Vehicle Launch Manager
Ford Motor Company
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Allen Park • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteJob Level
Mid-LevelSenior
Tech Stack
AssemblyGo
About the role
- Accountable for driving and ensuring overall budget adherence across multiple new model launches, identifying opportunities for cost optimization and efficiency.
- Providing oversight and guidance on all activities leading up to the initial prototype and pre-production vehicle builds, ensuring these early builds are cost-effective and meet quality standards.
- Reviewing and approving design changes throughout the product development lifecycle, making sure these changes are supported in pre-production builds and thoroughly tested ("proven out") before the official launch.
- Ensure that all necessary facilities, resources, and support infrastructure are in place and optimized to enable efficient operation for multiple on-site launch teams.
- Oversee the implementation and continuous improvement of issue management systems to proactively track, resolve, and prevent systemic issues that could impact launch success, focusing on cross-program challenges and long-term resolutions.
- Driving the process of addressing concerns raised by early customer feedback vehicles (often called "Voice of the Customer Fleet") and ensuring these issues are resolved before launch.
- Managing the new model program's (NMP) involvement in the overall change control process (which may involve electronic approvals), ensuring that any proposed changes are necessary and implemented at the correct time.
- Leading the development of strategies to reduce risks associated with parts that are not yet at full production quality, including plans to test and validate them for a high-quality launch.
- Leading the "Open to Go" process, which includes verifying the origin and quality of parts ("part pedigree") and providing final approval for any deviations or alerts needed for parts not fully approved for production ("PPAP") before critical build events.
- Supporting the manufacturing issue management (often a "whiteboard" process) to ensure issues are resolved promptly.
- Proactively identify, analyze, and dimension complex launch risks across multiple programs, developing comprehensive mitigation plans and clearly articulating strategic status, risks, and opportunities to executive leadership.
- Establish and manage the meeting cadence for on-site launches and provide high-level coordination for ongoing launch activities across programs.
- Preparing and presenting comprehensive launch reviews, from early stages through to the "OK to Buy" decision point.
- Lead the strategic approval process for "OK to Build/Ship/Buy" scorecards at critical project milestones and beyond, ensuring robust scorecard preparation and review at all senior management meetings.
- Leading the process for any modifications needed on-site, tracking these changes, and working with the plant and suppliers to manage part updates and inventory reduction plans.
- Drive the capture, analysis, and dissemination of lessons learned from launch programs, leveraging these insights to implement best practices and continuous improvement across the entire launch organization.
- Collaborate extensively and strategically with Launch Specialists, diverse skill teams, and executive leadership (including VPs) to drive integrated solutions, resolve complex challenges, and ensure seamless project execution across all managed programs.
- Promoting consistent practices by adhering to established Launch Quality Standards (LQOS) and driving continuous improvement through Lessons Learned.
- Accountable for balancing direct report resources across programs based on workload and skill sets, ensuring successful launches. Responsible for talent development, succession planning, and performance management for the launch team.
- This position requires frequent and extensive travel, including long-term assignments (up to 9-12 months at a time) to support vehicle and powertrain assembly plants during new model launches.
Requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or related field.
- 6+ Years of experience in Powertrain/Vehicle Operations manufacturing, design, and/or program management, with Project management or launch experience.
- 6+ years of experience demonstrating a strong understanding of the processes and methodologies involved in bringing new vehicle models from development into full-scale production.
- Skilled in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project.
- Project management and/or launch experience.
- Experience with Engineering Change Management and Issue Management
- Experience with problem solving disciplines using statistical mindsets.
- Master of Science degree in Engineering or related field (Preferred).
- 8+ Years of experience in Powertrain/Vehicle Operations manufacturing, design, and/or program management, with Project management or launch experience (Preferred).
- 8+ years of experience demonstrating a strong understanding of the processes and methodologies involved in bringing new vehicle models from development into full-scale production (Preferred).
- 5+ Years of Leadership/Supervisory level experience (Preferred).
- Skilled in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project (Preferred).
- Project management and/or launch experience (Preferred).
- Experience with Engineering Change Management and Issue Management (Preferred).
- Experience with problem solving disciplines using statistical mindsets (Preferred).
Benefits
- Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
- Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care 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.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
project managementlaunch experienceengineering change managementissue managementproblem solvingstatistical analysisbudget adherencecost optimizationquality standardsrisk management
Soft skills
leadershiptalent developmentperformance managementstrategic collaborationcommunicationproblem-solvingorganizational skillscross-functional teamworkpresentation skillscontinuous improvement
Certifications
Bachelor of Science in EngineeringMaster of Science in Engineering