Team Manager

Ford Motor Company
Wayne, MI

Who this role is best for

Geared toward candidates with operations leadership experience comfortable with cross-functional collaboration and process optimization.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with 4+ years in operations leadership and experience managing 50+ hourly employees
    — “Experience successfully leading a manufacturing function and directly overseeing 50+ hourly employees at once”
  • Individuals with a demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement and implement corrective actions
    — “Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions”
  • Candidates who have built positive, inclusive cultures and fostered employee engagement
    — “Foster employee engagement and promote a culture of respect, teamwork, and inclusiveness”

Things to consider

  • No visa sponsorship is available, which may limit eligibility for non-US candidates
    — “Visa sponsorship is not available for this position”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience in leading cross-functional teams and driving SQRPC objectives
    — “The Manufacturing Team Manager is responsible for leading daily operations to achieve world-class performance in Safety, Quality, Responsiveness, People, and Cost (SQRPC) objectives”
  • Emphasize leadership in high-volume, complex manufacturing settings with measurable results
    — “Extensive experience in high-volume, complex, manufacturing environments”
  • Showcase a track record of reducing workplace incidents and improving safety compliance
    — “Champion a zero-injury culture by ensuring compliance with all safety standards, policies, and procedures”
  • Demonstrate ability to resolve diverse problems and lead under pressure
    — “Strong problem solver who can lead effectively under pressure and crisis manage when necessary”
  • Include examples of continuous improvement initiatives with cost and quality impact
    — “Drive Continuous Improvement by eliminating internal roadblocks and providing the necessary resources to their teams to support problem resolution resulting in cost/quality improvement”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • achievement of safety goals
  • improvement in quality metrics
  • consistent achievement of production targets
  • increased employee engagement
Typical background
4+ years of progressive responsibilities in operations leadershipexperience in high-volume manufacturing

Skills & requirements

Required

Operations LeadershipProblem-solvingContinuous ImprovementTeam Management

Preferred

Servant LeadershipEmployee Engagement

Stack & domain

Problem-solvingCollaborationLeadershipCommunicationTeamworkContinuous ImprovementData-based Decision-makingManufacturing

About the role

Original posting from Ford Motor Company

As part of our Manufacturing team, you’ll help build the world-class, state-of-the-art smart vehicles we're known for. In our plants around the world, we’re constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. You'll get the satisfaction of making great products people use and love. 

The Manufacturing Team Manager is responsible for leading daily operations to achieve world-class performance in Safety, Quality, Responsiveness, People, and Cost (SQRPC) objectives. This role provides servant leadership to a cross-functional team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement while ensuring manufacturing targets are met.

In this role…

You’ll leverage your exceptional problem-solving skills to effectively identify root causes, implement sustainable corrective actions, and drive operational excellence through data-based decision-making. You’ll collaborate closely with production, quality, engineering, maintenance, and support functions to deliver results while maintaining a safe and inclusive work environment.

What you’ll do…

Champion a zero-injury culture by ensuring compliance with all safety standards, policies, and procedures.Lead efforts to achieve quality objectives, reduce defects, and improve customer satisfaction through robust problem-solving and continuous improvement activities.Drive operational responsiveness by quickly addressing production issues, escalating concerns when necessary, and minimizing disruptions to manufacturing operations.Manage labor, material, and operational resources to achieve cost and productivity targets.Build, develop, and coach high-performing teams through servant leadership, effective communication, recognition, and accountability.Foster employee engagement and promote a culture of respect, teamwork, and inclusiveness.Lead daily business management processes, including SQDCP reviews, performance discussions, and action plan follow-up.Utilize structured problem-solving methodologies to identify root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.Ensure adherence to standardized work, control plans, layered audits, and operational procedures.Partner with stakeholders across the organization to drive continuous improvement initiatives and achieve business objectives.Develop future leaders by providing coaching, mentoring, and growth opportunities for team members.Drive a culture of continuous improvement by identifying waste, improving processes, and implementing best practices.Drive Continuous Improvement by eliminating internal roadblocks and providing the necessary resources to their teams to support problem resolution resulting in cost/quality improvementCollaborate with subject matter experts across functions/departments to drive innovation and deliver timely solutions 

Success Measures

Achievement of safety goals and reduction of workplace incidents.Improvement in quality metrics, customer satisfaction, and defect reduction.Consistent achievement of production and responsiveness targets.Increased employee engagement, retention, and team capability.Delivery of cost, productivity, and continuous improvement objectives.

You'll have...

Education: Bachelor’s degree 

Experience:

4+ years of progressive responsibilities and experience in operations leadershipExtensive experience in high-volume, complex, manufacturing environmentsExperience successfully leading a manufacturing function and directly overseeing 50+ hourly employees at onceDemonstrated track record of building trust and rapport with employees and stakeholders and creating positive and healthy cultures.Excellent leadership skills with demonstrated ability to resolve diverse problemsStrong problem solver who can lead effectively under pressure and crisis manage when necessaryAspiration for continued career growth and new challenges.Successful candidate must be able to demonstrate leadership with outstanding interpersonal, team building, and communication skills 

Even better, you may have...

Education: Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or technical field

Experience:

Operational experience leading automotive manufacturing processes across multiple areas (body, paint, final assembly, etc.)Lean / Six Sigma certification or demonstrated equivalent experience applying lean manufacturing principles and standardized work.Demonstrated experience in final assemblyExperience working in a fast-paced unionized manufacturing environmentYou 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 the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:

Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverageFlexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare and moreFamily building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and moreVehicle discount program for employees and family members, and management leases   Tuition assistanceEstablished and active employee resource groupsPaid time off for individual and team community serviceA generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s DayPaid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.  

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: 

https://fordcareers.co/LL6NonHTHD

This position is a leadership salary grade 6.

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 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.

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Source: Ford Motor Company careers

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