Manufacturing New Programs Manager (KY)

Introduction to BlueOval SK

At BlueOval SK, we will lead the transformation of the electric vehicle (EV) battery business through partnership (Joint Venture formed by Ford and SK On) to provide products and processes to increase our customers’ experience. As the future of BlueOval SK, you will help lead the battery revolution by working alongside our teams as we build the batteries required for electric vehicle business excellence.

Ford and SK On are investing billions in Kentucky and Tennessee including building three state-of-the art battery manufacturing facilities between the two campuses at BlueOval City in Tennessee and BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky. These brand-new advanced manufacturing facilities will use Ford’s 100-years of automobile manufacturing expertise and SK On’s 30+ years of electric vehicle battery expertise to become the world’s best battery manufacturer.

The Manufacturing New Program Manager at BlueOval SK will have a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a key member of the start-up team, launching the facility from the ground up.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

The Manufacturing New Program Manager will be responsible to shape, develop political strategies, and advocate for legislative and regulatory policies that support BlueOval SK’s leadership role in current and emerging issues. In addition, the Internal/External Affairs Director will be responsible to oversee and leverage engagement with existing and new coalitions/forums to align BlueOval SK’s public policy positions and build support across all key stakeholders.

• Lead new program teams to complete program deliverables. This includes approval from equipment sourcing thru completion of Rate of Climb to support production launches.
• Lead cross functional teams to resolve program issues (Product engineering, Purchasing, Manufacturing Engineering, Material Planning and Logistics, Human Resources, Construction, and Operations).
• Lead program teams to launch new model programs on time at intended production rates, with quality, and at safety targets.
• Establish and track timing of commodity team deliverables to meet program milestones.
• Manage and prepare executive level program reviews with leaders from BOSK, Ford, and SKO.  
• Lead cross functional teams to track, report, and resolve issues specific to their scope of work.
• Responsible for program timing. Develop and implement program timing tools to support program management and maintain program timing.
• Facilitate resolution of timing issues. Coordinate recovery actions and timing scenarios.
• Coordinate manufacturing input into program tracking tools and reporting systems.
• Represent BOSK at parent company program reviews:
• Work closely with Operations Plant Manager’s and teams to support production validation and ramp up. Drive and track issues resolution.
• Lead Program Engineers to deliver all phases of new programs.
• Interface with Ford and SKO Purchasing, Planning, Product, and Manufacturing Engineering to manage all changes that have potential to impact BOSK plants.
• Support development of New Program Capacity Strategy including Operating Patterns and line Cycle Time targets.
• Support development of launch curves to suit program deliverables and build ahead plans (if applicable).
• Support development of direct / indirect / salaried labor staffing plans to meet program labor and HPU targets in alignment with BOSK Operations Industrial Engineering.
• Support common Manage the Change process for BOSK Operations. Drive replication and lessons learned across all sites.
• Support for BOSK Capacity Planning. Including regular tracking and updating based on cycle plan updates received from Ford.

Minimum Requirements

• Travel required between BOSK sites in TN/KY as well as some travel to Dearborn and potentially Korea.
• Minimum 5 years manufacturing, product, or program management experience preferred.
• Manufacturing and/or operations experience required.
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills required.
• Ability to interact and communicate with all levels of leadership and across organizations.

Preferred Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering preferred.

About BlueOval SK

At BlueOval SK, we will lead the transformation of the electric vehicle (EV) battery business through partnership (Joint Venture formed by Ford and SK On) to provide products and processes to increase our customers’ experience. As the future of BlueOval SK, you will help lead the battery revolution by working alongside our teams as we build the batteries required for electric vehicle business excellence.  We have a wide variety of o