Team Manager Production, Ford Energy

In this position...

As the Team Manager - Production, you will lead the execution, optimization, and continuous improvement of high-volume assembly and manufacturing operations within our advanced BESS facility. In this role, you will:

• Lead with Purpose: Build, inspire, and lead an agile production team to deliver advanced battery storage technology driving the future of the American grid.
• Lead System Performance: Drive standardization, discipline, and execution of the Ford Energy Production System (FEPS) to ensure peak manufacturing efficiency, quality, and operational stability.
• Enable Business Results: Deliver SQDCPME (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, People, Maintenance, Environment) objectives through effective shift scheduling, resource alignment, and line performance management.
• Drive Continuous Improvement: Champion data-driven decision-making to optimize cycle times, eliminate production bottlenecks, reduce scrap, and maximize First Time Through (FTT) rates.
• Develop People & Capability: Build a high-performing manufacturing team through hands-on coaching, mentorship, and skill development of production operators, team leaders, and technicians.
• Partner Cross-Functionally: Align seamlessly with Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Logistics to resolve systemic line issues, support new product launches, and meet plant-wide objectives.

Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating U.S. energy independence. Leveraging Ford's century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems. We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid. Why Ford Energy? At Ford Energy, you have the backing of an industrial manufacturing powerhouse with the agility of a dedicated energy startup offering industry leading technology. We offer a competitive compensation package including performance-based bonuses, Ford vehicle discounts, and the opportunity to shape the energy strategy of one of the world's most iconic brands.

What you'll do...

Strategic & Operational Leadership:

• Accountable for department-wide performance against key manufacturing metrics, including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), First Time Through (FTT) capability, scrap reduction, and unit cost.
• Translate high-level corporate business plans into actionable, daily shop-floor manufacturing strategies, ensuring seamless alignment across all production shifts.
• Ensure absolute compliance with contamination-control protocols, cleanroom standards, and material handling guidelines critical to battery energy storage technology.
• Direct the response to critical facility constraints, material shortages, or major equipment failures, ensuring rapid escalation, root-cause resolution, and sustainable corrective actions.
• Manage department budgets, staffing plans, capacity constraints, and operational expenditure (OpEx) targets. Lead daily pre-task analyses and support safe work execution across all production shifts.

Quality & Continuous Improvement:

• Champion systemic continuous improvement efforts, utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, DMAIC) to eliminate waste and variability.
• Govern the layered process audit (LPA) structure and process confirmation routines to ensure total adherence to standardized work.
• Partner with Quality and Launch Engineering to manage new product introductions (NPI), engineering changes, and system validation trials without compromising daily throughput.

Leadership & Culture:

• Directly lead, evaluate, and develop Senior Production Supervisors and department staff, establishing clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Foster a culture of psychological safety, absolute integrity, and collaboration, promoting trust and high engagement across all levels of the organization.
• Lead high-level tiered operating meetings (Tier 3/4) to align cross-functional plant leadership (Maintenance, Quality, Logistics, and Engineering) on daily priorities and systemic issues.
• Manage team relations proactively, ensuring all operational decisions comply with company policies and applicable agreements.

Safety & Environmental Stewardship

• Own the safety culture for the production department, driving a zero-injury mindset and ensuring compliance with all government, corporate, and plant safety regulations.
• Enforce rigorous adherence to safety routines, control plans, ergonomic standards, and environmental requirements on the production floor.

Capabilities for Success:

• Resilient Leader: An emotionally intelligent leader who remains calm and decisive in ambiguous or high-pressure situations.
• Collaborative Influencer: A proven ability to build trust and influence cross-functional teams to achieve shared business strategies.
• Complexity Manager: Skilled at managing highly complex processes and communicating effectively with all levels of leadership.
• Business Acumen: Strong operational and project management skills with a focus on metrics-driven team development and resource optimization.

What you'll do...

Strategic & Operational Leadership:

• Accountable for department-wide performance against key manufacturing metrics, including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), First Time Through (FTT) capability, scrap reduction, and unit cost.
• Translate high-level corporate business plans into actionable, daily shop-floor manufacturing strategies, ensuring seamless alignment across all production shifts.
• Ensure absolute compliance with contamination-control protocols, cleanroom standards, and material handling guidelines critical to battery energy storage technology.
• Direct the response to critical facility constraints, material shortages, or major equipment failures, ensuring rapid escalation, root-cause resolution, and sustainable corrective actions.
• Manage department budgets, staffing plans, capacity constraints, and operational expenditure (OpEx) targets. Lead daily pre-task analyses and support safe work execution across all production shifts.

Quality & Continuous Improvement:

• Champion systemic continuous improvement efforts, utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, DMAIC) to eliminate waste and variability.
• Govern the layered process audit (LPA) structure and process confirmation routines to ensure total adherence to standardized work.
• Partner with Quality and Launch Engineering to manage new product introductions (NPI), engineering changes, and system validation trials without compromising daily throughput.

Leadership & Culture:

• Directly lead, evaluate, and develop Senior Production Supervisors and department staff, establishing clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Foster a culture of psychological safety, absolute integrity, and collaboration, promoting trust and high engagement across all levels of the organization.
• Lead high-level tiered operating meetings (Tier 3/4) to align cross-functional plant leadership (Maintenance, Quality, Logistics, and Engineering) on daily priorities and systemic issues.
• Manage team relations proactively, ensuring all operational decisions comply with company policies and applicable agreements.

Safety & Environmental Stewardship

• Own the safety culture for the production department, driving a zero-injury mindset and ensuring compliance with all government, corporate, and plant safety regulations.
• Enforce rigorous adherence to safety routines, control plans, ergonomic standards, and environmental requirements on the production floor.

Capabilities for Success:

• Resilient Leader: An emotionally intelligent leader who remains calm and decisive in ambiguous or high-pressure situations.
• Collaborative Influencer: A proven ability to build trust and influence cross-functional teams to achieve shared business strategies.
• Complexity Manager: Skilled at managing highly complex processes and communicating effectively with all levels of leadership.
• Business Acumen: Strong operational and project management skills with a focus on metrics-driven team development and resource optimization.