Senior Global SE&O Transformation & Business Operations Manager

In this position...

This pivotal LL5 leadership role is responsible for driving the strategic transformation and operational excellence of Ford's Global Service Engineering & Operations (SE&O). Leading the Global SE&O Transformation & Business Operations function, this position defines forward-looking strategic direction for SE&O's transformation, establishes robust governance, and sets the operating rhythm to ensure SE&O's alignment with Ford's global business objectives. This includes accelerating our transformation journey towards our strategic pillars of Technician Success, Seamless Service, Repair Quality & Efficiency, and Winning Culture, and delivering sustainable, high-performance service operations. The role holds direct oversight of the SE&O Business Planning and Operations team.

What you’ll do...

• Lead SE&O's Strategic Planning & Transformation: Provide executive leadership for SE&O's global strategic planning, business operations, and large-scale transformation initiatives. Champion complex change management efforts, ensuring seamless implementation of new strategies, processes, tools, and organizational designs across the global SE&O enterprise.
• Drive Strategic Governance & Operating Rhythm: Define and lead the global SE&O operating rhythm, including leadership staff meetings, global town halls, and key governance forums, ensuring clear communication, alignment, and follow-through on critical strategic decisions and initiatives.
• Establish and Govern Core SE&O Business Processes: Design, implement, and oversee critical global SE&O business processes, including but not limited to:
• Annual and long-range strategic business planning cycles.
• Global headcount strategy, workforce planning, and organizational design, aligned with our future organizational blueprint.
• Corporate compliance, internal controls, and risk management frameworks relevant to SE&O operations.
• Ensure Fiscal Accountability & Performance: Establish, approve, and take accountability for SE&O’s financial plans, including annual budget, forecasts, and ongoing expense management across multiple cost centers, ensuring delivery of financial targets and optimal resource allocation to strategic priorities.
• Drive Performance Excellence through Data & KPIs: Develop, implement, and lead a comprehensive global KPI and performance management framework for SE&O. Define critical performance indicators and targets, conduct rigorous monthly and quarterly performance reviews, and relentlessly drive data-driven corrective actions and continuous improvement across all functions to achieve measurable business outcomes.
• Ensure Effective Strategy Execution: Translate strategic plans into actionable initiatives and drive their timely and effective execution across global SE&O teams, ensuring accountability and measurable outcomes that directly contribute to our strategic goals.
• Sponsor High-Impact Cross-Functional Initiatives: Sponsor and guide high-impact, cross-functional initiatives to continuously improve service excellence, operational efficiency, and customer experience, in close collaboration with regional teams and other corporate functions, breaking down silos to achieve integrated solutions.
• Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams: Lead, develop, and coach direct reports, including the SE&O Business Planning and Operations team, providing clear objectives, career development support, and ongoing feedback. Build a high-performance culture that emphasizes empowerment, accountability, collaboration, and process improvement, enabling teams and individuals to perform at their fullest potential.
• Champion Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Ensure effective stakeholder management and communication with senior leaders across Ford, providing clear, concise updates on strategy, performance, risks, and opportunities, and fostering strong cross-organizational partnerships.

You'll have…

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10-15+ years of progressive leadership experience in global operations, service engineering, strategic planning, or business transformation within a complex, multinational organization.
• At least 5-7 years in a senior leadership capacity, managing global teams and/or large-scale programs.
• Proven track record of successfully leading large-scale organizational or operational transformations, ideally within a global service or engineering context.
• Deep understanding of global service operations, service engineering principles, and/or the automotive industry dynamics, with an appreciation for emerging technologies (e.g., connected vehicle services, electrification).
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning methodologies (e.g., OKRs, Hoshin Kanri), business process re-engineering, and advanced performance management frameworks.
• Extensive experience with financial planning, budget management, and cost optimization at a global scale.
• Advanced proficiency in data analytics and leveraging insights for strategic decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Expertise in change management principles and a proven ability to lead teams through significant organizational shifts and ambiguity.
• Exceptional executive-level written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage diverse stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster high-performing global teams, empowering individuals and promoting a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a proactive and results-oriented mindset.
• Proven ability to navigate complex global matrix organizations and build strong cross-functional relationships.

Even Better you may have...

• Master's degree (MBA or equivalent) strongly preferred.

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 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 a leadership level 5.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5SP1

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.

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