Director, Digital Technology Sourcing

Jobtailor; Dearborn (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford Motor Company seeks a senior leader to own the global category strategy for its end-to-end Tier 2 electronic and mechanical component portfolio. You will develop multi-year strategies, guide supply base structure, technology roadmaps, and cost efficiencies across the portfolio.

You will lead sourcing for major vehicle programs, drive cost performance, and manage supplier quality and risk. Strong cross-functional influence and US work authorization are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Master’s degree, build-to-print/make-to-spec experience, contract manufacturer/EMS/OEM experience, international work experience, supply resilience programs, AI and advanced analytics, and leadership-development experience are listed as additional qualifications
• Significant Tier2 supplier experience, including managing suppliers behind direct/contract manufacturers and understanding sub-tier capacity, lead times, constraints and risk
• Supply continuity and risk management experience, including multi-sourcing, capacity reservations, allocation management, geographic concentration, obsolescence, EOL/PN management and contingency planning
• Proven track record leading high-value, high-complexity negotiations and delivering significant year-over-year cost performance
• Deep understanding of automotive electronics supply chains, including electronic modules, sensors, and/or electronic components, cost structure, manufacturing processes, and sub-tier dynamics
• Experience owning sourcing execution across a full vehicle program lifecycle, from target setting through launch and running production
• Strong cross-functional influence at the executive level, partnering with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Finance
• Fluency with cost analytics, should-cost modeling, strategic sourcing systems, and enterprise planning tools
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States

Responsibilities

• Own the global category strategy for Ford’s end-to-end Tier 2 electronic and mechanical component portfolio
• Develop multi-year category strategies covering supply base structure, technology roadmaps, competitive positioning, manufacturing footprint, and resilience
• Deliver annual commercial and design cost-efficiency commitments and lead high-stakes negotiations
• Lead sourcing execution for major future vehicle programs, ensuring cost targets, timelines, sourcing decisions, and qualified suppliers are delivered
• Direct sourcing and long-term supply strategy for component technologies from concept through production commitment
• Shape and diversify the global supply base through new partners, dual sourcing, and regional capability
• Own inventory, safety stock, capacity agreements, sub-tier visibility, and critical raw-material risk mitigation
• Partner with semiconductor sourcing to secure silicon supply, capacity, and commercial terms
• Drive supplier quality, warranty, launch-performance, and cost-recovery improvements
• Ensure uninterrupted supply to global production and service operations and lead escalation response for critical suppliers
• Serve as senior relationship owner for strategic suppliers and lead executive business reviews
• Ensure compliance with local content, trade, tariff, regulatory, responsible-sourcing, and sustainability requirements
• Build and develop the team through objectives, feedback, talent reviews, succession planning, and capability development
• Drive adoption of AI and digital tools and act as a change leader for the broader Supply Chain function

Skills

Global Category Strategy

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Relationship Management

High-Stakes Negotiations

Automotive Electronics Expertise

Cross-Functional Influence

Team Leadership

Change Leadership

Talent Development

Should-Cost Modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or related field

Master’s degree (listed as additional qualification)

Tools

Strategic Sourcing Systems

Enterprise Planning Tools

AI and Digital Tools

Job description

• Own the global category strategy for Ford’s end-to-end Tier 2 electronic and mechanical component portfolio
• Develop multi-year category strategies covering supply base structure, technology roadmaps, competitive positioning, manufacturing footprint, and resilience
• Deliver annual commercial and design cost-efficiency commitments and lead high-stakes negotiations
• Lead sourcing execution for major future vehicle programs, ensuring cost targets, timelines, sourcing decisions, and qualified suppliers are delivered
• Direct sourcing and long-term supply strategy for component technologies from concept through production commitment
• Shape and diversify the global supply base through new partners, dual sourcing, and regional capability
• Own inventory, safety stock, capacity agreements, sub-tier visibility, and critical raw-material risk mitigation
• Partner with semiconductor sourcing to secure silicon supply, capacity, and commercial terms
• Drive supplier quality, warranty, launch-performance, and cost-recovery improvements
• Ensure uninterrupted supply to global production and service operations and lead escalation response for critical suppliers
• Serve as senior relationship owner for strategic suppliers and lead executive business reviews
• Ensure compliance with local content, trade, tariff, regulatory, responsible-sourcing, and sustainability requirements
• Build and develop the team through objectives, feedback, talent reviews, succession planning, and capability development
• Drive adoption of AI and digital tools and act as a change leader for the broader Supply Chain function

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or a related field
• 12+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, supply chain, or commodity management
• 5+ years leading teams, with demonstrated success leading global, geographically distributed organizations
• Significant Tier2 supplier experience, including managing suppliers behind direct/contract manufacturers and understanding sub-tier capacity, lead times, constraints and risk
• Supply continuity and risk management experience, including multi-sourcing, capacity reservations, allocation management, geographic concentration, obsolescence, EOL/PN management and contingency planning
• Proven track record leading high-value, high-complexity negotiations and delivering significant year-over-year cost performance
• Deep understanding of automotive electronics supply chains, including electronic modules, sensors, and/or electronic components, cost structure, manufacturing processes, and sub-tier dynamics
• Experience owning sourcing execution across a full vehicle program lifecycle, from target setting through launch and running production
• Strong cross-functional influence at the executive level, partnering with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Finance
• Fluency with cost analytics, should-cost modeling, strategic sourcing systems, and enterprise planning tools
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Master’s degree, build-to-print/make-to-spec experience, contract manufacturer/EMS/OEM experience, international work experience, supply resilience programs, AI and advanced analytics, and leadership-development experience are listed as additional qualifications

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in global category strategy development, supply chain management, and high-stakes negotiations, with a strong focus on automotive electronics and supplier relationship management. Proven ability to lead teams, drive cost efficiency, and ensure compliance with regulatory and sustainability standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Global Category Strategy Development
• High-Stakes Negotiations
• Supply Chain Management
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Automotive Electronics Expertise

Hard Skills

• Purchasing
• Commodity Management
• Cost Analytics
• Should-Cost Modeling
• Strategic Sourcing
• Supply Continuity Management
• Risk Management
• Negotiation
• Sourcing Execution
• Manufacturing Processes

Soft Skills

• Cross-Functional Influence
• Team Leadership
• Change Leadership
• Talent Development
• Feedback and Objective Setting

Industry Keywords

• Automotive Supply Chain
• Tier 2 Suppliers
• Electronic Components
• Supply Resilience Programs
• Compliance and Sustainability

Tools & Technologies

• Strategic Sourcing Systems
• Enterprise Planning Tools
• AI and Digital Tools