Partnerships Supervisor in Melbourne

Ford Australia is constantly evolving and innovating, committed to delivering smarter, more connected vehicles for all Australians, now and for generations to come. Looking ahead, Ford is excited about the future. With an expanding vehicle lineup, growing digital services, and a strong dealer network, they are well-positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways. As Australia’s largest automotive OEM employer, we proudly have around 1,500 talented engineers, designers, and specialists working across five Victorian sites. Crucially, Australia is a key global development hub for Ford, and their local design and engineering team lead the creation of vehicles including the Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and Everest – models sold in around 180 markets worldwide.

Complementing this technical network, Ford Australia’s National Sales Company (NSC) located in Richmond, is the central hub for commercial and customer engagement activities across the country.

About the Role

The Partnerships Supervisor - Electrical Architecture (EA), is a pivotal role that will directly shape and support strategic technical partnerships for Ford and serves as the key EA point of view owner in discussions with Program Teams, Product Development, Technology Strategy, and Technology Planning and Partnerships groups. The successful candidate will ensure Ford’s electrical and electronic (E/E) architecture capabilities are represented clearly and evaluated on sound technical grounds. Based in Australia, the role will contribute to Ford’s global partnership efforts and hence collaborate across Australian, regional, and North American time zones.

• Identify, shape, and support strategic technical partnership opportunities.
• Scout and evaluate potential partnerships with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and technology providers.
• Assess prospective partners’ technical fit and architectural compatibility with Ford’s electrical and electronic architecture capabilities and long-term strategic vision.
• Serve as the Electrical Architecture point of view owner in partnership discussions.
• Support ongoing partnership discussions in collaboration with the Ford North America Product Alliances team up to and including inputs into key technical papers.
• Provide technical insight into vehicle electrical architectures, system integration, and future roadmap alignment within the IMG lens.
• Maintain strong working relationships with regional program teams, technology strategy team, and Electric Vehicle Digital Design application teams in International Markets Group.

Must have Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Beneficial to have a Masters degree with a major in Strategy or Entrepreneurship.

10+ years of systems engineering experience within automotive or equivalent Understanding of electrical/electronic vehicle architecture, distributed features, and system interfaces.

A strategic thinker who communicates clearly, collaborates across technical disciplines, challenges assumptions, and is committed to product quality and continuous improvement.

Proven experience in the strategic space, leading cross-functional teams and applying systems-thinking, analytical, and decision-making skills.

Familiarity with Functional Safety and Cybersecurity disciplines.

Experience with various Ford and complimentary toolsets and processes.

Ford Australia is an inclusive employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. To be considered for this role, you must be legally authorised to work in Australia (verification required upon hire). Please note that the successful candidate will also be required to complete a pre-employment background and national police check.