Exterior Design Manager

Ford•Long Beach, CA

27d•$127,100 - $239,900•Hybrid

About The Position

Join Ford Motor Company and shape the future of automotive design. As an Exterior Design Manager, you will lead a team in understanding and designing for current and future customers across Ford's diverse product line, including Battery Electric Vehicles, Commercial vehicles, Trucks, Compact trucks, Icons, Passenger vehicles/utilities, Luxury, and Emerging Markets. This role is at the forefront of Ford's strategically critical work, integrating people and society's needs into the design of next-generation products, services, and experiences. You will be responsible for creating and developing future model exterior vehicle design proposals from concept to production release, working in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Transportation Design, or equivalent
7+ years’ Automotive or Transportation Design experience; including experience with final design product execution.
Ability to work independently and provide strong technical aesthetic judgment to lead team members.
Awareness of global automotive and consumer electronics to ensure Ford competes.
Demonstrated creative exterior design perceptions and capability.
Exceptional design intuition, strong problem-solving skills and a superior ability to visually communicate through sketches, and renderings.
Ability to think three-dimensionally with a strong emphasis on proportions and a refined sense of form.
Familiarizes self and maintains interest with design trends within and across design professions and global cultures (automotive, fashion, architectural, etc.).
Outstanding teamwork, leadership, visual, written, and verbal communication skills.
Must provide a design portfolio (pdf) upon application.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Global exterior design experience.
Good understanding of exterior manufacturing process and materials.
Passionate about automotive and mobility industry, global trends, and innovation.
Experience of working in or with creative cultures.
Experience of working in large, corporate environments.
Experience of managing multiple stakeholders across complex projects.
Experience of presenting to executive audiences.

Responsibilities

Lead the Design team in understanding and designing for current and future customers of the Ford brands product line up.
Create and develop future model exterior vehicle design proposals from concept to production release in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional form.
Recommend and implement training and development plans for subordinates.
Assist the Design Chief in the proper and effective implementation of personnel programs, including performance reviews, salary planning and employee counseling.
Partner with Marketing and Strategy team members to define and prioritize the strategic portfolio.
Translate customer insights into vehicle design, with global trends awareness.
Take responsibility for the creative vision and the standard of output across team members.
Influence decisions about Vehicle Architecture, Value to the Customer, Customer Research, User Experience, and Cycle Plan development.
Pitch ideas confidently and present the creative vision clearly to partners and creative team members.
Facilitate senior stakeholder discussions in ambiguous environments.
Hire, develop, and inspire the creative team.
Lead multiple Ford design projects from conception to completion in accordance with deadlines.
Ensure sketch interpretation, design quality, and model progress align with schedules and program deliverables.
Collaborate with other Ford team members and stakeholders.
Work with other disciplines in the development of scale and full-size clay models, interfacing with program engineering teams for feasible product development.
Ensure all creative output/visuals are consistent with the overall Ford brand.
Lead market research model builds through the shops.
Plan and organize the workload and job assignments of subordinate personnel.
Ensure exterior appearances are in harmony with all Ford Global Design and One Ford product direction, while working within cost and program constraints.
Communicate and conduct program reviews and presentations for design leadership.
Cultivate employee engagement and improve morale.
Embody Ford's culture and steward others in shared values and ways of working.
Mentor and coach others through difficult challenges and serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders.

Benefits

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.