Ford Defense Business Manager

Job ID: 73780
Location: Dearborn, Michigan
Category: PD Operations and Quality

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At Ford, you’ll work on ideas that matter, alongside passionate people who want to make a global impact. Together, we’re shaping the next era of transportation—grounded in purpose, driven by progress. Make your move.

Job Type: Full time
Work Type: Hybrid

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Ford Defense Business Manager

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.

In this position...

Ford Defense is establishing a new business that will require disciplined enterprise setup, senior-leader alignment, clear governance, and coordinated execution across functions. The Business Manager will serve as a strategic business integrator and operating lead during the formation and evolution of the business, supporting senior leaders as they define the operating model, standup the business, establish internal governance, and build the management systems required to operate effectively. This role is intentionally designed to evolve over time. During formation, the focus will be on business setup, stand-up execution, governance, decision cadence, and cross-functional integration. As the business matures, the role will transition toward ongoing business operations, performance management, and growth efforts.

Business Formation & Stand-Up

Support senior leaders in defining and executing the roadmap to establish Ford Defense as a scalable business, translating strategic intent into workstreams, milestones, decisions, and accountable owners.
Support cross-functional coordination of stand-up activities, including definition of organizational boundaries, responsibilities, processes, systems, financial structures, and operating interfaces with the broader enterprise.
Partner with Finance, Legal, Purchasing, HR, IT, Security, Engineering, Manufacturing, and other functions to define and implement the capabilities required for the new business.
Identify issues created by existing enterprise processes or policies and drive pragmatic solutions that preserve appropriate controls while enabling speed and accountability.

Governance & Operating Model

Design and implement the internal governance model, including decision rights, approval authorities, management forums, escalation paths, and operating cadences.
Establish clear interfaces between Ford Defense leadership and enterprise functions to ensure decisions are made at the appropriate level and with defined accountability.
Develop executive-level governance materials, dashboards, decision briefs, and action tracking for leadership reviews.
Ensure governance evolves with maturity, scale, risk profile, and strategic priorities of the business rather than becoming unnecessarily bureaucratic.
Define and maintain core business-management processes, including annual planning, objective setting, resource prioritization, risk management, and performance reviews.

Strategic Business Management

Serve as a trusted business partner to senior leaders, converting strategic priorities into coordinated execution across the organization.
Develop business cases, options, recommendations, and executive summaries to support investment, resource, partnership, and operating decisions.
Establish and monitor KPIs covering financial performance, program execution, operational readiness, growth, risk, and organizational health.
Coordinate strategic planning, operating reviews, and leadership priorities to maintain alignment across functions and programs.
Provide fact-based analysis and challenge assumptions when required to improve business performance and decision quality.

Cross-Functional Integration & Execution

Act as a central integration point across Ford Defense and enterprise stakeholders, ensuring issues are surfaced early and resolved with clear ownership.
Lead complex, ambiguous initiatives that span multiple organizations and do not have an established playbook.
Drive action closure and accountability across leadership decisions and major business-establishment workstreams.
Build effective working relationships across functional and organizational boundaries, balancing the needs of the new business with enterprise requirements.
Support organizational change and communication as responsibilities, processes, and governance structures evolve.

Role Evolution

Continuously assess the needs of the business and adapt the scope of the Business Manager role as Ford Defense progresses from formation to steady-state operations and growth.
Transition emphasis over time from stand-up and setup activities toward business performance, strategic planning, portfolio integration, operational efficiency, and growth enablement.
Build repeatable processes and management systems while maintaining flexibility appropriate for a developing business.
Anticipate capability gaps and recommend changes to organization, governance, processes, or resources before they constrain execution.

You'll have...

Bachelor's degree
8+ years of experience in business management, strategy, program management, operations, finance, engineering, or related roles within a complex organization.
3+ years of experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving senior leaders and multiple enterprise functions.
3+ years of program management and organizational skills, with the ability to convert ambiguous objectives into structured plans and measurable outcomes.
2+ years of experience developing business cases, operating plans, KPIs, and executive-level recommendations.
2+ years of executive communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex issues into concise decisions, risks, and recommendations.
1+ years of experience with governance, internal controls, delegated authorities, compliance requirements, and risk-management frameworks.

Even better, you may have...

Experience establishing a new business, business unit, subsidiary, joint venture, carve-out, or major enterprise transformation.
Experience in defense, government contracting, regulated industries, automotive, aerospace, or advanced engineering businesses.
Experience working across Finance, Legal, Purchasing, HR, IT, Security, Engineering, and Manufacturing organizations.
Experience with strategic planning, portfolio management, organizational design, or business operations.
Ability to influence without direct authority and create alignment among stakeholders with competing objectives.
Comfort moving between strategy and detailed execution, with a bias toward action and measurable results.
Confidence to challenge the status quo, simplify processes, and build new ways of working when existing approaches do not meet the needs of the business.
High degree of judgment, discretion, accountability, and attention to detail. Ability to influence without direct authority and create alignment among stakeholders with competing objectives.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment where roles, processes, organizational boundaries, and priorities are still being defined.

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 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100.

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/LL6

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. #LI-Hybrid #LI-MK1

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Change the world with your ideas.

Speak up. We’re listening. At Ford, we believe the right ideas, and the people behind them, can move an entire industry. Here, you'll work with teams who value your voice, push bold ideas forward, and leave a mark that lasts.

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Support designed to go the distance.

From day one, Ford invests in you with medical benefits built to help you plan for what’s next. You’ll also get support for you and your family that meets you at every step, so you can move forward with confidence.

Health and Wellness

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, mental health, and unique wellness perks keep you and your family supported every step of the way.
Financial and Retirement Programs

Build a strong financial future with robust retirement contributions, savings programs, and free personalized financial planning tools.
Flexible Vacation and Holidays

Enjoy your time away from work with generous vacation, holidays, and flexible family leave designed to help you balance life and work with ease.
Vehicle Discount Program

The best thing about building great products is driving them! The second-best thing: sharing your discount with family and friends so they can drive them, too.
Family Growth and Support

Grow your family confidently with fertility, surrogacy, and adoption assistance, paid parental leave, and a supportive new-parent ramp-up program.
Additional Programs

Enjoy unexpected extras like pet insurance, legal services, identity protection, and access to convenient health and wellness services.

Ford gives me the space to innovate, to lead, and to serve — all while staying true to who I am as an engineer, educator, and parent. It’s not just a career; it’s a community that drives change.

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Ford Defense Business Manager

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Change the world with your ideas.

Support designed to go the distance.

Health and Wellness

Financial and Retirement Programs

Flexible Vacation and Holidays

Vehicle Discount Program

Family Growth and Support

Additional Programs

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