New Model Launch Specialist

In this position...

New Model Introduction Supervisor, Vehicle and Powertrain Launch

The New Model Program Supervisor is responsible for the successful launch of new vehicle or powertrain models within a manufacturing plant. The primary goal is to ensure these launches are delivered on time, within budget, and at target quality levels.

This leadership role is paramount to achieving launch excellence for new vehicle and powertrain models across Ford's North America Manufacturing Plants. The Supervisor will drive success by leading, mentoring, and empowering a high-performing team of launch engineers and will collaborate cross-functionally with diverse skill teams, extending through all management tiers, to ensure adherence to critical launch processes and standards. This leader will also effectively engage and communicate with senior leadership up to the Director level on launch risks and opportunities.

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. If good is just never good enough for you, Ford Quality shares your passion for striving for perfection. We're responsible for driving the continuous improvement efforts that enable Ford to deliver the highest quality products and services. Help us drive operational excellence through such innovative, proprietary initiatives as our Global Product Development System, Quality Operating System and New Model Launch. Work cross-functionally and closely with integrated teams in Manufacturing, Product Development, Purchasing, Marketing, Sales and Service.

What you'll do...

• Budget Management: Ensuring the new model launch is completed within or under the allocated budget.
• Pre-Production Oversight: Managing all activities leading up to the initial prototype and pre-production vehicle builds, ensuring these early builds are cost-effective and meet quality standards.
• Design Change Approval: Reviewing and approving design changes throughout the product development lifecycle, making sure these changes are supported in pre-production builds and thoroughly tested ("proven out") before the official launch.
• Team Support Setup: Ensuring all necessary facilities and resources (like desks, phones, conference rooms, and diagnostic tools) are available for the on-site launch team.
• Issue Resolution: Overseeing an issue management system to track and resolve all issues that could impact the launch, focusing on unresolved and long-standing problems.
• Customer Feedback Integration: Supporting the process of addressing concerns raised by early customer feedback vehicles (often called "Voice of the Customer Fleet") and ensuring these issues are resolved before launch.
• Change Control Management: Managing the new model program's (NMP) involvement in the overall change control process (which may involve electronic approvals), ensuring that any proposed changes are necessary and implemented at the correct time.
• Risk Mitigation: Leading the development of strategies to reduce risks associated with parts that are not yet at full production quality, including plans to test and validate them for a high-quality launch.
• Production Readiness Approval: Leading the "Open to Go" process, which includes verifying the origin and quality of parts ("part pedigree") and providing final approval for any deviations or alerts needed for parts not fully approved for production ("PPAP") before critical build events.
• Plant Issue Tracking: Supporting the manufacturing issue management (often a "whiteboard" process) to ensure issues are resolved promptly.
• Reporting: Proactively identify and dimension launch risks, escalating for timely mitigation and clearly articulating status in NMP assessments.
• Meeting Coordination: Managing the schedule of on-site launch meetings and coordinating daily launch activities.
• Launch Review Presentations: Preparing and presenting comprehensive launch reviews, from early stages through to the "OK to Buy" decision point.
• Production Readiness Scorecards: Leading the approval of "OK to Build/Ship/Buy" scorecards at specific project milestones and beyond, ensuring these scorecards are prepared for review at all management meetings.
• On-Site Modifications: Leading the process for any modifications needed on-site, tracking these changes, and working with the plant and suppliers to manage part updates and inventory reduction plans.
• Lessons Learned: Documenting and sharing lessons learned from assigned launch programs to improve future launches.
• Collaboration: Collaborate extensively and cross-functionally with Launch Specialists, diverse skill teams, and leadership spanning all levels, up to Directors, to drive integrated solutions and ensure seamless project execution.
• Standardization: Promoting consistent practices by adhering to established Launch Quality Standards (LQOS).
• Team Leadership: Responsibly allocating team resources across different programs based on workload and skills, ensuring successful launches, and managing personnel functions, including training.

Travel Requirement: This position requires frequent and extensive travel, including long-term assignments (up to 9-12 months at a time) to support vehicle assembly plants during new model launches.

What you'll do...

• Budget Management: Ensuring the new model launch is completed within or under the allocated budget.
• Pre-Production Oversight: Managing all activities leading up to the initial prototype and pre-production vehicle builds, ensuring these early builds are cost-effective and meet quality standards.
• Design Change Approval: Reviewing and approving design changes throughout the product development lifecycle, making sure these changes are supported in pre-production builds and thoroughly tested ("proven out") before the official launch.
• Team Support Setup: Ensuring all necessary facilities and resources (like desks, phones, conference rooms, and diagnostic tools) are available for the on-site launch team.
• Issue Resolution: Overseeing an issue management system to track and resolve all issues that could impact the launch, focusing on unresolved and long-standing problems.
• Customer Feedback Integration: Supporting the process of addressing concerns raised by early customer feedback vehicles (often called "Voice of the Customer Fleet") and ensuring these issues are resolved before launch.
• Change Control Management: Managing the new model program's (NMP) involvement in the overall change control process (which may involve electronic approvals), ensuring that any proposed changes are necessary and implemented at the correct time.
• Risk Mitigation: Leading the development of strategies to reduce risks associated with parts that are not yet at full production quality, including plans to test and validate them for a high-quality launch.
• Production Readiness Approval: Leading the "Open to Go" process, which includes verifying the origin and quality of parts ("part pedigree") and providing final approval for any deviations or alerts needed for parts not fully approved for production ("PPAP") before critical build events.
• Plant Issue Tracking: Supporting the manufacturing issue management (often a "whiteboard" process) to ensure issues are resolved promptly.
• Reporting: Proactively identify and dimension launch risks, escalating for timely mitigation and clearly articulating status in NMP assessments.
• Meeting Coordination: Managing the schedule of on-site launch meetings and coordinating daily launch activities.
• Launch Review Presentations: Preparing and presenting comprehensive launch reviews, from early stages through to the "OK to Buy" decision point.
• Production Readiness Scorecards: Leading the approval of "OK to Build/Ship/Buy" scorecards at specific project milestones and beyond, ensuring these scorecards are prepared for review at all management meetings.
• On-Site Modifications: Leading the process for any modifications needed on-site, tracking these changes, and working with the plant and suppliers to manage part updates and inventory reduction plans.
• Lessons Learned: Documenting and sharing lessons learned from assigned launch programs to improve future launches.
• Collaboration: Collaborate extensively and cross-functionally with Launch Specialists, diverse skill teams, and leadership spanning all levels, up to Directors, to drive integrated solutions and ensure seamless project execution.
• Standardization: Promoting consistent practices by adhering to established Launch Quality Standards (LQOS).
• Team Leadership: Responsibly allocating team resources across different programs based on workload and skills, ensuring successful launches, and managing personnel functions, including training.

Travel Requirement: This position requires frequent and extensive travel, including long-term assignments (up to 9-12 months at a time) to support vehicle assembly plants during new model launches.