Technician Training Strategy & Operations 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...
You'll have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the quality and expertise of the Ford/Lincoln service network, directly contributing to customer satisfaction and the success of our dealerships. You'll play a key role in supporting the development of our next generation of technicians. You'll work with cutting-edge vehicle technology, lead a passionate team dedicated to education and skill development, and actively contribute to making Ford/Lincoln the Brand of Choice for skilled automotive professionals.
What you'll do...
We're looking for a dynamic and experienced leader to join our team as the Manager of Technical Training Strategy & Operations. This role is absolutely key to ensuring we have the best Ford and Lincoln technicians in the world, ready to service the exciting vehicles of today and tomorrow. You'll be responsible for shaping the future of how our technicians learn, from their initial education in schools to their ongoing development in dealerships.
The technician workforce is changing. With a significant increase in entry-level technicians joining our dealerships in recent years, a critical focus of this role is prioritizing foundational training, particularly on Base Certifications like electrical, NVH, steering, and suspension. You will be instrumental in developing and tailoring programs that address the needs of these younger technicians who may have limited hands-on experience, helping them build the skills necessary to succeed and thrive in their first 2-3 years of employment.
Furthermore, this position is centered on identifying what training is needed based on real-world insights. While you won't be creating the specific training content modules yourself, you will be the vital voice that gathers input from technicians and dealers, analyzes repair data and trends, and translates these insights into clear requirements for training content development teams. You'll act as the bridge between the field's needs and the training solutions we develop.
This role also plays a significant part in making Ford/Lincoln the Brand of Choice for technicians. You will collaborate closely with technician recruiting and recognition teams to highlight how our Best-In-Class training programs attract new talent and encourage technicians to build long-term careers with the Ford brand.
It's a challenging but incredibly rewarding position that requires both strategic vision and hands-on operational leadership, managing a large, dedicated team, and playing a major role in developing our state-of-the-art training facilities.
Strategic Leadership & Program Vision:
Develop and champion the overall strategic vision for Ford and Lincoln technical technician training.
Focus training efforts on foundational Base Certifications (e.g., electrical, NVH, steering & suspension) and other critical entry-level skills to support the success of early-career technicians.
Understand training needs of more senior level technicians, ensuring a balanced training offering of Base and Advanced Certifications.
Design and adapt training strategies to effectively engage and develop technicians with varying levels of experience, particularly those newer to the field.
Build and nurture critical, long-term relationships with secondary schools supporting Ford's ACE program, post-secondary institutions (ACE and ASSET), and private technical institutions (FACT) to support early career technical education and build a strong technician pipeline.
Utilize insights gathered from technicians, dealers, and analysis of repair data (e.g., warranty claims, diagnostic trends) to proactively identify gaps and emerging needs in technical training.
Act as the primary voice communicating these identified training needs and priorities to content development teams and other internal stakeholders.
Drive innovation in training delivery methods and platforms (e.g., digital learning, hands-on labs, simulation, blended approaches) to ensure effectiveness and scalability, based on the identified needs.
Stay ahead of automotive technology trends to ensure training needs are identified and communicated proactively.
Team Leadership & Management:
Lead, mentor, and develop a large organization of approximately 70 individuals, including direct management responsibility of 3 key direct reports.
Oversee the performance and development of the broader team, which includes both Ford employees and purchased service/contract staff.
Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on delivering Best-In-Class training experiences for high-school through experienced technicians.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Advocacy:
Serve as the primary voice and advocate for technician training needs within Ford, working closely with teams in Product Development, Service Engineering, Field Operations, and other relevant departments.
Collaborate closely with Technician Recruiting and Technician Recognition teams to leverage training programs as a key differentiator for attracting and retaining talent, helping to position Ford/Lincoln as the Brand of Choice for technicians.
Leverage insights gathered from technicians, dealers, and repair data to clearly articulate training requirements and influence content development by partner teams.
Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure training programs are aligned with business objectives and vehicle technology roadmaps.
Training Center Strategy & Development:
Define the strategic needs and requirements for technical training centers across the network, ensuring they support the identified training needs, particularly for foundational skills and new technologies.
Collaborate closely with FordLand and facilities teams to plan, design, and develop Best-In-Class (BIC) training facilities that provide optimal learning environments for dealership technicians.
Ensure facility capabilities support evolving training needs and technologies.
Operational Oversight:
Oversee the tactical execution of training programs and initiatives identified based on needs.
Manage program budgets, resources, and vendor relationships (where applicable).
Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness, reach, and impact of training initiatives, particularly focusing on early technician success and certification rates.
You'll have...
Bachelor's degree
4+ years of experience within the automotive industry, particularly in service, training, or data analysis related to service/repair.
4+ years of experience building and managing relationships with external partners, particularly educational institutions (high schools, colleges) or industry associations.
3+ years of experience leading and managing teams, including direct reports and larger organizational structures (experience managing a mix of employees and contractors is a plus).
3+ years of experience developing, implementing, and managing training programs or educational initiatives, with a strong understanding of adult learning principles (experience specifically in technical training or entry-level technical education is highly beneficial).
Even better, you may have...
Bachelor's degree (required); Master's degree (preferred) in a related field.
Ability to understand and interpret data (e.g., repair data, performance metrics, demographic trends) to identify training needs and measure program impact.
Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at various levels.
Experience managing complex projects or initiatives from concept to completion.
Familiarity with various training delivery technologies (LMS platforms, virtual training tools, simulation, etc.).
Experience working with technician recruiting or retention initiatives.
Experience with facilities planning or management, especially related to technical training or workshop environments.
Budget management experience for a significant function or program.
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 a leadership level 5.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5SP1 (https://urldefense.com/v3/\_https:/fordcareers.co/LL5SP1\\;!!N\LtwI-RPugbI9wg0dJn!BHbJVffNVwOWYGv1ntylO1dOB\by5YrtYbGFmzshGRUBEmgVAWgKdNH1lToz-Ts9\ImQmObwkHl42nY$)
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.
Onsite work of up to three days per week may be required for candidates within commuting distance of a Ford hub location. #LI-Hybrid #LI-MK1
Requisition ID : 47715
