Area Manager

Ford Ford · Auto · Avon Lake, OH +1 · Manufacturing

Area Manager role at Ford focused on leading manufacturing operations, driving efficiency through lean principles, managing teams, and achieving business results in a high-volume, complex manufacturing environment. This is a leadership role within the plant, responsible for operational excellence and employee development.

What you'd actually do

  1. Demonstrates empathy and Gemba, engaging regularly with employees in the production environment to listen and problem solve
  2. Utilize lean manufacturing principles and processes to global manufacturing standards
  3. Leverage performance data for strategic insights to predict early warning indicators, identify opportunities, make decisions, and deliver solutions
  4. Achieving Business results by Leading the development and delivery of KPI’s, ensuring Department objectives support the business objectives
  5. Ensure stability within their area by focusing on inputs, processes and the required outputs

Skills

Required

  • Associate’s degree or equivalent experience in an engineering or technical field
  • 5+ years of progressive responsibilities and experience in operations leadership
  • Extensive experience in high-volume, complex, manufacturing environments
  • Experience successfully leading a manufacturing function and directly overseeing 50+ hourly employees at once
  • Demonstrated track record of building trust and rapport with employees and stakeholders and creating positive and healthy cultures
  • Excellent leadership skills with demonstrated ability to resolve diverse problems
  • Strong problem solver who can lead effectively under pressure and crisis manage when necessary
  • Aspiration for continued career growth and new challenges
  • Outstanding interpersonal, team building, and communication skills

Nice to have

  • Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or technical field
  • 5+ years of experience of Operational experience leading manufacturing processes across multiple areas (body, paint, final assembly, etc.)
  • Lean / Six Sigma certification or demonstrated equivalent experience applying lean manufacturing principles and standardized work
  • Experience working in a fast paced unionized manufacturing environment
  • Maintenance background preferred

What the JD emphasized

  • leading 50+ hourly employees at once
  • building trust and rapport with employees and stakeholders
  • leading effectively under pressure