Hybrid Supply Chain Project Manager – REE, Magnets

at Ford Motor Company

• Job title: Supply Chain Project Manager – REE, Magnets
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior, Lead
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: ERP
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Dearborn, United States

About the role

• Supply Chain Project Manager leading supply chain initiatives for rare earth materials at Ford. Ensuring project success from initiation to completion for optimized delivery and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project execution for rare earth and magnet supply chain initiatives, from initiation through completion, ensuring projects are delivered on schedule, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives.
• Develop comprehensive project estimates, plans, and approaches, tracking milestones and evaluating project issues to facilitate timely resolution.
• Guide all supply chain initiatives, including new product introductions, product changes, logistical enhancements, and vendor changes.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of project execution processes, standardizing workflows for scheduling, cost control, procurement, and risk management.
• Develop and implement global sourcing strategies for critical rare earth materials, components, and magnets, identifying and qualifying new sources worldwide.
• Analyze and manage critical lead times for materials, logistics, quality assurance processes, and customs clearance across diverse international jurisdictions.
• Research supplier markets and pricing trends for key commodities and services, providing subject matter expertise on the rare earth and recycling markets.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, program, legal, finance, and sustainability teams to align supply chain activities with business and technical requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and manage relationships with global suppliers (e.g., miners, refiners, manufacturers, traders, recyclers), supporting onboarding processes and ensuring operational integration.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements, ensuring favorable terms that mitigate a broad range of risks, including geopolitical instability, price volatility, and logistical disruptions.
• Monitor supplier performance against key metrics (cost, quality, delivery) and recommend improvements.
• Actively manage and optimize supplier relationships to reduce lead times, lower costs, and enhance overall efficiency.
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical instability, price volatility, logistical disruptions, policy/tariff changes, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns.
• Implement due diligence and traceability processes to ensure responsible sourcing.
• Ensure adherence to company processes, quality expectations, and compliance requirements.
• Support the rollout of supply chain technology platforms (e.g., project management software, ERP/MRP systems) and contribute to related training and onboarding materials.
• Identify inefficiencies and drive the adoption of best practices, templates, and tools to improve project delivery performance.
• Analyze supplier data to identify risks, trends, issues, and opportunities, enacting change for performance improvement or risk avoidance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Material Science, Economics, or a related field. An MBA or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management is preferred.
• Minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience in an operational capacity within strategic sourcing, commodity management, or supply chain roles, preferably within complex global industries.
• Hands-on experience with rare earths, magnets, or advanced materials supply chains is essential.
• Proven track record in program management and scaling new manufacturing facilities or supply chains.
• Experience with new product introduction, supply planning, demand management, and forecasting.
• Experience leading the implementation of new organizational processes aligned with ERP configuration.
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage end-to-end execution, generate and track milestones, and resolve issues.
• Outstanding analytical, detail-oriented, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate supplier proposals, cost drivers, and market trends.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and negotiation skills with internal and external stakeholders, including senior levels.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration abilities, capable of working with diverse teams (engineering, legal, finance, sustainability).
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and standards, and clearly communicate these requirements to suppliers.
• Proven ability to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate complex supply chain risks, including geopolitical and logistical challenges.
• Knowledge of business systems and technology for managing supply chains, including ERP/MRP experience.

Benefits

• 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 Year’s Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.