Manager, Strategy & Transformation - Lincoln

Ford; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Ford's Lincoln Strategy & Transformation team seeks a high-impact leader to shape long-range brand, product, and experiences strategy within Ford. You will navigate cross-functional partners across Lincoln and Ford, turning insights into decisive actions that drive growth and competitive advantage.

You will lead end-to-end strategy initiatives, from problem framing to operational rollout, with visibility to senior leadership and the broader Ford+ plan.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Economics, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 5+ years with a Master's degree.
• Strategy experience
• Product development experience
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to present to all levels of leadership
• Team player

Responsibilities

• Generate hypotheses and structure problem-solving with leadership and stakeholders.
• Structure and solve problems; define strategic roadmaps with cross-functional partners.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify trends and opportunities.
• Develop data-driven insights and actionable recommendations.
• Communicate strategic insights to senior management and stakeholders.
• Monitor industry trends and regulatory changes; develop KPIs.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication to leadership

Team player

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Economics, or related field

MBA or advanced degree

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.

Our Marketing, Sales & Service organization advances the Ford reputation as a visionary vehicle and mobility services company and helps deliver a trusted customer experience. Use your marketing, sales and service expertise to turn data-driven insights into innovative solutions that enhance sales and customer loyalty. Join us and be the eyes, ears and voice of Ford.

In this position... In Lincoln Strategy & Transformation, you will play a key role in delivering Lincoln's long-range brand, product, and experiences strategy.

Come help architect and operationalize the future of Lincoln's business within Ford.

We are on a mission to not only define our strategic priorities but to build the engines that drive them.

This includes scaling market-leading capabilities and delivering a seamless, digital-first customer experience throughout the product lifecycle.

We are building an elite Strategy & Transformation team to serve as the connective tissue between Lincoln leadership's vision and the operational reality of the Ford+ plan.

We are seeking a high-impact leader who can navigate complex strategic puzzles, mobilize cross-functional teams, and drive the business forward through rigorous execution and measurable outcomes.

This role offers a unique opportunity to tackle the end-to-end lifecycle of Lincoln's most critical strategic initiatives - from initial problem-solving to operational rollout.

As a key workstream leader, you will be at the forefront of shaping the long-term direction of Lincoln within Ford, with high visibility to leadership.

This role will involve strategic planning, market analysis, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure our strategies align with market demands and contribute to company growth.

What you'll do...

• Generate Hypotheses: Rigorously and analytically frame and structure the problem-solving process across topics on your assigned work stream(s), working with strategy leadership and/or stakeholders.
• Structure and Solve The Problem: Determine the most efficient and effective approach to solve complex problems. Collaborate with Lincoln and Ford cross-functional partners across engineering, product development, marketing, and finance to define strategic roadmaps and prioritize initiatives.
• Conduct Analyses: Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify key trends, customer needs, and opportunities for Lincoln's strategic differentiation. Lead the evaluation of potential partnerships, acquisitions, and new business models to enhance our strategy.
• Convert Insights into Competitive Advantage: Oversee the development of a robust, data-driven fact base that moves beyond 'interesting' data to 'decisive' action. You will prioritize key conclusions and independently develop sound recommendations on key initiatives or operational improvements.
• Communicate Effectively and Persuasively: Prepare and present strategic insights and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with Lincoln priorities and broader corporate goals.
• Check & Act: Monitor and respond to industry trends, regulatory changes, and technological advancements to ensure our strategies remain competitive and compliant. Develop metrics and KPIs to track the performance of strategic initiatives and inform necessary adjustments.

You’ll have...

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Economics, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 5+ years of experience with a Master's degree.
• Strategy experience
• Product development experience
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to present to all levels of leadership
• Team player

Even better, you may have...

• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Previous roles within Strategy organizations or at Management Consulting firms in Manager or Senior Manager roles.
• Prior experience leading strategy projects and large-scale programs/projects at a global scale with cross-functional teams.
• Experience leading high-impact cross-functional projects across multiple levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive results in a rapidly evolving industry.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills to build consensus and mobilize teams toward shared goals.
• Ability to synthesize data into actionable insights and strategic recomm