Lifecycle Cost Manager

In this position...

At Ford Motor Company, cost and quality are critical pillars of our success. The Global Lifecycle Cost team plays a pivotal role in achieving world-class material costs by actively leading target setting for forward model programs and directing cross-functional teams to ensure efficient cost assumptions across our entire global product portfolio.

About the Role:

As Global Lifecycle Cost Manager (LL5) for Unit Programs, you will direct a team of supervisors and analysts driving competitive material costs across Ford’s global propulsion technologies—including internal combustion engines, transmissions, electric drive units, and high-voltage battery packs. Applying Ford’s "Four Lenses" framework to establish challenging material cost targets, you will partner with Motion Tech Strategy, Tech Platform Planning, Finance, Supply Chain and Engineering to optimize cost performance from concept through program approval.

What you’ll do:

• Lifecycle Target Setting: Lead the lifecycle target setting process across multiple unit and module programs using the "Four Lenses" approach in close collaboration with Program Teams, Product Finance, and Motion Tech / Tech Platform Planning & Strategy.
• Process Leadership & Execution: Serve as the process owner and execution leader for lifecycle cost management across Ford Motors unit and module programs.
• Global Process Integration: Drive global cost process integration, aligning directly with Ford’s broader product development and cycle planning strategies.
• Financial Analysis & Trade-Offs: Conduct robust financial analyses and lead critical trade-off decisions to ensure programs achieve their material cost targets.
• Strategic Sourcing & Sourcing Management: Support source to target workstreams; actively manage cost changes from initial commitment through launch to ensure material cost objectives are achieved at Start of Production (SOP).
• Workshops & Design for Process: Lead supplier workshops and implement "Design for Process" initiatives to proactively identify and resolve potential cost gaps prior to final supplier pricing.
• Digital Ecosystem Utilization: Utilize advanced digital ecosystem tools (managed by Global Total Cost) to establish efficient cost baselines, track physical content and sourcing changes, conduct competitive benchmarking, and generate optimal cost estimates.
• Scenario Planning: Develop ad-hoc "what-if" cost studies to inform strategic and tactical decision-making.
• Continuous Cost Optimization: Champion and implement in-cycle cost reduction ideas (e.g., from the Cost Reduction Idea Database) where the business case is strongest; integrate promising ideas from program status reviews into earlier development phases.
• Competitive Benchmarking: Continuously monitor global competitive benchmarking insights to challenge and optimize Ford's content and requirement specifications.

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You'll have...

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and work experience).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in automotive product development.
• 5+ years of experience supervising and leading technical or analytical teams.

Even better, you may have...

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven track record leading large, complex teams or cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in competitive automotive design analysis.
• Direct experience in automotive cost engineering, material costing, or financial analysis within an automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier.
• Strong integration of engineering principles, program management methodologies, and robust business acumen.

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
• 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
• Generous vacation time, sick/personal time, and paid holidays, including between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day

This position is leadership level 5 and ranges 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.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5

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.

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