Ford Motor Company

Operations Manager

Ford Motor Company • $112K — $212K *
Transportation
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Strong written and oral communication skills for engaging with senior leadership.
  • Ability to positively influence change within an organization.
  • Skilled in managing complexity and multi-tasking effectively.
  • Experience working with cross-functional teams to resolve issues.
  • Strong organizational skills essential for effective operations.
  • Capable of independent decision-making in high-pressure environments.
  • Proficiency required in Excel, PowerPoint, and analytics/data-mining; AI tool experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

  • Direct full lifecycle vehicle logistics operations from routing to delivery.
  • Design and optimize logistics networks for improved flexibility and revenue.
  • Lead operational readiness for major accounts and new vehicle lines.
  • Ensure seamless operations during non-standard working hours to align with production.
  • Engineer logistics processes to eliminate bottlenecks and reduce inventory aging.
  • Track and optimize core performance metrics for logistics efficiency.
  • Develop collaborative partnerships to enhance operational effectiveness.

Benefits

  • Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage.
  • Flexible family care and robust parental leave options with ramp-up programs.
  • Employee vehicle discount and management lease options.
  • Tuition assistance for employees seeking education advancement.
  • Active employee resource groups promoting diversity and inclusion.
  • Paid time off for community service participation.
  • Generous holiday schedule, including a shutdown between Christmas and New Year.
Full Job Description
Job Description

In this position ...
  • Oversee vehicle upfit and operations.
  • Engineer and implement logistics processes that eliminate operational bottlenecks, reduce transit/dwell times, and minimize finished vehicle inventory aging.
  • Direct full lifecycle vehicle logistics operations, ensuring vehicles are efficiently routed, processed, upfitted, and delivered to meet dealer, commercial, and retail customer commitments.


Responsibilities

What you will do ...

Network Strategy & Logistics Operation

End-to-End Execution: Direct full lifecycle vehicle logistics operations, ensuring vehicles are efficiently routed, processed, upfitted, and delivered to meet dealer, commercial, and retail customer commitments.
Specialized Network Management: Drive the strategic design and continuous optimization of Ship-Thru, Drop Ship, and Upfitter networks to expand logistics flexibility, shorten fulfillment cycles, and unlock revenue opportunities.
Launch & Account Readiness: Spearhead cross-functional operational readiness, process design, and launch execution for major commercial fleet accounts, new vehicle lines, and evolving Ford Pro business models.
Operational Continuity: Provide operational oversight and support during non-standard operating windows (weekends, off-shifts, holidays) to maintain seamless alignment with plant production schedules.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
Cycle Time & Dwell Reduction: Engineer and implement logistics processes that eliminate operational bottlenecks, reduce transit/dwell times, and minimize finished vehicle inventory aging.
Performance Metrics & Analytics: Track and optimize core performance indicators, including ETA accuracy, milestone reliability, transit performance, and miss-ship prevention.
Root-Cause & Corrective Actions: Lead structured problem-solving initiatives to identify root causes and execute corrective countermeasures for miss-ships, routing errors, inventory discrepancies, and system disruptions.

Partner Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
Ecosystem Alignment: Build collaborative partnerships across plants, carriers, upfitters, suppliers, railroads, and 3PL providers to clear operational hurdles and optimize vehicle velocity.
Executive Communication: Deliver executive-ready briefings, KPI dashboards, business cases, and operational reviews for NAVL and Ford Pro senior leadership.
Cross-Functional Team Leadership: Coach, mentor, and guide cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.

Governance, Technology & Financial Stewardship
Operational Governance: Oversee routine operational reviews, DCC/ZCC reporting cadence, and action-plan tracking to ensure full alignment with strategic targets.
Financial Management: Govern logistics expenditures, including the review and approval of premium freight, spot-buy authorizations, cost recovery, and budget management to deliver cost savings.
Digital Transformation & Systems: Partner with IT and software vendors to define functional requirements, deploy logistics visibility tools, and lead multi-plant technology rollouts without disrupting daily operations.

Qualifications

You'll have ...
o Strong written and oral communication skills: you will be speaking or presenting to Senior Ford Leadership, regularly
o Ability to positively influence change
o Ability to handle complexity and multi-tasking
o Ability to work with cross-functional groups to resolve concerns
o Strong organizational skills required
o Ability to make decisions and work independently
o Proficiency in Excel (required), PowerPoint (required), Analytics/Data-mining mindset, experience leveraging AI tools to enhance work productivity
o Ford system QLS, AVS, understanding preferred

Even better, you may have...
o Interface with other Ford departments (FCSD, Marketing & Sales, Finance, Plants)
o Interface with industry groups (other OEMs, AIAG)

o Material Planning & Logistics (MP&L) experience (highly preferred)
o Plant Operations Understanding (highly preferred)
o Travel required - Approximately 25%; overnights required if plant assigned is not in SE Michigan area. Travel frequency may increase during launches and other plant campaign activities
o Meetings with Ford Teams around the globe require early or late arrivals and departures

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
  • Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
  • Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare 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.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6NonHTHD

This position is a leadership salary grade 6 and ranges from $112,680-212,760.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-SB7

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
Net Income
-$1.2 billion
Founded
1903
5 Year Trend
-2.1%
Revenue
$127.1 billion
NASDAQ

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