IT Director, Material Management Program Product Line

Job Description

Ford is in the middle of Industrial Systems Transformation across Product Development, Supply Chain, Material Planning & Logistics, and Manufacturing. One of the key focus areas to enable this transformation is to ensure there is an optimized material requirements planning (MRP) and inventory management process to enable improvements in real-time capacity leveling, what-if analysis, material release stability, real-time inventory visibility, and integrated supplier constraints.

To enable the future state material management process, we are modernizing our legacy, mainframe-based MRP system. This role will help drive the development and implementation of the SAP S/4 Hana-based Material Management platform and deploy the solution across Fords global assembly and component plants. Specifically, this role will:

• Be the global Enterprise Technology face-off with the SAP Platform team and enterprise architecture.
• Be accountable for technical and operational excellence of the portfolio, delivery of IT investments, and production support.
• Own and manage the delivery of IT investments: contracts, reviews, feasibility, cost-benefit analysis, prioritization, initiation, execution, and closure.
• Develop strategy and explore future technologies powering material requirements planning and inventory management business functions.

Responsibilities What youll be able to do:

• Drive and lead all aspects of the successful migration from legacy mainframe-based MRP systems to S4 HANA across the organization. Collaborate with multi-functional teams to define the migration roadmap, ensure project timelines are met, and minimize disruptions to business operations.
• Drive SAP solution delivery in the MRP area leveraging industry best practices, collaborating with Technology Partners and cross-functional business teams.
• Build and lead an impactful global technology team responsible for modernizing material management. Optimize resource footprint to drive delivery ownership within Ford.
• Support the ongoing development, coordination, and execution of the integrated IT strategy including labor, investment choices, organizational priorities, and scorecards and dashboards as well as ensuring governance and the definition of ways of working.
• Ensure delivery is managed effectively with a focus on value delivery and agility, adopting the SAP Activate Methodology.
• Work together effectively with leadership, suppliers, business & IT partners.

Desired Experience Enterprise Technology Partner Management

• Understand the value drivers of the business and ensure IT solutions are scalable and can support envisioned business processes while taking into account innovation and cost to serve.
• Partner with leadership to create technology strategy that optimizes operational processes. Provides insight into business processes that advance user adoption, improve customer satisfaction and drive insights.

System of Delivery

• Development and implementation experience with multiple delivery models including supplier-led engagements, partner management, and COTS solutions including strong supplier management skills and effective negotiation skills.
• Experience in agile delivery methodologies and understanding of product or capability-driven work organization.

Communication

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technology solutions in business terms, establish rapport and persuade others.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to execute: Define and deliver against strategy, implement automation, improve user satisfaction and drive for operational efficiencies to obtain measurable business value.

Qualifications Minimum Requirements we seek:

• Bachelors degree in computer science, supply chain management, or Information Systems. Advanced degree preferred.
• 15 to 18 years of progressive responsibilities within technology and software functions with a minimum of 10 years in a leadership role driving SAP Solution delivery.
• Strong experience in implementing multiple end-to-end large scale SAP S/4 HANA transformation projects, preferably in the Automotive domain.
• Proven ability to build, develop, and lead teams and rally the organization around the vision.
• Hands-on experience in multiple roles to oversee and manage end-to-end business engagement, solution architecture, solution delivery, integration & testing, and operations.
• Functional knowledge/awareness of supply chain business processes and applications in a Manufacturing business environment.

Locations: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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