Director, Value Stream Mapping – AI Optimization

Ford Motor Company

Director managing AI Optimization and Value Stream Mapping, bridging Ford's business realities and AI ambitions. Key leader in mapping AI adoption and structured business problem discovery.

Posted 4/15/2026full-timeDearborn • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesLeadWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PMP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead a structured business problem discovery mission by creating a comprehensive AI pain-point inventory.
Standardize how teams describe their needs to eliminate inconsistency and identify cross-team patterns that are often missed.
Move the organization away from "one-off" AI solutions toward scalable, pattern-based problem solving.
Build and institutionalize a holistic AI Transformation Playbook.
Conduct AI Readiness Assessments and define the Vision, providing a clear analysis of the Current State versus Future State.
Perform rigorous gap assessments across cultural, operational, and technical dimensions to ensure viability.
Leverage deep expertise in Ford Dealer processes, existing assets, and overall enterprise operations to create detailed business process maps.
Identify specific opportunities where AI can optimize dealer interactions and internal workflows while navigating known structural cautions.
Define a detailed "Picture of Success" for every initiative to ensure alignment before development begins.
Create and implement Opportunity Templates to standardize intake and assessment.
Execute opportunity mapping and use case prioritization to focus resources on high-impact initiatives.
Partner with AI Products to define success metrics and ensure a shared definition of value.
Translate business needs into technical reality by leading the creation of Tech briefs and prototypes.
Implement a lightweight framework for evaluating vendors and facilitating decision-making.
Ensure technical solutions are feasible within Ford’s specific environment and infrastructure.
Design phased rollout strategies that mitigate risk and manage change management effectively.
Focus relentlessly on shortening Time-to-Value by identifying the quickest path to measurable impact.
Eliminate waste by identifying redundant efforts and steering teams toward shared solutions.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Deep Ford Dealer & Process Expertise: Extensive experience with Ford Dealer ecosystems, retail systems, and overall enterprise processes. You must understand the "cautions" and structural realities of the business.
Business Process Optimization: Proven track record in mapping complex business processes, identifying bottlenecks, and defining future state workflows (e.g., Value Stream Mapping, Lean/Six Sigma).
AI Strategy & Transformation: Experience creating AI readiness assessments, vision statements, and gap analyses (cultural, operational, technical).
Framework Development: Ability to build and implement "Playbooks," opportunity templates, and standardized intake models to fix inconsistent requirements gathering.
Technical Translation: Experience bridging the gap between business needs and technical teams, including writing tech briefs and overseeing prototyping.
Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to identify cross-team patterns and consolidate one-off solutions into scalable strategies.
12+ years of professional experience.
BS or equivalent degree
MS, MBA or equivalent business degree.
Program Management: PMP (Project Management Professional), Agile/SCRUM Master, SAFe, or Six Sigma Black Belt.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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.

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

AI strategybusiness process mappinggap analysisvalue stream mappingLeanSix Sigmatechnical translationprototypingopportunity mappinguse case prioritization

Soft Skills

problem solvingchange managementcollaborationcommunicationleadershiporganizational skillsanalytical thinkingstrategic thinkingadaptabilitydecision-making

Certifications

PMPAgile/SCRUM MasterSAFeSix Sigma Black Belt