Director, Project Delivery - Ford Energy

Job description

About Ford Energy Ford Energy is a newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company dedicated to accelerating US energy independence. Leveraging Ford’s century of manufacturing excellence and world-class battery energy storage systems (BESS) technology, Ford Energy designs, manufactures, and services grid-scale and commercial DC battery energy storage systems (BESS). Ford Energy is uniquely positioned to capture the growing demand for reliable, US-built energy storage systems.

We are not just building batteries; we are building the infrastructure for the next generation of the American grid. The Opportunity The Director of Project Delivery is a strategic leadership role responsible for building, scaling, and leading the post-contract execution and project delivery function within the Ford Energy Sales Organization. This leader will design and implement the standard operating processes, governance frameworks, and execution playbooks required to seamlessly transition complex energy deals from contract signing to final delivery.

As Director, you will build and manage a high-performing team of project managers, overseeing a diverse portfolio of BESS renewable energy installations and integrated infrastructure projects. Serving as the ultimate custodian of the master project timeline, you will drive rigorous execution, champion collaborative problem-solving, remove operational roadblocks, and act as a key customer-facing executive during the post-contract implementation/execution phase.

Responsibilities

Process Development & Portfolio Governance Establish Execution Frameworks

• Design, implement, and continuously improve standardized post-contract PMO processes, playbooks, stage-gate reviews, and delivery methodologies tailored for BESS and renewable projects.

Portfolio Governance

Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for project health, delivery efficiency, financial performance, and customer satisfaction.

Tools & Systems

Interface with IT leadership to build and deploy advanced program management tools and reporting systems across the entire project portfolio.

• Team Leadership & People Management Build & Lead the Team: Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of project manager and execution specialists.

Resource Allocation

Strategically assign resources across the project portfolio, balancing workload, expertise, and project complexity to optimize delivery.

Professional Development

Foster a culture of execution excellence, continuous learning, and collaborative problem-solving within the team.

Post-Contract Execution & Customer Delivery Timeline Custodianship

• Maintain ultimate accountability for the master project timeline, ensuring all milestones are met from contract close to final commissioning.

Operational Roadblock Removal

Proactively identify project risks and coordinate cross-functional interventions to unblock delivery pipelines.

Executive Customer Interface

Serve as the senior customer-facing executive during project deployment, managing high-stakes relationships and ensuring exceptional delivery satisfaction.

Qualifications

Required Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Construction Management, a related technical field, or equivalent.

Experience

10+ years of program management, project delivery, or PMO experience, with a proven track record of executing large-scale utility, infrastructure, or energy projects.

Leadership Experience

5+ years of experience directly managing, building, and mentoring high-performing project management teams.

Execution Expertise

Strong background in post-contract execution, EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) workflows, contract management, and utility-scale deployments. Preferred Master’s degree or MBA. PMP (Project Management Professional) or PgMP (Program Management Professional) certification. Direct experience setting up a greenfield PMO function within a rapidly scaling business unit or startup. Deep domain knowledge of BESS, grid-scale power systems, or renewable energy project lifecycles.

Leadership Attributes Strategic Architect

Able to design scalable execution frameworks and PMO governance from the ground up in a fast-paced environment.

Collaborative Unifier

Expert at bridging gaps between Sales, Engineering, Finance, and external contractors to drive aligned execution.

Execution Champion

Maintains a relentless focus on timelines, quality, and financial performance, ensuring commitments to customers are met without compromise.

People Developer

Passionate about coaching and elevating project management talent, fostering a highly collaborative and accountable team culture.

Location

Dearborn, MI or Glendale, KY. This position operates on a hybrid model, requiring regular onsite presence to collaborate with engineering, sales, and manufacturing leadership.

Travel Expectations

Moderate domestic travel to project sites, customer offices, and supplier locations as needed to oversee critical execution milestones.

Company

As Ford establishes a wholly owned subsidiary focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems, this role will initially be employed by Ford and is expected to transition to the subsidiary within one year. Why Ford Energy? At Ford Energy, you have the backing of an industrial manufacturing powerhouse with the agility of a dedicated energy startup offering industry leading technology. We offer a competitive compensation package including performance-based bonuses, Ford vehicle discounts, and the opportunity to shape the energy strategy of one of the world's most iconic brands. #LI-CB1