Design for Service Commodity Manager

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves?

 

In this position... 
The DFS Commodity Manager – Body, Collision & Damageability is responsible for driving strategy and execution of serviceability within the Body Exterior, Interior, and Collision domains. You will lead a team of Commodity Specialists who function as the primary FCSD interface to Product Development (PD), influencing vehicle architecture/design to ensure competitive insurance ratings and efficient collision repair procedures.

What you'll do...

Lead, coach, and develop a team of Commodity Specialists responsible for serviceability of body structures, closures, ornamentation, glass, and related systems

Execute FCSD strategy for Damageability and Repairability. Partner with insurance industry stakeholders to benchmark competition and drive design changes that lower insurance group ratings and Total Cost of Ownership.  Support Collision Marketing initiatives to identify repair facility needs for improved repair quality and technical expertise, ensuring quality collision repairs

Design Influence:

• Engage with Product Development early within the lifecycle to influence vehicle architecture. Ensure Service Requirements and Damageability Targets are met; introduce new service requirements, identify improvements, and manage revisions
• Lead Digital Pre-Assembly (DPA) serviceability test methods, introduce new assessments, identify improvements and manage revisions

ADAS Center of Excellence: Lead the interaction between collision repair and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) design teams through implementation of new and revised Service Requirements


Manage the Paint & Body Technology Center, including management of sponsorships through contracts and collection of funds; own budget and supply order/equipment maintenance

Deliver annual warranty cost avoidance and reduction targets by identifying and eliminating high-cost repair drivers

Drive the strategy for serviceable sub-components vs. full assemblies to reduce repair costs

Build coalitions with Quality, Safety, Manufacturing, and Total Ownership Lifecycle Management to align service goals with broader organizational KPIs




 

You'll have...

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Automotive Technology, Collision Repair Management, Automotive Management, or a related technical field

Equivalent combination of education and significant industry experience (e.g., Body Shop Management, Insurance Estimating and Claims) will be considered
10+ years of relevant experience in the Automotive Industry. This could include:

OEM Experience: Service Engineering, Body Engineering, or Product Development

Retail / Dealership Experience: Hands-on experience in Fixed Operations (Body Shop Manager, Service Manager, etc.) with a strong grasp of Flat Rate labor, Warranty Administration, and the financial drivers of a dealership service department

Collision Industry Experience: Collision Center Management, Technical Training, Insurance Claims/Strategy, or Repairability Research
Body Construction: Deep understanding of modern vehicle architecture, materials (High-Strength Steel, Aluminum, Carbon Fiber), and joining technologies

Repair Methodology: Strong knowledge of collision repair processes, including structural sectioning, anchoring, and refinishing

ADAS Integration: Understanding of how sensor technologies (Radar, Lidar, Camera) impact collision repair and calibration requirements
Familiarity with the collision insurance ecosystem, including rating factors, guidelines, and the interaction between OEM procedures and insurance estimating platforms

Understanding Insurance Loss Data and how it can be leveraged to drive design change

Understanding of the Auto Insurance Industry, particularly in Claims or Underwriting, and how designing for repairability can directly correlate to lower cost of ownership
Blueprint/CAD Literacy: Ability to interpret technical drawings, 3D CAD models

Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritizing high-impact issues

Leadership: Experience leading technical teams or cross-functional working groups to a common goal
Ability to translate technical repair data into financial business cases to drive decision-making with Engineering and Finance leadership

Excellent executive presentation skills; able to distill complex technical issues into clear options for Senior Leadership

Even better, you may have...
Ability to look 3-5 years ahead and develop service strategies that prepare the dealer network for future technologies

Comfortable leading teams through transformation, specifically the shift from mechanical repair to software/sensor-integrated serviceability

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've 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 builder…or 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 Year’s Day 
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time. 

 

This position is leadership level 6 and ranges from $112,680-212,760.




For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6

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 status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.

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