Summary: Manage material cost throughout the program lifecycle, advocate for cost culture, and lead cost optimization initiatives within automotive product development. Highlights: 1. Manage Material Cost over the program lifecycle 2. Advocate for Cost Culture across the company 3. Lead cost optimization initiatives using a Systems approach In this position you will work with program teams to manage Material Cost over the lifecycle of the program. **Qualifications** * Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business or Finance * 10\+ years of experience in Automotive Product Development * Proven Exceptional Leadership Skills and Respectful Challenger of Cost * Advanced English communication proficiency (verbal and written) * Organized * Proficient in Excel * Basic understanding of a program income statement **Preferred** * Experience or certification in Systems Engineering * 5\+ years of experience in analyzing Competitive Automotive Designs * MBA or experience with automotive financial income statements * Experience with GPDS and Program Timing * Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) experience * Advocate for Cost Culture across the company, with emphasis on the four principles: Don't Over\-Design, Don't Over\-Content, Don't Over\-Pay, and the Best Part is No Part. * Attend and support Program forums such as the Program Steering Team, Chief Program Engineer Decision Forum, and Finance Program Attribute Team meetings to represent the Material Cost attribute and share cost information with cross\-functional teams. * Prepare for and conduct cost workshops (known as Cost Loops) in the early phases of program development to determine an efficient cost status by commodity and part. * Utilize the suite of digital ecosystem tools managed by Global Total Cost to document efficient cost start points, physical content and sourcing changes, competitive benchmarks, Optimal Cost Estimates, etc. * Investigate and close out material cost opportunities coming from the Cost Loop workshops and other sources, working to optimize cost using a Systems approach. * Leverage in\-cycle cost reduction ideas in Cost Reduction Idea Database (CRID) and gain agreement to implement where the business case makes the most sense. Pull future model cost opportunities ahead to in\-cycle actions where earlier incorporation makes sense. * Complete cost studies to enable strategic and tactical decision\-making. * Integrate and manage program cost data. Support cost status and target upload into the Ford Engineering Design Environment. * Monitor competitive benchmarking globally and leverage observations and discoveries to challenge Ford's content or requirements.