planning across tier-1 and sub-tier supply chains, ensuring resilience against geopolitical, capacity, raw material, and market disruptions.
• Operational Excellence & Transformation: Champion best-in-class sourcing processes, digital transformation initiatives, and advanced analytics capabilities to improve operational efficiency, decision-making, and supply chain performance.
• Cost Leadership & Value Creation: Drive total value optimization through strategic sourcing, commercial negotiations, value engineering initiatives, market intelligence, and long-term cost reduction strategies.
• Organizational Leadership & Talent Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global organization. Build leadership capability, strengthen succession pipelines, and foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Cross-Functional Executive Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to senior leaders across Product Development, Manufacturing, Finance, Quality, and other functions to ensure alignment of supply chain strategies with business priorities.
• Governance & Business Performance: Establish key performance indicators, governance frameworks, and business reviews to monitor organizational performance, drive accountability, and ensure achievement of strategic objectives.

Benefits

• generous PTO
• retirement
• savings and stock investment plans
• incentive compensation
• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days
• paid parental leave
• new parent ramp-up programs
• subsidized back-up child care
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement
• fertility treatments
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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