About Ford and ATP 

Do you want to change the world? Ford Motor Company has endured and thrived for more than 118 years by reimagining how things are built. Today, Ford is leading a once-in-a-generation transformation in manufacturing — scaling EVs, integrating humanoid robotics, additive manufacturing, AI vision, and digital platforms into one seamless operating system: the Ford Production System (FPS/FPS+) that operates within the FAST framework.

Ford Motor Company is undergoing a historic industrial shift—from building great vehicles to building great systems that scale across them. The Advanced Industrial Technology & Platforms (AITP) organization was created to operationalize that shift. Our job is not to deploy isolated tools; it is to build a system that learns from factory truth, transforms it into scalable platforms, and turns those platforms into enterprise business value.

The Alliance Manufacturing Innovation Team is the regional engine of this transformation, integrating Ford Europe, IMG, and Otosan into one skilled, cross-embedded organization. We shorten the paths in innovation to deliver the most competitive manufacturing footprint through innovative technological solutions.

Focus: Strategic Cascade, Embedded Leadership & Funnel Velocity

The Opportunity 

Are you ready to set a new standard for quality and efficiency in manufacturing? As the Alliance Manufacturing Innovation Manager, you will lead the integrated cascade of strategic choices for our regional manufacturing footprint. Your mission is to move Ford from "Isolated Innovation" to a "Collaborative, Connected, and Empowered Embedded Organization." You will oversee the simultaneous exploitation of current efficiencies and the exploration of future breakthroughs, ensuring that every idea that enters our "Funnel Tunnel" is designed to scale everywhere.

The Position 

This role is a senior leadership position within the AITP Reach & Launch horizontal. You will report to Global Director of Sight & EU/IMG Labs (Paula Carsí) under ATP and will be matrix linked in EU. And will lead the following people:

• Regional Innovation Leaders: Spain, Germany, UK, IMG, and Otosan.

• Technology Leaders: Heads of the Innovation Pillars (Advanced Robotics, AGVs, Artificial Vision, 3D Printing, Data Engineering, Digitalization, and Agentic AI).

• Skill Team Leaders: Embedded partners in VOME, PTME, MP&L, Quality, and Mfg IT.

Also will play a management role in a product family inside an ATP Vertical.

Need for high availability of travelling

What You’ll Be Able to Do

• Execute the Strategic Cascade: Define the Winning Aspiration, "Where to Play," and "How to Win" for the Europe/IMG/Otosan region.

• Manage the 3-Horizon Portfolio: Lead the simultaneous exploitation and exploration of technology, maintaining a portfolio balance of 60% (Exploit/Efficiency), 30% (Explore/PoC), and 10% (Discover/Research).

• Accelerate the Funnel Tunnel: Oversee the agile process from Idea and Proposal through Prototype and Implementation to "Ready for Replication."

• Orchestrate the Embedded Organization: Manage the matrix structure where Technology Leaders are embedded into AITP product verticals while supporting regional plant SPOCs.

• Drive the Alliance Rhythm: Establish the operating cadence, including Weekly Pillar Meetings, Fortnightly Sprint Reviews, Monthly Governance Forums, and Quarterly Investor Pitches.

• Build the Local Ecosystem: Play a lead role in growing and consolidating local R&D ecosystems, partnering with universities (MIT, UPV), startups (Lanzadera), and government bodies (EU Commission, CDTI).

• Cultivate Entrepreneurial Leaders: Implement the Manufacturing Innovation Curriculum to develop "Ambiguity Navigators" and "System Thinkers" across all levels of the organization.

Success in Role

• Savings Generated: Achieve the YoY target of $XXM in savings through innovation projects.

• Replication Value: Deliver $8M in value specifically from the replication of successful projects across plants.

• Funnel Throughput: Successfully move 70% of PoCs/Pilots to production within one year.

• TARR Score: Maintain a high Technical Adoption Readiness Rate (TARR) across the plant network.

• Culture Growth: 100% of innovation roles aligned with the new Mfg Innovation Curriculum and upskilling programs.

Functional & Technical Knowledge Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Technology, or Business.

• 10+ years of experience in industrial innovation, manufacturing operations, or technology leadership.

• Proven ability to lead complex, matrixed organizations across multiple geographies (Europe, MEA, Asia).

• Deep expertise in the "Alliance Pillars": Advanced Robotics, AGVs, AI Vision, 3D Printing, and Data Analytics.

• Expertise in Agile/SAFe frameworks, acting as a "Business Owner" to drive product-mindset development.

• Strong experience in "Funnel Management"—moving projects from PoC to global replication.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience with Traction Analytics or similar innovation management platforms.

• Knowledge of Ford-specific products and initiatives (e.g., Galata, MILO, CBM, Handroid).

• Experience in "IP Monetization" and generating new business models from industrial technology.

• Strong background in public funding and strategic collaboration with external tech institutes.