Lean Strategist

Ford-Motor-Company; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 112,680 - 212,760; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Parental leave

Back-up child care

Vehicle discount program

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Ford Motor Company is seeking a Lean Strategist to drive continuous improvement across our manufacturing footprint. You will design strategic frameworks, mentor cross-functional teams, and evolve the Ford Production System to boost throughput and reduce waste.

You will lead end-to-end Kaizen efforts, integrate lean into early product launches, and standardize 5S/visual management to sustain safe, organized operations. Travel up to 50% is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level engineering degree in manufacturing or related field.
• 4+ years leading large-scale lean transformations in manufacturing.
• Deep mastery of lean tools: VSM, Yamazumi, 5S, standardized work, A3 solving.
• Ability to mentor cross-functional teams and travel up to 50%.
• Leadership to influence all levels from shop floor to exec.

Responsibilities

• FPS Stewardship: align lean activities with standards and drive evolution.
• Model Areas: create and sustain best-practice blueprints for scaling.
• Value Stream Mapping sessions across plants for current/future state.
• Lead high-impact Kaizen events at manufacturing plants.
• Launch readiness: integrate lean early in vehicle programs.
• 5S & Visual Management: standardize and audit across sites.
• Cross-functional mentorship across Finance, HR, Eng, Ops.

Skills

Lean tools

VSM

Yamazumi

5S

A3 Solver

Education

BASc in Engineering - Manufacturing

Tools

Ford Production System

Job description

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.

As part of our Manufacturing team, you’ll help build the world‑class, state‑of‑the‑art smart vehicles we're known for. In our plants around the world, we’re constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. You'll get the satisfaction of making great products people use and love.

In this role…

As a Lean Strategist, you will be a key architect of Ford’s continuous improvement culture. You will be responsible for designing and implementing strategic frameworks that drive efficiency, quality, and safety across our manufacturing footprint. This role goes beyond simple tactical application; you will be expected to mentor cross-functional teams, integrate lean principles into new engineering product launches, and evolve the Ford Production System (FPS) to meet the challenges of the future.This role will travel 50% of the time.

What You’ll Do…

• Ford Production System (FPS) Stewardship: Serve as the subject matter expert on FPS, ensuring all lean engineering activities align with corporate standards while driving the evolution of the system to improve throughput and reduce waste.
• Model Area Development: Lead the creation and sustainment of 'Model Areas' to serve as the gold standard for operational excellence, providing a blueprint for scaling improvements across Ford manufacturing plants.
• Value Stream Mapping (VSM): Facilitate end-to-end VSM sessions across Ford manufacturing plants to identify 'Current State' bottlenecks across engineering and design 'Future State' maps that optimize material and information flow.
• Kaizen Leadership: Organize and lead high-impact Kaizen events at Ford manufacturing plants, empowering operators and staff to generate and implement ideas (aiming for the high levels of operator engagement seen in our Lean Academies).
• Launch Readiness: Partner with GME and PTME to ensure 'Lean from the Start.' Integrate lean manufacturing principles into the early stages of vehicle engineering programs to ensure seamless, waste‑free launches.
• 5S & Visual Management: Standardize and audit 5S practices to ensure a safe, organized, and efficient work environment where abnormalities are immediately visible.
• Cross‑Functional Mentorship: Coach participants from diverse backgrounds (Finance, HR, Engineering, and Operations) on lean tools, including Yamazumi charts, Spaghetti diagrams, and 5-Why root cause analysis.

You’ll Have…

• Education: Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) in Engineering - Manufacturing Engineering, BSEE, BSME, BSCE, BSCE, BSIE, Math, Psychics.
• Experience: 4 or more years of progressive experience in a manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of leading large-scale lean transformations across engineering.
• Technical Expertise: Deep mastery of Lean tools, specifically:
  • Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and Spaghetti Diagramming.
  • Yamazumi (Line Balancing) and Standardized Work.
  • 5S and Visual Factory Management.
  • A3 Problem Solving and Drill-down Trees.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to influence at all levels, from shop‑floor operators to executive leadership.
• Travel: up to 50% to other Ford locations.

Even Better You’ll Have…

• Tenure in the automotive manufacturing space
• Experience delivering training across plant leadership
• Experience leading high-impact continuous improvement initiatives

• 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 $112,680-212,760.

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

Visa sponsorship may be 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. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week.

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