Senior Manager Commissioning and Handover Readiness, ...

The Opportunity The Senior Manager, Commissioning and Handover Readiness will serve as Ford Energyu2019s internal commissioning authority for post-delivery DC block and containerized BESS system deployments. This highly visible leadership role is responsible for defining, governing, and enforcing the detailed commissioning and handover requirements that follow shipment and site delivery, ensuring systems are safe, code-compliant, functionally validated, and contractually ready for energization, acceptance, and customer handover. This role will work closely with the Sales PMO and Program Delivery teams to ensure project delivery requirements, milestone commitments, and acceptance criteria are clearly defined prior to shipment and rigorously executed post-delivery. The position spans Ford Land and Ford Energy Engineering and carries end-to-end accountability for commissioning readiness, site execution alignment, issue resolution, and technical closeout. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in utility-scale or commercial BESS commissioning, startup, and system handover, with the technical depth to evaluate readiness across battery systems, DC architecture, controls, thermal management, and site interfaces. While Ford will leverage service support through third parties, this role is accountable for building and retaining Ford Energyu2019s internal commissioning governance, decision-making authority, and technical ownership. 1. Strategic Leadership & Organizational Growth u2022 Organizational Architecture: Lead a multi-layered organization of managers and specialists and third parties; define talent strategies and professional development pathways to support global scaling. u2022 Operating Model: Mature Ford Energyu2019s internal commissioning operating model, including processes, standards, and future staffing requirements. u2022 Financial Impact: Own the u2018Time-to-Revenueu2019 cycle and functional budget; optimize commissioning efficiency to accelerate customer acceptance and P&L performance. 2. Technical Governance & Safety Standards u2022 Governance Framework: Establish the post-delivery commissioning governance framework, including stage-gates, execution sequencing, and formal acceptance criteria. u2022 Technical Standardization: Govern technical procedures and documentations, work instructions, and field tooling requirements (SCADA mapping, alarm validation, etc.) to ensure repeatable, audit-ready execution. u2022 Safety & Risk: Ensure all activities comply with Ford safety standards and regulatory codes (AHJ), specifically regarding energization and live-system testing. 3. Operational Execution & Delivery Integration u2022 Cross-Functional Integration: Partner with Sales PMO to ensure customer commitments and project milestones are realistic and executable. u2022 Execution Oversight: Lead formal readiness reviews, FAT/SAT execution, and performance verification; serve as the senior escalation authority for technical or schedule recovery plans. u2022 Risk Management: Own risk registers, punch lists, and issue logs to protect project schedules and quality. 4. Stakeholder Management & Business Interface u2022 Executive Advisory: Provide data-driven insights to Ford Energy leadership and Ford Motor Company VPs; manage high-stakes relationships with utility C-suites and EPC firms. u2022 Internal/External Interface: Serve as the primary authority between Ford Land and Ford Energy Engineering; coordinate with service partners while retaining internal technical authority. u2022 Project Closeout: Ensure complete, audit-ready turnover packages (as-builts, O&M docs) and formal customer sign-off. Required u2022 Bacheloru2019s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field (advanced degree preferred). u2022 10+ years of experience in commissioning, system startup, field readiness, power systems deployment, or technical program leadership. u2022 Demonstrated experience with BESS, DC power systems, power electronics, or complex industrial electrical systems. u2022 Proven ability to serve as a technical authority while leading cross-functional, customer-facing teams. u2022 Strong working knowledge of commissioning processes, energization readiness, acceptance testing, and system turnover. Preferred u2022 Experience in Renewable Energy, Automotive (EV), or Semiconductor industries. u2022 Strong ability to communicate complex technical risks to executive leadership and board members. u2022 Familiarity with export control regulations and international intellectual property protection. Leadership Attributes u2022 Visionary strategic thinker able to navigate rapidly evolving global energy storage markets. Location & Travel Location & Travel Southeast Michigan or Glendale, KY preferred. Remote arrangements will be considered for candidates with specialized expertise. Role requires domestic travel as needed 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. #FordEnergy

Created: 2026-05-04