Analyst, Global Merchandising

Ford Motor•Dearborn, MI

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are the movers of the world and the makers of the future. We get up every day, roll up our sleeves and build a better world -- together. At Ford, we’re all a part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you ready to change the way the world moves? Our Marketing, Sales & Service organization advances the Ford reputation as a visionary vehicle and mobility services company and helps deliver a trusted customer experience. Use your marketing, sales and service expertise to turn data-driven insights into innovative solutions that enhance sales and customer loyalty. Join us and be the eyes, ears and voice of Ford. In this position... Are you a "Kid-ult" at heart? Do you have a shelf full of scale models or a vast digital garage in Forza ? Whether you’re a gamer who understands the nuances of vehicle physics or a gearhead who knows every detail of the first-generation Mustang, we want your passion. We’re looking for someone who doesn’t just see "merchandise," but sees an opportunity to surprise and delight fans through authentic brand moments. The ambition of the Global Licensing & Merchandising Team is to strengthen Ford’s position as a lifestyle brand by delivering engaging, quality, and relevant products & experiences. As our business accelerates, we are looking for a Licensing Product Development Specialist to join our team. This isn't just a "corporate" role; it’s a position for a brand guardian with a deep understanding and passion for our vehicles. You will play an instrumental role in maintaining the integrity, quality, and consistency of Ford-branded merchandise globally across the various hardline categories. You will oversee thousands of annual product submissions from world-class partners like Mattel, LEGO, Epic Games and more ensuring every diecast car, in-game vehicle model, and piece of wall art meets the rigorous standards of the Blue Oval. The role requires a vast understanding of Ford intellectual property, both historical and current, strong research capability, and great communication skills. This position is key to continuing to elevate Ford’s position as a leading lifestyle brand and a preferred licensor partner, while expanding our scope and scale of authentic licensed products in the market. This role will focus extensively on key program categories in hardlines & interactive; as such, we are seeking a true automotive enthusiast with an intense passion for vehicles matched with an exuberance for video games and toys.

Requirements

Robust knowledge of Ford IP, including specific vehicles and their technical details (both current and historical), to ensure accurate representation in niche categories or expressions where technical details are critically important.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
Minimum 3 years of experience in product development or category management within the consumer goods industry, demonstrating extensive understanding of product lifecycle management and quality control
Proven ability to manage high workloads while maintaining meticulous attention to detail and adherence to brand/quality standards.
Demonstrated history of strong project management skills and the ability to deliver against tight timelines in a fast-paced environment.
Experience working effectively with external partners.
Proven ability to present to internal teams, articulate business needs proactively and engage with partner leadership teams.
Licensee Partner Management - Proven capability in managing and nurturing relationships with external licensee partners, driving performance, ensuring compliance, and fostering mutually beneficial collaborations.
Storytelling & Executive Presentation – Strong storytelling and presentation techniques, with the ability to effectively communicate complex strategies and outcomes to executive-level management within Ford and to interface/present confidently with leaders in other brands, adept at articulating value and building consensus across diverse stakeholders.
Core knowledge - Strong base understanding of the key categories within the toys and gaming industries.

Nice To Haves

Global experience in product development or licensing .

Responsibilities

Product Approval & Compliance Management: Oversee the comprehensive review and approval process for global licensed product submissions in a wide array of categories, ensuring strict adherence to Ford’s brand guidelines, trademark usage, design execution, and quality standards across diverse categories (e.g., diecast, interactive / gaming, publishing, micromobility, and wall art).
Subject Matter Expert: Be an expert on all vehicle-related IP, supporting requests from within the Licensing and Merchandising team as well as for licensing partners.
Internal Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate extensively with internal Ford teams, including Global Brand, Legal, and Design to ensure seamless integration of brand and design elements into licensed products, support Communications and Social as appropriate with licensed product-specific requests.
External Partner Management: Lead the day-to-day communication and cultivate strong working relationships with many Ford licensees from a product development focus, maintain regular review processes with agencies and support development of briefs for trade conferences and conventions.
Data & Trend Analysis: Have an up-to-date understanding of key product categories from trends, competitive landscapes, and directional business performance of key licensees to inform product/category strategy, identify growth opportunities, and ensure market relevance.
Brand Integrity & Risk Mitigation: Address potential brand integrity risks, ensuring all licensed products consistently meet Ford’s high standards for consumer appeal, safety, and brand reputation.
Brand Protection: Work with the brand protection team to identify infringing companies and support trademark renewals for relevant categories with product samples as evidence.

Benefits

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder…or all of the above?
No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
Tuition assistance
Established and active employee resource groups
Paid time off for individual and team community service
A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.