Ford Motor Company

Director of Manufacturing for Plant Management

Ford Motor Company • $130K — $180K *
US-AnywhereRemote in Dearborn, MI
Manufacturing & Automotive
11 - 15 years of experience
5 days ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 15+ years in manufacturing, with experience in launching new operations.
  • Proven leader in high-volume, high-tech, or cleanroom manufacturing environments.
  • Ability to manage multiple facilities at different launch stages.
  • Expertise in Lean Manufacturing (FPS) and operational setup from construction to production.
  • Strong executive presence and solution-oriented mindset in dynamic settings.
  • Track record of mentoring future manufacturing leaders.
  • Experience with diverse workforce relations in both union and non-union environments.

Responsibilities

  • Build and sustain a 'Safety First' culture across the battery pack network.
  • Drive proactive risk assessments to reduce workplace incidents.
  • Design and implement quality strategies for battery cell assembly.
  • Own the strategy for launching new battery pack manufacturing lines.
  • Leveraging FPS principles to improve throughput and efficiency.
  • Establish the financial strategy and operating budgets for production.
  • Develop a manufacturing organization and foster a collaborative culture.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to impact Ford's electrification strategy directly.
  • Be part of building America's first automaker-backed LFP battery facility.
  • Lead and shape a high-performing organization from its inception.
  • Engage with a rapidly evolving workforce in a growing sector.
  • Build trust and community partnerships in new plant locations.
Full Job Description
Job Description

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Director of Manufacturing (DOM) for Battery Pack Operations translates Ford's enterprise electrification strategy into a winning operating plan for the battery pack network, reporting to the Executive Director of Manufacturing for Powertrain Operations and Passion Products. This leader owns the network-level strategy and execution across BlueOval Battery Park Michigan - America's first automaker-backed LFP battery facility - and the Indiana Battery Pack facility, with close coordination into Rawsonville Components Plant on shared component supply. You're not inheriting a mature operation - you're standing up new sites and building the organization and culture from the ground up, while connecting Ford's electrification vision to the tangible work of scaling from launch to steady-state, high-volume production. You'll lead performance in the order that matters most: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost (SQDC).

Please take a moment to review the responsibilities and required and desired skills of this Plant Manager. If you feel you have the manufacturing experience and servant leadership philosophies to be successful, we encourage you to apply.

WHAT A SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

This is one of the most impactful operating roles in Ford's manufacturing network - a chance to lead at scale, shape a high-performing organization, and leave a lasting mark on how Ford builds electrification capabilities. We're looking for a leader who combines deep technical expertise with a high-performance mindset, someone who executes with precision against the network's strategic plan while inspiring their team to reach for more every single day. You'll model the Ford Operating System Behaviors and drive performance in the order that matters most: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost (SQDC).

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Safety
  • Safety Culture: Build and sustain a "Safety First" culture across the network - accountable for the physical and psychological wellbeing of thousands of team members. With a high attention to the unique hazards of battery chemistry, cleanroom environments, and high-voltage systems.
  • Incident Reduction: Drive proactive risk assessment and human-factors engineering to continually reduce Total Recordable Incident Rate across a rapidly scaling workforce.

Quality
  • Set the Quality Bar: Design quality strategy and predictive analytics unique to battery cell/pack assembly (contamination control, electrochemistry process integrity, cleanroom protocols), setting the standard the network is built to hit.

Delivery
  • Launch Ownership: Own the strategy and execution for new battery pack manufacturing lines - from equipment commissioning and systems launch through to steady-state volume production.
  • Throughput & Efficiency: Apply FPS principles to a novel manufacturing process, setting a new benchmark for cleanroom, high-tech assembly efficiency.

Cost & Value Generation
  • Financial Strategy: Set and own the combined financial strategy and operating budgets for battery pack manufacturing.
  • Cost Optimization: Drive year-over-year "Total Cost per Unit" (CPU) reductions, critical to Ford's goal of delivering more affordable electric vehicles.

Build the Best Team: People & Culture
  • Organization Design: Stand up the manufacturing organizational structure, processes, and leadership team for a greenfield operation.
  • Workforce Engagement: Build a "One Team" mentality and a first-of-its-kind organizational culture from the ground up, creating an environment where every team member feels heard, valued, and directly connected to leadership.
  • Stable, Agile Workforce: Build positive employee relations strategies that keep a newly hired, rapidly growing workforce motivated, trained, and adaptable through a multi-year ramp.
  • Talent Pipeline: Partner with Plant Managers to build strong local talent pipelines as these sites scale from launch to full volume.
  • Plant Manager Development: Directly lead and develop Plant Managers across BOBM and Indiana Battery Pack, acting as a coach and "leader of leaders."
  • Cross-Site Coordination (Dotted Line): Maintain a strong dotted-line partnership with Rawsonville Components Plant leadership - a site under the direct authority of the DOM, Transmission Operations - to align component quality, delivery schedules, and engineering changes impacting battery pack assembly.
  • Community Partnership: Serve as a highly visible leader in new plant communities, building trust and local talent pipelines. practices across sites, ensuring Plant Managers are equipped to manage grievances, staffing, and shift structures in a way that's fair, predictable, and aligned to the broader agreement.


Qualifications

  • +15 years of proven experience in manufacturing, with demonstrated experience launching new/greenfield operations.
  • Proven success as a Plant Manager or senior manufacturing leader in high-volume, high-tech, or cleanroom manufacturing environments.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage the operational and financial health of multiple facilities simultaneously, including sites at different launch maturity stages.
  • Expert-level knowledge of Lean Manufacturing (FPS) and a track record of standing up new manufacturing operations from construction/commissioning through full-volume production.
  • Ability to lead through significant industrial disruptions and the ambiguity inherent to first-of-kind operations, with executive presence and a solution-oriented mindset.
  • A "leader of leaders" with a history of mentoring high-potential manufacturing talent into senior leadership roles.
  • Workforce Relations Expertise: Demonstrated ability to build direct, trusted relationships with a diverse, rapidly scaling workforce; experience navigating both union and non-union labor environments is highly valued.
  • Battery, EV, electrochemical, or advanced/high-tech manufacturing experience strongly preferred.

Our Preferred Requirements:
  • Master's degree in Engineering or a technical field.
  • Direct experience in battery cell or battery pack manufacturing.
  • Experience navigating workforce organizing activity in a manufacturing setting.
  • Deep manufacturing engineering technical capabilities, including cleanroom and process-control systems.
  • Union/Labor Expertise: Extensive experience building and sustaining productive labor relationships in a union (UAW) manufacturing environment, including direct involvement in contract negotiations or renewals.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company manufactures or distributes automobiles in addition to offering financial services. The company sells to dealerships for retail sales, and for sale to fleet customers, including commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. Ford’s vehicle portfolio includes automobiles, buses, tractors, and trucks. Retail financing includes retail installment sale contracts for new and used vehicles, and direct financing leases for new vehicles to retail customers, government entities, daily rental car companies, and fleet customers. Finance receivables in the non-consumer portfolio include products offered to automotive dealers. Ford’s environmental initiatives include compressed natural gas, flexible fuel vehicles, electric drive vehicles, Hydrogen, PC power management, and so on. Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903 and is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford Motor Company Careers

Join the dynamic team at Ford Motor Company, a global leader in automotive innovation and manufacturing. At Ford, we are committed to driving human progress by providing outstanding vehicles and mobility solutions. This is an exciting time to become part of our inclusive team, where job opportunities abound and growth is not just a possibility, but a promise.

Work You’ll Do

At Ford Motor Company, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Our professionals are at the forefront of automotive technology, leading projects that redefine transportation and sustainability. With a culture rooted in continuous improvement and respect for all, Ford offers a workplace where leadership, diversity training, and innovation are part of everyday life.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

Ford’s commitment to excellence is why we are a leader in the automotive sector. We offer a variety of career paths, from engineering to marketing, all designed to foster professional and personal growth. Our team benefits from Ford’s commitment to professional development and networking opportunities, ensuring that every team member can reach their full potential.

Innovative Work

Engage in work that makes a difference. Ford Motor Company is pioneering developments in electrification, autonomous vehicles, and smart mobility solutions. Our team of over 190,000 employees worldwide is dedicated to crafting experiences that improve the way the world moves.

Be Part of a Great Team

Working at Ford means more than just having a job; it means being part of a global family. Our culture promotes teamwork, integrity, and respect—values that underpin everything we do. We believe in nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment where every employee can thrive.

Future-Proof Your Career

Ford Motor Company is not just a great place to work; it’s a place to build a lasting career. Our employees enjoy competitive benefits, comprehensive health care, and retirement plans that rank among the best in the industry. We support career advancement through extensive training programs and hands-on experience in the latest automotive technologies.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a student interested in an internship, Ford has opportunities that will harness your skills and ignite your ambition. Our hiring process is straightforward and respectful, designed to match your skills and passions with the right position.

Stay Connected

Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Ready to start your journey with Ford? Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that’s building the future of transportation.

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Learn more about Ford Motor Company
Size
183,000 employees
Market Cap
$44.8 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
-$1.2 billion
Founded
1903
5 Year Trend
-2.1%
Revenue
$127.1 billion
NASDAQ
F
* Ladders Estimates

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