Director - Material/vehicle Logistics & Customs It

Ford Ford · Auto · Dearborn, MI +1 · Enterprise Technology

This Director role focuses on leading the IT strategy, delivery, and maintenance of digital products for Ford's global supply chain, specifically in material/vehicle logistics and customs compliance. The role involves modernizing legacy systems using cloud offerings and an AI-First mindset, driving technical integration, and managing a global team. While AI is mentioned as a tool for modernization and innovation, the core function is not building AI models but leveraging AI-enabled solutions within the logistics domain.

What you'd actually do

  1. Define and evangelize the multi-year product roadmap for Ford's global logistics and trade compliance platforms, aligning closely with Material Planning & Logistics (MP&L) and plant operations
  2. Guide product and integration teams across full lifecycle of a diverse application portfolio driving transportation network planning, multi-modal visibility of materials and vehicles, distribution, yard/compound management, trade compliance and other associated core supply chain execution functions
  3. Lead, mentor, and coach a global team of product managers and engineers, fostering a culture of agile excellence and continuous improvement. Optimize resource footprint to take advantage of talents globally and across Ford and technology partners
  4. Ensure delivery is managed effectively using Agile delivery and portfolio management practices. Drive the migration of legacy mainframe and on-premise systems to modern, scalable cloud environments (e.g., Google Cloud Platform) and industry-leading SaaS/COTS platforms.
  5. Partner with legal and trade compliance teams to ensure systems meet strict global import/export standards, tariff classifications, and trade agreements (e.g., USMCA).

Skills

Required

  • 10+ years of progressive responsibilities within technology and software functions
  • 5+ years of direct experience managing or implementing IT systems in at least two of the following areas: Inbound Material Logistics (transportation mgmt., yard mgmt. control tower). Outbound/Finished Vehicle Logistics (transportation mgmt., yard mgmt., damage mgmt.). Customs Compliance & Global Trade (import/export clearance, duty drawback, classification, solicitation).
  • 5+ years of experience leading/ mentoring a team including Product Managers and engineers, fostering a culture of agile excellence and continuous improvement. Leading global teams is preferred.
  • 3+ years of vendor management skills to engage with SaaS platform as well as services providers
  • 1+ years of experience of having delivered AI-enabled solutions with cloud-native technologies, including ability to implement AI tooling at every phase of software development lifecycle with a large team of engineers.
  • 1+ years of experience with cloud architecture (Google Cloud Platform preferred), API-driven integrations. Exposure Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.

Nice to have

  • Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Supply Chain Management or similar
  • Hands-on experience in multiple roles across the spectrum of the lifecycle of

What the JD emphasized

  • AI-First mindset
  • delivered AI-enabled solutions