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Marketing Leadership Program

Ford’s MLP is redefining the way that marketing is strategically implemented within our core automotive business and emerging mobility units.

Marketing Leadership Program Overview

Populated by curious and driven individuals, the MLP is designed to launch the careers of our future leaders with riveting assignments, a diverse network, and accelerated advancement opportunities. This MBA-focused rotational program, birthed in 1989, has established dozens of dedicated senior executives and continues to develop the leaders of tomorrow.

Most MLP participants begin their journey at Ford as a summer intern, with a project based in one of our key marketing disciplines across a variety of exciting business programs. After graduating from business school, full-time positions consist of three impactful rotations tailored to you and your career goals.

Internship Program

We look to our MLP interns to help address the company’s most critical and complex marketing challenges. Throughout the summer, you’ll work with another MBA intern on one compelling project in an agile and autonomous fashion. The internship leverages the skills you’re cultivating in business school, while also offering innovative resources and problem-solving techniques to bolster your marketing acumen. You’ll be assigned a peer mentor and enjoy access to a variety of networking events and social activities. The 12-week internship culminates in a formal presentation to dozens of colleagues, including senior executives. High-achieving interns will then be considered for the full-time MLP.

Full-Time Rotational Program

The full-time Marketing Leadership Program is comprised of three individualized 18 to 24-month rotations in high-profile marketing areas. Each strategic assignment provides marketing leaders with the skills and experience necessary to build a solid career foundation at Ford. Current MLP members work across Ford’s expansive ecosystem including Lincoln, Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC, Ford Mobility, and Ford Credit in diverse functional areas. Explore some of the possibilities below!

MLP Roles & Opportunities

Core Roles

Consumer/Brand Marketing

Consumer/Brand Marketers coordinate all marketing for retail and fleet products and launches. Responsible for achieving sales, profit, and brand health targets, this team is involved in vehicle and option mix, pricing, manufacturing requirements, allocation and dealer training. They also help ensure consistent messaging in all consumer touch points.

Marketing Communications

MarComms (as we call it) is Ford’s advertising arm. Collaborating closely with agency and media colleagues, the team defines, develops and executes the communications strategy to create meaningful, effective content in TV, radio, print and digital media.

Product Marketing

As the voice of the customer throughout the design and engineering process for future vehicles, Global Advanced Product and Product Marketing Managers work with Design, Finance, and Engineering to lead the initial strategic development and help ensure the wants and needs of target customers are addressed in product development, positioning and market research.

Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing creates targeted digital and social media experiences to engage customers with the Ford & Lincoln brands on their own terms. The group also develops digital strategies and content with agency/media team to help improve shopping experience, grow brand loyalty and increase favorable opinion.

Retail Marketing & Sales

Retail Marketing is responsible for sales related marketing communications & incentive planning including pricing strategies and funding for sales events, product discounts and discounted pricing partnerships with third parties.

Field Sales & Service Roles

Ford prides itself on a strong relationship with its dealers, all of whom are independent community business leaders. In the field, Marketing Leaders gain insight into how dealers view the business, see first-hand how consumers make purchase decisions and collaborate to help improve the consumer retail experience.

Ford Customer Service Division

FCSD is responsible for growing customer loyalty by providing customers with an outstanding ownership experience. FCSD supports dealers, oversees Service and Warranty Programs, manages product sales for aftermarket parts, and seeks out new strategies to help ensure customers return to Ford for all their parts and service needs.

Emerging Roles

Autonomous Vehicle Strategy

Be the voice of the customer as the world makes the shift to autonomous vehicles. Collaborate with Design, Finance, and Engineering to help develop a global go-to-market strategy for Ford’s future with autonomous vehicles.

FordPay Product Manager

Auto-ownership models are shifting as shared and flexible ownership and leases are becoming more popular. The FordPay team works with Ford Credit and FordPass to define new mobility and payment solutions.

FordPass™ Product Manager

Ford’s new mobility experience will help shape how the world moves. Become an expert on mobility trends and collect feedback to inform new features and services. The FordPass team also develops collaborations with start-ups and other brands to create end-to-end mobility solutions, from parking reservations to remote vehicle health checks.

Global Data Insight & Analytics

Data security is of paramount importance at Ford. Global Data Insight & Analytics is Ford’s internal team responsible for collecting and documenting Ford’s data assets in order to create informed and actionable perspectives about our customers.

Emerging Market Strategy

As Ford continues its expansion to be an auto and mobility company, it is investing in emerging opportunities, driving for leadership in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Underpinning these businesses is the opportunity to develop strategies for fleet and data management, route and journey planning and telematics.

Ford Smart Mobility Strategy Manager

Develop strategies to design, build, grow and invest in new mobility services as Ford expands its business model to be both an auto and a mobility company.

How to Apply

We recruit on campus at the following business schools: Michigan (Ross), UVA (Darden), Duke (Fuqua), UNC (Keenan-Flagler), Chicago (Booth), Northwestern (Kellogg), U Penn (Wharton), UCLA (Anderson), and USC (Marshall). Sign up for our corporate presentation, and then apply through your Career Center’s online portal. 

Currently enrolled in another MBA program? Great! First-year students, click here to apply for our summer internship. Second-year students, click here to apply for our full-time program.

Minimum Requirements

  • Interns: Current First Year in a full-time MBA program. Must be available by May 2020
  • Full-Time MLPs: Completing a full-time MBA program. Must be available by Sep. 2020 
  • Minimum 3 years of full-time work experience 
  • Minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent
  • Willingness to relocate now and in the future
  • Legal authorization to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications

  • Entrepreneurial Spirit
  • Diverse Perspectives and Backgrounds
  • Strong Leadership Attributes
  • Creativity and Curiosity 
  • Analytical Mindset 
  • Passion to Help the World Move Better 

Ford Motor Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status.

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