Lifecycle Cost Manager

Ford • Allen Park, MI

9d • $141,700 - $268,300 • Hybrid

About The Position

As Global Lifecycle Cost Manager (LL5) for Unit Programs at Ford Motor Company, you will lead a team of supervisors and analysts focused on competitive material costs across global propulsion technologies, including internal combustion engines, transmissions, electric drive units, and high-voltage battery packs. You will use Ford’s “Four Lenses” framework to set challenging material cost targets and work with Motion Tech Strategy, Tech Platform Planning, Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering, and program teams to optimize cost performance from concept through program approval.

The role owns lifecycle cost processes across unit and module programs, integrating them with Ford’s broader product development and cycle-planning strategies. It also includes financial analysis and trade-off decisions, sourcing and cost-change management through launch, supplier workshops and Design for Process initiatives, use of digital cost tools, scenario planning, in-cycle cost reduction, and competitive benchmarking.

This is a leadership level 5 position with a salary range of $141,700–$268,300. It is hybrid and requires onsite work four or more days per week. Visa sponsorship is not available; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in automotive product development.
• 5+ years of experience supervising and leading technical or analytical teams.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven track record leading large, complex teams or cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in competitive automotive design analysis.
• Direct experience in automotive cost engineering, material costing, or financial analysis within an automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier.
• Strong integration of engineering principles, program management methodologies, and business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Lead lifecycle target setting across multiple unit and module programs using the “Four Lenses” approach in collaboration with Program Teams, Product Finance, and Motion Tech / Tech Platform Planning & Strategy.
• Own and lead execution of lifecycle cost management across Ford Motors unit and module programs.
• Drive global cost-process integration with Ford’s product development and cycle-planning strategies.
• Conduct financial analyses and lead trade-off decisions to help programs meet material cost targets.
• Support source-to-target workstreams and manage cost changes from initial commitment through launch to achieve material cost objectives at Start of Production.
• Lead supplier workshops and implement Design for Process initiatives to identify and resolve potential cost gaps before final supplier pricing.
• Use Global Total Cost digital ecosystem tools to establish cost baselines, track physical content and sourcing changes, conduct competitive benchmarking, and generate cost estimates.
• Develop ad-hoc what-if cost studies for strategic and tactical decisions.
• Champion and implement in-cycle cost-reduction ideas where the business case is strongest, and bring promising ideas from program status reviews into earlier development phases.
• Monitor global competitive benchmarking insights to challenge and optimize Ford’s content and requirement specifications.
• Direct a team of supervisors and analysts.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
• 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.
• Established and active employee resource groups.
• Paid time off for individual and team community service.
• Vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.

What This Job Offers

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