P&D Manager

The Planning & Distribution Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of vehicle planning, distribution, scheduling and inventory management within the assigned region.This role serves as lead support on wholesale back office and dealer inventory requirements, ensuring optimal vehicle availability to meet customerdemand and achieve sales targets.The Manager is responsible for the Planning & Distribution Analysts, as well as serving as local support for U300 Sales and Ownership Zone Managers.The manager has direct interaction with the regional team located in the U.S. to align planning and distribution activities with overall business objectives.This position requires a strong understanding of automotive retail operations, excellent analytical and communication skills, and building and maintaining effective relationships with internal teams and Ford dealers.The Planning & Distribution Manager continuously improves planning and distribution processes, leveraging data and insights to optimize inventory levels, reduce lead times, and enhance dealer satisfaction.EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS- Multiple years of experience in Marketing, Sales & Service, or related jobs- Management role experience- Strong communication skills in English (both written and verbal)- Field dealer contact expertise preferred o Understanding of the dealer dynamic and ability to gain dealer trust o Knowledge of dealership operations and dealership financial statements/sales, and profit forecasts - Prior Ford Sales or FCSD experience is a plus, but not required - Readiness for travelling to the USCOMPETENCIES AND SKILLS- Proven English proficiency and solid verbal and written communication- Strong interpersonal / leadership / organizational skills and competencies- Ability to lead work with accuracy under the pressures of time and workload- Ability to manage deadlines and timelines with multiple inputs and complexities- Foster extraordinary teamwork, collaborative skills, and demonstrated behaviors- Customer service mindset- Experience in the Microsoft Office suite**DISCLAIMER**:Ford Motor Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, as we are committed with a diverse workforce, and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran and basis of disability.- Interface with Retail Group Management, Dealer Principals, General Managers, and outside legal counsel- Deep analysis of performance documents (i.e., Dealer Profiles, Financial Statements, 5 Year Trends, Sales Effectiveness Analysis, Fast Turn Reports, etc.) and team guidance on related tasks- Management of the P&D team, tasks, and activities as well as coordination of U300 Sales, U300 Ownership and Service/CX Specialist local teams- Exception Requests- Order Bank Management: Develop and implement order bank strategies to optimize vehicle allocation and meet sales targets and MAP in collaboration with CFOs- OTD (Order to Delivery) Selection Oversight: Oversee and optimize the OTD selection process to ensure timely and efficient vehicle delivery to dealers in collaboration with CFOs- U300 Retail Sweep- Vehicle Tracking Management: Manage vehicle tracking systems and processes to ensure accurate and up-to-date information on vehicle location and status.- Diversions/Rebills Management and Oversight: Oversee the diversion and rebilling processes, ensuring compliance with company policies and procedures.- VL (Vehicle Logistics) Allocation Tracking and Optimization: Oversee the VL allocation process, ensuring alignment with sales targets and dealer needs.- Dealer Inquiry Resolution (Escalated Issues): Serve as the point of escalation for complex dealer inquiries related to planning and distribution.- Wholesale (WS, MAP): Support to the Sales Regional Team- Data Analysis and Reporting: Collaborate closely with the Sales & Performance ZM teams in the region to provide data analytics and insights to support decision-making.- Develop and maintain reports to track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to planning, distribution, and scheduling.- Identify trends and opportunities for improvement based on data analysis.