Trial Specialist at Ford Motor Company

Job Description

The Trial Specialist is responsible for the comprehensive management, coordination, and facilitation of stamping and material trials within the organization. This role serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders regarding trial requests and ensures the efficient execution, tracking, and reporting of all trial activities. The specialist also leads efforts for critical "special project" trial-related matters, addressing significant business interruptions and strategic resourcing initiatives.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage all stamping trial actions from initiation to completion.
• Facilitate the development and submission of trial proposals.
• Serve as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for other organizations, mills, and material processors concerning trial requests.
• Establish and maintain clear points of contact for each phase of every trial.
• Manage and update trial tracking sheets to ensure accurate status reporting.
• Coordinate the timing of material orders effectively with Material Planning & Logistics (MP&L).
• Collect and synthesize trial feedback from all designated points of contact.
• Facilitate Material Trial Cost Reimbursement Requests, ensuring timely processing.
• Schedule and coordinate regular trial meetings (monthly or bi-weekly) with trial administrators across eleven stamping facilities to monitor and update trial statuses.
• Act as the lead for "special project" trial-related matters, including critical resourcing initiatives (e.g., Cliffs, Constellium), responses to significant events (e.g., Novelis fire, Tariff actions), and recovery from business interruptions (e.g., SET Enterprises bankruptcy, Cliffs Dearborn Works BOF shutdown).
  
  
  

Qualifications

Qualifications (Desired):

• Proven experience in project management or coordination, preferably within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex trials simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively liaise with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to facilitate meetings, gather feedback, and drive consensus.
• Proficiency in tracking and reporting tools.
• Knowledge of stamping processes, material trials, and supply chain logistics is highly desirable.
• Problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to addressing challenges and business interruptions.