Hybrid Lifecycle Cost Manager

at Ford Motor Company

• Job title: Lifecycle Cost Manager
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior, Lead
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Dearborn, United States

About the role

• Lifecycle Cost Manager leading lifecycle cost management for Ford Motor Company. Collaborating with various teams to achieve material cost targets across vehicle programs and product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the lifecycle target setting process across multiple programs using the “Four Lenses” approach to target setting in collaboration with Program Teams, Product Finance, and Planning & Strategy.
• Serve as the process owner and execution leader for lifecycle cost management across multiple vehicle programs.
• Drive global cost process integration, aligning with Ford's broader product development and cycle planning strategies.
• Conduct financial analysis and lead critical trade-off decisions to ensure programs achieve their material cost targets.
• Support strategic supplier selection and sourcing, actively managing cost changes from initial commitment through launch to ensure material cost objectives are met at start of production.
• Lead supplier workshops and implement “Design for process” initiatives to proactively address potential cost gaps before final supplier pricing.
• Utilize advanced digital ecosystem tools (managed by Global Total Cost) to establish efficient cost baselines, track physical content and sourcing changes, conduct competitive benchmarking, and generate optimal cost estimates.
• Develop ad-hoc “what-if” cost studies to inform strategic and tactical decision-making.
• Champion and implement in-cycle cost reduction ideas (e.g., from Cost Reduction Idea Database) where the business case is strongest, and conversely, integrate promising ideas from program status reviews into earlier development phases.
• Continuously monitor global competitive benchmarking insights to challenge and optimize Ford's content and requirement specifications.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related field, or a combination of equivalent education and work experience.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in automotive or other product development.
• 5+ years of experience supervising and leading technical or analytical teams.
• Master’s Degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related quantitative field (even better).
• Proven experience leading large, complex teams or cross-functional initiatives (even better).
• Demonstrated experience in competitive automotive design analysis (even better).
• Direct experience in automotive cost engineering, material costing, or financial analysis within an OEM or Tier 1 supplier (even better).
• A strong blend of engineering principles, program management methodologies, and robust business acumen (even better).

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care, parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up childcare 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.