Experience Design Manager

About Us Ford Motor Company is constantly evolving and innovating. As part of the International Markets Group (IMG) we are committed to delivering smarter, more connected vehicles for our Global customers. Looking ahead, Ford is excited about the future. With an expanding vehicle lineup, growing digital services, and a strong dealer network, we are well-positioned to support Australian businesses in new ways. As Australia’s largest automotive OEM employer, we proudly have around 1,500 talented engineers, designers, and specialists working across five Victorian sites. Crucially, Australia is a key global development hub for Ford, and our local design and engineering team lead the creation of vehicles including the Ranger, Ranger Raptor, and Everest – models sold in around 180 markets worldwide. At the heart of this innovation is our Human-Centered Design (HCD) Team. This team is responsible for the end-to-end experience, encompassing both digital and physical design for new businesses, innovative products, and compelling services. We are seeking creative and driven individuals to join us in advancing the HCD team's vision and mission. Our commitment is to envision and craft simple, thoughtful, enjoyable, and compelling products and services for our customers, further driving Ford Australia's future of mobility. Why Ford? For a century, we\'ve been a driving force across Australia, building a legacy that truly speaks for itself. Leading the way, the Ranger continues its reign as Australia\'s No. 1 Selling Vehicle and our iconic Mustang proudly holds its position as Australia’s No. 1 Sports Car. These remarkable achievements are a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach that has delivered success across our entire lineup, giving us so much to be excited about But we believe we do more than just build award-winning vehicles—we build careers. Discounted lease car options. Multiple Employee Resource Groups – Ford Pride, Women of Ford and Ford Empowering Diverse Abilities. Flexible Work Arrangements. Growth and development opportunities via internal and external training. Paid parental leave from day 1. Comprehensive Employee Assist Program. Wellness Programs including Free Flu Vaccinations and Health Checks. Paid volunteer days. About The Role As an Experience Design Manager, you will demonstrable expertise in creating industry-leading experiences, grounded in robust research insights and an understanding of future trend. You will also be responsible for creating experience design principles, journey mapping, service blueprinting, and experience road mapping that align with the needs of our end-users and businesses. This position reports directly to the Chief Designer and is based at the Design Studio in Broadmeadows, operating on a hybrid schedule with four days in the office. Strategic Experience Definition: Define and lead strategic experience opportunities, aligning meaningful user needs and passion points with core business goals for maximum impact. Design Research Expertise: Serve as an expert for all aspects of design research methodologies and their practical application. Insight Translation Leadership: Be expert in translating complex customer and user insights into actionable design briefs and compelling opportunities for design innovation. Rapid Prototyping and Validation: Lead rapid, iterative prototyping efforts, with a primary emphasis on digital tools and a "build-to-learn" approach to effectively test and validate concepts. Experience Requirements Definition: Be expert in defining comprehensive experience requirements, meticulously capturing key enablers, user needs, and essential system requirements to ensure successful project outcomes. Product Concept and Ideation: Facilitate the strategic application of brand-based Experience Content Strategies within product concepting and design ideation processes. Program Collaboration and Strategic Alignment: Drive robust cross-functional collaboration and process alignment with key programs to ensure the consistent application of brand-based Experience content strategies. This includes validating that critical experiences are delivered effectively within program constraints and influencing senior stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives. Education: Bachelor\'s degree in UX design, interaction design, industrial design, graphic design, or a related technical field. Experience: Minimum of 10 years of comprehensive experience in UX and service design, with a focus on the conception, user validation, and successful delivery of applications and services within multi-disciplinary teams. Leadership and Product Launch: Proven track record of leading the strategy, design, development, and launch of innovative physical and/or digital products or services. Communication: Exceptional verbal, written, and visual presentation skills, capable of communicating complex ideas clearly and persuasively. Preferred Qualifications: Advanced Education: Master\'s degree in a relevant design or technical field. Design Research & Methodology: Extensive experience with user/design research, concepting, ideation, iterative prototyping, and human-centered design methods (e.g., journey mapping, service blueprinting). Tool Proficiency: Proficiency with relevant design and prototyping tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch). Workshop Facilitation: Proven experience facilitating or assisting workshops to develop design solutions. Industry Knowledge: Current knowledge of relevant technologies, industry trends, and design techniques. Automotive Understanding: Excellent understanding of the automotive industry, design practices, and general product development processes. A design portfolio (pdf) must be provided upon application to be considered. Equal Opportunity Ford Australia is inclusive employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. If you require any support or adjustments to the recruitment process, please contact our Talent and Inclusion Lead Sarah at Applications will close on Sunday 11 January 2026, however, please do not delay your application as interviews will commence before this date. Please note due to the high numbers of applications we will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates. Ford Motor Company of Australia Pty Limited ACN (Ford) is collecting your personal information in order to consider you for a role at Ford. Ford may also collect personal information about you from third parties such as referees and recruitment agencies for this purpose. Ford may disclose your personal information to its related companies and third party service providers for purposes such as screening and background checks, aptitude testing and health and safety and human resources management activities. Ford’s privacy policy (available at states how you can seek to access or correct any personal information Ford holds about you, how to complain about a privacy breach by Ford and how Ford will deal with a privacy complaint. You can contact Ford at 13 FORD ) or via the contact details set out in Ford’s privacy policy. #J-18808-Ljbffr