Product Manager, Inbound
Dearborn, MI - USA
Job Summary
We made history and now we work to transform the future for our customers our communities and our families. Youll 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.
Enterprise Technology plays a critical part in shaping the future of mobility. If youre looking for the chance to leverage advanced technology to redefine the transportation landscape enhance the customer experience and improve peoples lives this is the opportunity for you. Join us and challenge your IT expertise and analytical skills to help create vehicles that are as smart as you are.
In this position...
The Product Manager North America Inbound Logistics will leverage a robust background in operational leadership and supply chain technologies to guarantee uninterrupted material flow supporting high-volume manufacturing. Operating within the Enterprise Technology Supply Chain & Compliance organization you will lead continuous performance improvements across logistics inventory management and plant reception through advanced digital automation.
In this role you will direct high-impact initiatives including the deployment and enterprise integration of Yard Management Systems (YMS) centralized Material Management Platforms and predictive inbound shipment tracking. You will define the scoping and technical integration strategies connecting enterprise platformsincluding TMS YMS EWM ISDP Rite-Hite dock management and Control Tower / Bid Board ecosystemswhile systematically rationalizing and modernizing fragmented legacy application portfolios.
Additionally you will shape the future state of in-plant automation by establishing architectural standards and adoption roadmaps for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and legacy infrastructure modernization. By cultivating collaborative partnerships across plant operations MP&L carrier networks and global technology teams you will deliver resilient intelligent IT solutions that set a new benchmark for manufacturing logistics.
What youll do...
Product Vision Strategy & Roadmapping
- Establish communicate and maintain a multi-year Now Near Far strategic product roadmap for North America Inbound Logistics technology aligning application evolution with plant operational priorities and enterprise supply chain objectives.
- Define target-state architectures to systematically rationalize modernize and decommission fragmented legacy logistics applications across the regional portfolio.
- Spearhead the evaluation pilot deployment and scaling of emerging capabilities including Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Agentic AI to drive intelligent plant-floor decisioning and automated material movement.
- Establish quantifiable business KPIs and Objectives & Key Results (OKRs)such as dock turn times yard dwell time inventory visibility accuracy and demurrage reductionto measure product value and return on investment.
Core Platform Ownership & Systems Integration
- Serve as the dedicated Product Manager overseeing mission-critical logistics applications including Yard Management Systems (YMS) Inbound Logistics Service Layer (ILSL) Premium Portal Disputed Excess Transportation Cost (DETC) Transportation Management System (TMS)
- Define scope data flows and technical integration requirements connecting plant vendor and enterprise platforms and C-I-A ratings
- Ensure tight alignment with Enterprise Architecture to guarantee secure scalable and resilient data exchanges (APIs event streams EDI) between shop-floor hardware warehouse platforms and enterprise ERPs.
Product Delivery & Agile Execution
- Lead cross-functional software delivery teams (engineers solution architects UX designers data analysts) through all phases of the product development lifecycle using Agile/Scrum best practices.
- Own prioritize and groom the product backlog; author precise epics user stories and acceptance criteria; and lead sprint planning backlog refinement and sprint reviews.
- Manage end-to-end product rollout plans including System Integration Testing cutover execution pilot deployments and hypercare support across North American manufacturing facilities.
- Oversee planned operational deployments and cutover windows providing technical leadership during critical weekend go-lives or plant shutdown windows as required.
Vendor Management & Operational Governance
- Collaborate with software vendors third-party system integrators and equipment partners (e.g. dock automation and AMR hardware vendors).
- Establish monitor and enforce Service Level Agreements (SLAs) software performance metrics contract deliverables and platform release cycles.
- Evaluate vendor feature release notes plan platform upgrades/enhancements and champion necessary architectural improvements to minimize technical debt.Complete SIT Dynatrace alerting capabilities and ServiceNow MTTA/MTTR requirements to reduce risk of near miss or production impact
Plant Operations Partnership & Change Management
- Spend time on the plant floor (gemba walks) to deeply understand physical material flows Just-in-Time (JIT) / Just-in-Sequence (JIS) constraints and dock bottlenecks.
- Cultivate trusted high-impact partnerships with key stakeholders including Material Planning & Logistics (MP&L) Plant Operations Managers Industrial Engineering carrier logistics providers and compliance teams.
- Develop operational readiness and change management frameworksincluding standard operating procedures (SOPs) user training materials and continuous feedback loopsto drive high adoption of newly deployed digital tools across plant floors and logistics yards.
Youll have...
- Bachelors degree in Computer Science Supply Chain Management Logistics Industrial Engineering or a related field
- 5 years of progressive experience in software management supply chain materials management or logistics within automotive or manufacturing environments
- Demonstrated leadership managing vendor support teams in a plant or distribution environment
- Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Just-in-Time (JIT) principles and inventory control systems (CMMS/MMP)
- 5 years experience managing vendors SLAs enhancements/upgrades
- Excellent problem-solving negotiation and communication skills
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment with flexibility to support weekend activities when needed
You may not check every box or your experience may look a little different from what weve 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 builderor 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 Years Day
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $115000-$192900.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidates skills and experience and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope responsibility and competitive market value.
Internal applicants: moving into this role may result in an adjustment to your current compensation based on the posted pay range for this role taking into consideration your qualifications and other relevant factors.
For more information on salary and benefits click here: New Hire Benefits
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 the United States if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability please call 1-.
This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid #LI-MG1
Required Experience:
IC
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