Project Management, Global Design and Deliverables
About The Position
Ford Design Technical Operations (DTO) is responsible for transforming design visions into tangible realities with meticulous attention to detail and a focus on feasibility. As a key component of Ford Global Design, DTO ensures the viability of themes, the quality of surface geometry, and the production-launch appearance across Ford's entire vehicle lineup. The Global Design Delivery Project Manager plays a crucial role in ensuring the high-quality output of the Ford Design studio. This position involves defining and managing the governance, timelines, and cross-functional approval processes necessary for vehicle designs to successfully navigate key appearance approvals and executive decision-making stages with senior leadership. The ideal candidate is inquisitive, creative, possesses an understanding of design principles, and is adept at managing complex timelines, making them essential to the success of the Design team. This role requires collaboration with Global Design and its partners in Engineering, Program Management, Marketing, Manufacturing, and other departments. The individual will bring structure and clarity to complex programs, establish clear decision-making pathways, identify risks and dependencies, and ensure Design leadership is equipped with the necessary information to make timely decisions in conjunction with their senior leadership counterparts. The ideal candidate is curious, highly collaborative, comfortable working in ambiguous environments, and capable of linking detailed program execution to overarching Design and business objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in industrial design, transportation design, mechanical engineering, or equivalent practical experience
- 5+ years of experience in project management, program management, product development, or business operations.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex, cross-functional work with multiple stakeholders, opinions, and competing priorities.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, including experience preparing and facilitating discussions with Executive leaders.
- Familiarity with vehicle development processes and GPDS milestones.
- Hands-on experience in narrowing product scope and facilitating decisions on complex products, including leading and presenting in ELT decision-making forums.
- Big picture mindset and passion for innovative, breakthrough, and class-leading products.
- Experience working within or closely partnering with a Design, Engineering, Product Development, or similarly creative/technical organization.
- Familiarity and experience with Design studio procedures, progression appearance development, and approval processes.
Responsibilities
- Lead the Global Design Studio Appearance Approval governance process, including Design Quality Operating System, presentation template development, strategy, operating cadence, executive reviews, documentation/archiving, and follow-through on decisions, actions, and assignments.
- Partner with Design leadership to define approval pathways, decision points, roles and responsibilities, and escalation mechanisms across all Global programs.
- Create, update, and manage agendas and desired outcomes for all Global Studio executive presentations/events.
- Manage and integrate Design timing, milestones, deliverables, and approval requirements across all vehicle programs.
- Create space for Design input into cross-functional program timing and ensure proposed recommendations appropriately incorporate Design requirements and best practices.
- Plan and facilitate senior-level Appearance Approval forums, ensuring leaders have a clear understanding of context, recommendations, risks, and decisions required.
- Represent Global Design in cross-functional governance forums and ensure Design requirements and perspectives are incorporated into enterprise processes, templates, and program plans.
- Ensure Global Design Studio enrollment in recommended processes and templates.
- Develop and maintain lookahead visibility of key Design milestones, approvals, forums, and required approvals to support leadership decision-making.
- Continuously improve Design governance and delivery processes to simplify workflows, improve decision velocity, clarify accountability, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration.
- Mentor DTO Program PMAs on overall Design QOS process & procedures, presentation templates, program timing and associated Design deliverables, and Design approval review cadence.
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 and more
- Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, 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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
