Ford Customization Planning Manager

Lincoln Motor Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 218,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Vehicle discount program for employees

Job summary

Lincoln Motor Company seeks a Planning Manager for Customization. You will own end-to-end customization on assigned vehicle lines, from ideation to market execution, leading cross-functional teams across marketing, engineering, and production.

You will develop cycle plans for accessories, analyze market data, and secure approvals to drive revenue and profits. This role requires strong collaboration and strategic thinking, with a focus on Ford/Lincoln collaborations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5 years leading cross-functional teams and planning activities.
• 3 years in vehicle planning, cycle planning, product marketing, strategy or program management.
• 3 years solving complex cross-functional challenges.

Responsibilities

• Develop a full cycle plan of accessories and buzz model packages through the business plan period.
• Drive deep customer understanding with GM/marketing teams to ensure FC cycle plan fills key gaps in the marketplace/Ford portfolio.
• Leverage customer and sales data to drive business cases and review programs for optimal capital use.
• Identify and develop detailed proposals for new accessories, options and features for production and dealer channels.
• Lead FC GPDS and Ford Customization Product Development System.
• Manage business case development, provide planning direction and secure approvals for customization projects.
• Ensure smooth transition from Planning to Program Management at hand-off and achieve revenue and profit targets, take rates, parts volumes and budgets.
• Lead monthly discussions with senior leadership on business health and opportunities.
• Represent Ford Customization in cross-functional forums to raise awareness of the accessory cycle plan.

Skills

5 years cross-functional leadership

Vehicle planning experience

Program management

Problem solving across functions

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Overview

At Ford, you’ll work on ideas that matter, alongside passionate people who want to make a global impact. Together, we’re shaping the next era of transportation—grounded in purpose, driven by progress. Make your move.

• Job Type: Full time
• Work Type: Hybrid

Ford Customization Planning Manager

We made history and now we work to transform the future — for our customers, our communities and our families. You’ll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

In this position…

The Ford Customization team (formerly Vehicle Personalization) is looking for a new Planning Manager! This individual will be responsible for developing and implementing all aspects of customization on their assigned vehicle lines.

This leader will serve as the end-to-end owner of the business and will be the go-to-lead on accessories and personalization for their vehicle line. This is a wonderful opportunity for strong leaders who are interested in both forward model ideation and in-market planning and execution.

What you’ll do…

• Develop a full cycle plan of accessories and buzz model packages through the business plan period
• Drive deep customer understanding with GM/marketing teams to ensure FC cycle plan is filling in key gaps in the marketplace/Ford portfolio
• Leverage customer and sales data to drive business cases and to consistently review and challenge programs to ensure best use of capital allocation
• Identify and develop detailed product proposals for new accessories, options and feature vehicles for production and dealer channel offerings
• Lead FC GPDS and Ford Customization Product Development System
• Manage business case development/analysis, provide planning direction and secure approval for Ford Customization projects.
• Ensure smooth transition from Planning to Program Management at hand-off. Ensure achievement of key business objectives including revenue & profit targets, take rates, part volumes and budget adherence.
• Lead monthly discussion with senior leadership on business health, areas of opportunity, help needed, etc.
• Represent Ford Customization in key cross-functional forums as required, ensuring broad awareness of the accessory cycle plan through the company

The ideal candidate for this position will be a proven hands-on leader with a broad understanding of all organizations related to the creation and production of Ford/Lincoln vehicles.Additionally, the ideal candidate will be an excellent collaborator and communicator with the ability to drive a program through ideation to execution.

You’ll have…

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5 years of experience organizing and leading cross-functional teams, including stakeholders in POV alignment, planning and business integration activities
• 3 years of experience with Vehicle planning, cycle planning, product marketing, strategy and/or program management
• 3 years of demonstrated success in problem solving complex cross-functional challenges

Even better, you may have…

• Experience with accessories / buzz models a plus
• Demonstrated understanding of the Ford Finance process used to create and approve business cases
• Experience working on cycle plan and forward model programs
• Demonstrated ability to make business critical decisions and owning end-to-end implications of those decisions
• Demonstrated project management skills
• Ability to work independently yet collaboratively across organizations
• Possess strong interpersonal skills, demonstrating integrity in all actions
• Prior vendor/supplier management
• Demonstrated extraordinary teamwork and leadership behaviors
• Comfortable interfacing with Executive level leadership
• Deep experience in the Ford system beyond VP/FCSD; proven track record of integration and knowledge of other functions and groups within Ford, particularly product development

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 of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

• 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.

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate’s skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid#LI-MK1