Product & Program Transition Specialist
Apply NowCompany: Ford Motor Company
Location: Dearborn, MI 48126
Description:
Job Description
Ford is undergoing a significant transformation in its product development and definition processes. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Product & Program Transition Specialist to play a critical role in ensuring a seamless and successful transition from our current state to a modernized future state. As a key member of the [Insert Appropriate Team, e.g., Product Definition Team, Vehicle Program Management Team], you will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the transition of product and program data, processes, and systems. This role requires a blend of analytical skills, project management expertise, change management knowledge, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. You will be instrumental in minimizing disruption, maximizing adoption, and realizing the full benefits of our transformation initiatives.
This role analyzes current and future data models, developing architectural frameworks for data transformation (A-B, B-A, AB). Responsibilities include building and deploying accelerators to scale product/program data transformation for production, leveraging logic for features, rules, reports, labels, and BOM-feature associations.
Responsibilities
What you'll do...
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
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 childcare 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.
For a detailed look at our benefits, click here:
https://fordcareers.co/GSRnon-HTHD
This position is salary grade 8.
Visa sponsorship is available for this position.
Relocation assistance is 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 committed to a culturally diverse workforce. 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.
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-MH5
About Us
At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow's transportation.
About the Team
Ford Product Development is utilizing Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that will delight our customers. Our employees are laser-focused on bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. From autonomy and electrification, to smart mobility technologies, our Product Development teams around the world are working together with excitement to make smart vehicles for a smart world.
Ford is undergoing a significant transformation in its product development and definition processes. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Product & Program Transition Specialist to play a critical role in ensuring a seamless and successful transition from our current state to a modernized future state. As a key member of the [Insert Appropriate Team, e.g., Product Definition Team, Vehicle Program Management Team], you will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the transition of product and program data, processes, and systems. This role requires a blend of analytical skills, project management expertise, change management knowledge, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. You will be instrumental in minimizing disruption, maximizing adoption, and realizing the full benefits of our transformation initiatives.
This role analyzes current and future data models, developing architectural frameworks for data transformation (A-B, B-A, AB). Responsibilities include building and deploying accelerators to scale product/program data transformation for production, leveraging logic for features, rules, reports, labels, and BOM-feature associations.
Responsibilities
What you'll do...
- Develop comprehensive transition plans, including timelines, resource requirements, and communication strategies, to ensure a smooth and coordinated rollout of new product and program definition processes.
- Apply change management principles and methodologies to mitigate resistance to change and promote user adoption of new processes and systems.
- Identify and engage key stakeholders across the organization, building strong relationships and ensuring their active participation in the transition process.
- Develop and deliver clear, concise, and timely communications to stakeholders, keeping them informed of progress, challenges, and upcoming changes.
- Develop and deliver training programs and provide ongoing support to users, enabling them to effectively utilize new processes and systems.
- Plan and execute the migration of product and program data from legacy systems to new systems, ensuring data integrity and accuracy.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation of new processes and systems, providing clear guidance for users.
- Identify potential risks and challenges associated with the transition process, and develop mitigation strategies to minimize their impact.
- Monitor the performance of new processes and systems, identifying areas for improvement and implementing corrective actions.
- Conduct SME deep dives, capturing current state scenarios, pain points, and opportunities.
- Use Case Development: Develop use case/scenario models to illustrate the impact of proposed changes.
- Create future-state product architecture to support the design and implementation of new processes.
- Prepare design templates, points of view (POVs), and other supporting documentation.
- Validate the design of future-state processes through testing and analysis.
- Identify potential adoption gaps, risks, challenges, and develop mitigation strategies.
- Prepare and deliver compelling presentations to various audiences, including senior management, clearly communicating findings and recommendations.
- Proactively contribute innovative concepts and solutions to improve product definition processes.
- Effectively communicate ideas, challenge existing assumptions, and contribute constructively in team settings.
- A willingness to learn to tools and help shape future concepts for Ford's business teams.
- Organize, run, and document meeting outcomes.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 5-7 years of experience in project management, change management, or process improvement, preferably within the automotive industry.
- Strong understanding of product development processes and methodologies.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
- Ability to analyze complex situations, identify risks, and develop effective mitigation strategies.
- Proficiency in using project management tools and techniques.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Experience with project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Experience with Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneNote to communicate in a team environment.
- Strong Excel & PowerPoint skills.
- Experience with data analysis tools (Excel with VB or Power BI).
Preferred Qualifications:
- PMP certification.
- Change Management certification (e.g., Prosci, ACMP).
- Master's Degree in Engineering, Program Management, or a relevant Business area.
- Knowledge of Jira & Confluence
- Knowledge/understanding of relevant industry standards and processes, including automotive-specific terminology, product development lifecycles, and key market trends and processes.
- Experience/knowledge in systems engineering for a manufacturing setting.
- Experience working with BOMs (Bills of Materials), program teams, engineering teams, and product definition systems.
- Experience with MDM/ERP/PLM/CAD systems (any).
- Understanding of engineering, manufacturing, or other industrial business systems and their interaction with product definition processes.
- Working knowledge of part codification and vehicle codification methodologies.
- Knowledge of automotive supply chain management, purchasing processes, or related areas.
- Familiarity with other relevant automotive tools and systems.
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 childcare 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.
For a detailed look at our benefits, click here:
https://fordcareers.co/GSRnon-HTHD
This position is salary grade 8.
Visa sponsorship is available for this position.
Relocation assistance is 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 committed to a culturally diverse workforce. 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.
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-MH5
About Us
At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow's transportation.
About the Team
Ford Product Development is utilizing Design Thinking & User Experience methods to deliver breakthrough products and services that will delight our customers. Our employees are laser-focused on bringing innovative, exciting, and sustainable ideas to life. From autonomy and electrification, to smart mobility technologies, our Product Development teams around the world are working together with excitement to make smart vehicles for a smart world.