AI Program Manager

Ford Ford · Auto · Dearborn, MI +1 · Global Data Insight & Analytics

The AI Program Manager will champion Ford's AI Big Bets program, leading workflow reimagination across engineering, manufacturing, and after-sales services by embedding AI. This role requires a hands-on practitioner of AI tools who can automate tasks, analyze data, and accelerate productivity. Responsibilities include conducting market analysis, leading workflow redesign with AI enablers, driving strategic roadmaps, managing enterprise change, governing rapid experimentation, automating program management, building intelligent dashboards, resolving blockers, delivering executive storytelling, and evolving the AI operating model. The ideal candidate has 6+ years of experience in program management or related roles, a deep familiarity with modern AI tools, and experience in process mapping and change management.

What you'd actually do

  1. Conduct External Benchmarking & Market Analysis: Continuously monitor the external AI landscape, evaluating industry trends, competitor advancements, and best-in-class AI applications. Translate these external benchmarks into actionable insights to inform roadmaps across our AI Big Bets and internal capabilities.
  2. Lead Workflow Reimagination: Identify new AI opportunities by baselining and prioritizing existing workflows. You will build "reimagined" domain process maps that fundamentally redefine processes with AI, establishing clear business outcomes and identifying the specific AI enablers needed to accelerate each step.
  3. Drive Roadmaps: Develop the strategic roadmaps for AI Big Bets and capabilities based on the target-state vision for Ford to operate as a best-in-class enterprise
  4. Drive Enterprise-Level Change Management: Proactively plan and execute initiatives to drive adoption of newly reimagined workflows and central AI capabilities; co-create central training and playbooks to scale AI literacy and hands-on capability
  5. Drive Rapid Experimentation & Funnel Governance: Partner with business sponsors to capture problem statements, set up sandbox environments, and lead the rapid testing of AI concepts. You will own the process to decide whether an idea progresses into the AI development funnel and you will inform build-buy-partner decisions on AI solutions.

Skills

Required

  • AI Practitioner Mentality: Deep, hands-on familiarity with modern AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, prompt engineering, AI-assisted project management, or workflow automation tools).
  • Experience in process mapping, baselining workflows, and driving enterprise change management.
  • Proven track record of defining, collecting, and executing against leading and lagging KPIs.
  • Exceptional executive-level communication skills, with the ability to distill complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business strategies.

Nice to have

  • Bias for Action & Pragmatism: You run toward ambiguity. When handed a complex challenge, your instinct is to build a quick prototype, outline a framework, or draft a proposal first. You prefer a fast decision over a perfect one and pivot quickly when data dictates.
  • Advanced degree (MBA or MS in a technical field).
  • Experience managing enterprise-scale AI programs, digital transformation initiatives, or large-scale workflow re-engineering.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting external benchmarking and competitive market analysis to inform strategic roadmaps.
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms, FinOps, data pipelines, and AI experimentation toolchains.
  • Experience in automotive, manufacturing, or supply chain sectors.
  • Matrix Leadership skills: The ability to lead through influence rather than formal authority, fostering a culture of high accountab

What the JD emphasized

  • must be a passionate, hands-on practitioner of AI tools
  • You should already use AI in your daily workflows to automate tasks, analyze data, and accelerate your own productivity
  • must be able to demonstrate how you use AI to optimize your own daily productivity

Other signals

  • AI Big Bets program
  • workflow reimagination across the enterprise
  • embedding AI to accelerate every step
  • orchestrate matrixed teams
  • redesign complex business processes
  • automate program management using cutting-edge AI
  • scale or sunset AI experiments