Manager, Defense Contract

Ford Motor Company • Dearborn, MI

1d • $115,500 - $218,100 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Defense Contract Manager role will drive "cradle-to-grave" contract and subcontract management for defense vehicle programs—spanning from initial capture and proposal activities to execution, change management, and final closeout. This is a dynamic, high-visibility role requiring a deep understanding of government procurement, direct engagement with internal executives, and strong relationship-building with Department of War (DoW) personnel. The team operates as an agile, startup environment within Ford Motor Company. This is a highly collaborative team, and we are looking for teammates who are hungry to innovate and willing to put on multiple hats to make the team successful. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your impact is felt daily, you will fit right in.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum 5+ years of progressive experience in DoD and/or federal government contracts management.
• Proven, hands-on intermediate knowledge of FAR/DFARS compliance and OTA frameworks.
• Demonstrated success negotiating complex defense-sector contracts and subcontracts.
• Due to federal government contract restrictions, the candidate must be a U.S. Citizen.

Nice To Haves

• Military experience or veteran status; someone who understands the customer and speaks the same language
• Experience on large, complex defense programs, ideally vehicle programs, though aircraft (e.g., helicopters), power systems, or other complex systems are all relevant

Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of federal contracts and subcontracts for assigned defense vehicle and engineering programs.
• Lead bid and proposal activities, including drafting Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Teaming Agreements, and subcontracting frameworks.
• Interpret and apply Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARS), and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) regulations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for contractual matters with U.S. military customers, government agencies, and internal leadership.
• Partner with Ford stakeholders to ensure compliant procurement procedures to manage supply chain risks and ensure subcontractors meet federal guidelines.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare 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.

What This Job Offers

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