Senior Manager, Product Research

Ford; Dearborn (MI); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 268,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Vehicle discount program

Job summary

Ford Motor Company seeks a senior leader to define the strategic vision for global customer research within the GPDS, embedding consumer insights into product development and long-range portfolio decisions.

You will advise executives across Product Development, Design, and Marketing, direct research partnerships, govern program lifecycles, and lead a diverse global team to deliver actionable insights that steer Ford’s future mobility strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with coursework in statistics, research methods, consumer behavior, and data analysis.
• 7+ years' experience in market research; quantitative and qualitative methods.
• Ability to apply market research findings to business problems.
• Ability to manage complex projects with cross functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Act as trusted advisor to executive leaders across Product Development, Design, and Marketing.
• Synthesize insights to influence long-range planning, portfolio strategy, and roadmaps.
• Direct and optimize the strategic research supplier ecosystem and expand global supplier base.
• Cultivate partnerships with cross-functional executive clients to address research needs.
• Govern lifecycle of research programs from planning to reporting; ensure budget discipline.
• Lead and develop a diverse global team of strategic research professionals.

Skills

Market research

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree (statistics, research methods, consumer behavior)

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Aurora

Ariba

Job description

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...

This position is responsible for defining the strategic vision, execution framework, and integration of global customer research and insights within the Global Product Development System (GPDS). This role ensures that deep customer requirements and future consumer trends are structurally embedded into product development and long‑range portfolio strategy decisions. As a key leader within Product Research this role governs Truck, Van, and Large Traditional Utility research as well as Buyer Rejector and syndicated studies.

This is a great opportunity to grow your career with Ford - take the next step and be part of shaping the future of mobility.

What you’ll do...

• Act as a trusted advisor and key strategic liaison to executive‑level leaders across Product Development (PD), Design, and Marketing, aligning global research priorities with core corporate business objectives.
• Provide strategic direction and synthesize complex consumer insights to influence long‑range cycle planning, portfolio strategy, and technology roadmaps, ensuring Ford’s future product and mobility plans are consumer‑driven and forward‑looking.
• Direct and optimize the strategic research supplier ecosystem, driving continuous innovation in research methodologies and expanding the global supplier base to keep Ford at the forefront of market research.
• Cultivate deep collaborative partnerships with cross‑functional executive clients to proactively define, prioritize, and address their research and insight requirements.
• Govern the portfolio‑level lifecycle of research programs - from strategic planning and design to analysis and reporting - ensuring flawless execution, actionable outcomes, and optimal budget utilization.
• Establish and enforce rigorous quality and analytical standards for external research partners, providing executive governance to align supplier deliverables with Ford's strategic business objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing, diverse global team of strategic research professionals and managers, fostering a culture of innovation, agility, collaborative problem‑solving, and continuous learning.
• Synthesize complex syndicated studies and macro‑trends to deliver high‑impact, actionable business implications and strategic recommendations directly to Ford leadership.
• Drive the institutionalization of consumer insights across Ford's global enterprise, overseeing the curation, digital mobilization, and sharing of strategic assets within the Knowledge Management System.
• Ensure financial stewardship and operational compliance across program budgets, establishing rigor in project initiation, vendor bidding, and billing procedures using platforms like Aurora and Ariba.

You’ll have...

• Bachelor's degree with relevant coursework in statistics, research methods, consumer behavior, and data analysis (Master’s degree preferred)
• 7+ years' experience in market research; quantitative and qualitative methods
• Ability to apply market research findings to business problems
• Ability to manage complex projects with cross functional stakeholders

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 5 and ranges in Dearborn from $141,700-$268,300. 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.

Internal applicants: moving into this role may result in an adjustment to your current compensation based on the posted pay range for this role, taking into consideration your qualifications and other relevant factors.

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.