Program Specialist, Design Talent & Excellence

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?

Join us in shaping the future of Ford Motor Company, as part of a global organization with exceptional colleagues in world-class facilities. As part of Ford Design, you’ll be at the cutting edge of Ford’s most strategically critical work, designing people and society’s needs into the heart of our next generation of products, services, and experiences.

In this position...

We are seeking a highly engaged and collaborative individual to play a pivotal role in strengthening our design organization's capabilities and fostering an exceptional employee experience. Collaborating closely with HR Business Partners, Design Operations, hiring managers, and senior leadership, this individual will analyze employee sentiment, evaluate program effectiveness, and deliver compelling communications to ensure talent initiatives align with our strategic objectives and continuously improve the overall design employee journey. This position requires a passion for talent development, exceptional project management skills, and the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders externally & across the organization.

What you'll do...

• Plan, organize, and execute quarterly employee engagement and networking events to foster community and enhance the overall talent experience.
• Continuously evaluate the effectiveness of all early career talent programs, implementing improvements based on feedback, data, and organizational objectives.
• Collaborate effectively with HR business partners, hiring managers, communications team, and senior leadership to ensure program success and alignment with talent strategy.
• Develop and deliver compelling presentations, reports, and communications regarding program status, outcomes, and impact to various stakeholders.
• Develop and execute strategies to attract and retain top design talent, enhancing automotive design career awareness through cultivating strong strategic relationships with key academic institutions (e.g., Art Center College of Design, College for Creative Studies), including developing Ford Design-sponsored projects/programs and benchmarking international university programs to secure a robust talent pipeline.
• Support Design Excellence program manager on various initiatives including the Ford College Graduate (FCG) bootcamp & rotational programing & designer portfolio management.
• Redefine the design-specific onboarding experience for all new hires (interns, FCGs, and GSRs), in partnership with Design Operations to ensure an engaging and seamless integration to Ford & the Global Design team.
• Develop and continuously evolve the organization's formal mentorship and job shadowing programs, facilitating effective matching, providing resources, and monitoring their impact on employee growth and development.
• Serve as a support interface with the archives group, regarding historical design assets.
• Partner with Design Operations & HR to analyze employee sentiment data to inform actions and continuously improve the design employee experience, collaborating with relevant partners on insights from surveys and exit interviews.
   

You'll have...
 

• Bachelors or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• 4+ years of experience in talent development, program management, university relations, or a similar function.
• 4+ years of experience working with Design Teams.
• Proven experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and deliverables.
• Strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, and drive results.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
   

Even better, you may have...
 

• Experience in a large, complex corporate environment, preferably within the automotive design or manufacturing industry.
• Prior experience specifically managing rotational programs or internship programs.
• Understanding of best practices in career development.
   

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 l