Transformation Leader, Vehicle Operations and Powertrain Manufacturing

United StatesFull-timePosted Aug 6, 2026

THE OPPORTUNITY

Architect Ford's Manufacturing Transformation: As Transformation Leader for Vehicle Operations and Powertrain, you sit at the center of one of the largest and most complex manufacturing transformations in Ford's history — spanning engine, powertrain, battery, and vehicle assembly operations across the network. You own the strategy and execution of Lean deployment, digital transformation, performance management, and business governance that turn the Director's vision into measurable results on the plant floor. You'll act as chief-of-staff, strategist, and change agent all at once — building the systems, metrics, and culture that make Ford's manufacturing organization leaner, more digitally enabled, and higher-performing. If you have the manufacturing depth, digital fluency, and change-leadership instincts to move an entire network forward, and the servant-leadership mindset to bring plant leaders and cross-functional partners along with you, we encourage you to apply.

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THE TEAM

The Transformation Leader reports directly to the Director of Manufacturing, Vehicle Operations & Powertrain, who sets the strategic direction across the engine, powertrain, battery, and vehicle assembly network. As Transformation Leader, you translate that strategy into an actionable, network-wide transformation agenda — owning the Lean, digital, performance management, and business management portfolio on the Director's behalf. You'll build and lead a high-performing team of transformation, lean, digital, and business management professionals, while operating as a trusted strategic partner and peer to plant managers, functional engineering leaders, and corporate manufacturing teams. This role requires constant collaboration across a matrixed organization — aligning global manufacturing, engineering, quality, and supply chain partners around a common transformation roadmap.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

This is one of the highest-leverage roles in Ford's manufacturing organization — a chance to shape how an entire network operates, digitizes, and improves, with a direct line of sight to the Director and influence across every major plant in the portfolio. We're looking for a leader who combines deep Lean and manufacturing expertise with a digitally fluent, data-driven mindset — someone who can move seamlessly between strategy and execution, turning ambiguity into a clear roadmap and rallying plant leaders around it. You'll model Ford's Operating System Behaviors, embed Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost (SQDC) discipline into every transformation initiative, and be judged not by activity but by durable results: measurable Lean maturity, scaled digital tools that move throughput and cost, and a performance management system that plant leaders trust and use every day.

Safety

Safety Culture: Champion and help sustain a "Safety First" culture across the network, partnering with plant and site leaders to protect the physical and psychological wellbeing of a growing, diversifying workforce — including awareness of unique hazards present in advanced/high-tech environments (e.g., high-voltage systems, cleanrooms, battery chemistry).
Incident Reduction: Support proactive risk assessment and human-factors analysis as part of transformation initiatives, embedding safety metrics into performance governance to drive continual reduction of Total Recordable Incident Rate.

Quality & Operational Excellence

Lean & FPS Deployment: Lead the deployment and maturation of Lean manufacturing principles (Ford Production System / World Class Manufacturing) across engine, powertrain, battery, and vehicle assembly plants, applying FPS principles even to novel, high-tech, or cleanroom manufacturing processes.
Standardized Problem-Solving: Drive standardized problem-solving, waste elimination, and continuous improvement (Kaizen) culture throughout operations.
Quality Standards & Metrics: Establish and track lean maturity and quality metrics, incorporating predictive analytics and process-integrity standards to ensure consistent methodology deployment across sites.

Digital Strategy & Transformation

Digital Roadmap: Define and execute the digital transformation roadmap for manufacturing operations, including Industry 4.0, smart factory, IIoT, data analytics, and automation initiatives.
Pilot-to-Scale: Partner with IT, engineering, and plant operations to pilot and scale digital tools that improve throughput, quality, and cost across both legacy and greenfield/launch sites.
Data-Driven Decisions: Champion data-driven decision-making by integrating real-time performance dashboards and predictive analytics into daily operations and executive reporting.

Performance Management & Delivery

KPI Framework: Own the end-to-end performance management framework (KPIs, scorecards, governance cadence) across vehicle operations, powertrain, and battery business units.
Launch & Ramp Support: Support new manufacturing line launches — from equipment commissioning and systems launch through steady-state volume production — by embedding governance, performance tracking, and Lean methodology into ramp plans.
Performance Reviews: Lead performance reviews with plant and business unit leaders, identifying gaps and driving corrective action plans; benchmark performance against internal and external best practices.

Cost & Value Generation

Financial & Business Support: Provide strategic and operational support to the Director, including business planning, budget management, resource allocation, and organizational effectiveness across the manufacturing portfolio.
Cost Optimization: Drive year-over-year "Total Cost per Unit" (CPU) and efficiency improvements by aligning Lean, digital, and performance-management levers to reduce cost and support Ford's affordability goals.
Special Projects: Lead special projects and cross-functional initiatives on behalf of the Director, ensuring alignment with broader Ford manufacturing and enterprise strategy.

Build the Best Team: People & Culture

Team Leadership: Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of transformation, lean, digital, and business management professionals.
Trusted Advisor: Serve as a trusted advisor and "leader of leaders" to plant managers, functional leaders, and senior executives on transformation priorities, coaching leadership teams through change, ambiguity, and workforce scaling.
Cross-Functional & Cross-Site Coordination: Collaborate with global manufacturing, engineering, quality, and supply chain organizations — including dotted-line coordination across sites under different DOM authority — to ensure alignment of transformation initiatives, component quality, and engineering changes across the network.
Governance & Communications: Manage governance processes, executive communications, and reporting for the Vehicle Operations & Powertrain organization.

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field (Master's/MBA preferred).
10+ years of progressive experience in automotive manufacturing, operations, or transformation leadership roles, including exposure to new/greenfield launch environments.
Demonstrated expertise in Lean/Six Sigma methodologies (Black Belt or equivalent certification preferred) and deep familiarity with the Ford Production System (FPS) or comparable OEM production systems.
Proven track record leading large-scale digital or Industry 4.0 transformation initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
Strong background in performance management systems, KPI development, and business governance.
Experience managing cross-functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders across matrixed organizations, including plant managers and site leadership.
Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and executive communication skills; ability to lead through ambiguity and industrial disruption with executive presence.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in engine, powertrain, battery/EV, or vehicle assembly manufacturing operations specifically, including cleanroom, high-voltage, or advanced/high-tech manufacturing environments.
Direct experience supporting battery cell or battery pack manufacturing launches.
Experience with manufacturing digital platforms (MES, IIoT, predictive maintenance, AI/ML applications in manufacturing).
Prior people leadership experience at a senior manager or director level, with a track record of mentoring high-potential manufacturing talent.
Experience navigating union and non-union labor environments, including workforce organizing activity or UAW contract engagement.