Transformation Go-Live Manager

The role

The Go-Live Manager plays a pivotal role in our core modernization program by leading end-to-end launch readiness and execution across technical, operational, and business workstreams.

This individual will coordinate go-live planning, cutover readiness, dress rehearsal execution, command center preparation, procedure and training readiness, and launch stabilization for the Program Everest / Alfa Receivables implementation.

This role partners closely with the UAT & Go-Live Manager, business stakeholders, Product, Engineering, Operations, Center of Excellence (COE), Training, Org Change Management, Compliance, Legal, and support teams to ensure launch milestones, dependencies, risks, and decision points are managed effectively. This role serves as the central coordinator for go-live execution, readiness tracking, escalation management, and post-launch stabilization.

What you'll do

Lead the integrated planning and coordination of go-live activities across multiple workstreams, ensuring launch milestones, dependencies, readiness tasks, and execution timelines are clearly defined and tracked.

Drive the planning and execution of minute-by-minute cutover activities, dress rehearsals, launch sequences, and rollback preparation. Support the development and refinement of playbooks and contingency plans based on rehearsal outcomes and lessons learned.

Prepare and coordinate command center / war room readiness, including staffing, communication protocols, escalation paths, and launch-day support coverage.

Maintain readiness dashboards, RAID logs, milestone trackers, and action-item follow-up to provide visibility into status, blockers, risks, and decisions. Support readiness reviews, go/no-go forums, and leadership updates with clear, concise materials.

Coverage of COE, training, technical liaison, UAT, OCM, Compliance, Legal, and operational SMEs to ensure go-live deliverables are complete, approved, and aligned to implementation timing.

Partner with COE and training resources to ensure launch-related documentation, job aids, supporting materials, and training outputs are accurate, complete, and ready for deployment.

Support launch-day execution, hypercare planning, post-launch issue triage, stabilization tracking, and transition to BAU support.

Track and escalate launch risks, issues, and dependencies through resolution, ensuring timely communication and decision support for stakeholders and leadership.

Oversee the coordination of launch documentation, communications, and updates to ensure stakeholders receive timely, accurate, and auditable information throughout the go-live process.

Facilitate retrospective activities and lessons-learned capture to improve future go-live waves and launch readiness processes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in project, program, or transformation roles supporting complex implementations or launch activities.
• 2+ years of experience supporting go-live readiness, cutover planning, dress rehearsals, command center preparation, or launch execution.
• 2+ years of experience in auto finance or a closely related financial services environment.
• 2+ years of experience working in a regulated environment with exposure to compliance, data security, or audit-sensitive processes.
• Experience coordinating across business, technology, operations, training, compliance, legal, and change management teams.
• Experience managing readiness trackers, RAID logs, milestone reporting, and launch governance materials.
• Proficiency with Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Office Suite, or similar project coordination tools.
• Strong organizational, facilitation, and communication skills with the ability to drive follow-through across multiple workstreams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Hybrid in SE Michigan preferred; will consider a business center candidate (Nashville Business Center; Colorado Springs Business Center).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Receivables or comparable loan/receivables platforms.
• Experience in Agile/Scrum or transformation delivery environments.
• Experience supporting command center operations, hyper care, or operational stabilization activities.
• Experience coordinating procedures, training design, or technical workstreams.
• Experience developing launch dashboards and executive readiness reporting.
• Demonstrated people leader experience (e.g., hiring, coaching, performance management).
• Certifications such as PMP, Certified Scrum Master (CSM), SAFe Agilist, or similar.

Pay and Benefits

This position is a leadership level 6 and ranges from $115,500-$218,100.

Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL6.