Strategy Director, Nomenclature

Ford - Sacramento, CA

Full-time - Senior

Sacramento, CA

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

The Strategy Director, Nomenclature is responsible for overseeing Ford Motor Company's global nomenclature output, collaborating with brand operations and nomenclature program management. This role involves implementing strategic systems to manage the complexity of naming processes, educating stakeholders on the value of the nomenclature team, and working closely with legal teams to streamline trademark decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the completion of nomenclature strategic frameworks with the T1 agency.
• Develop a framework for prioritization and a strategic approach to approvals.
• Create naming architectures for business units based on brand architecture.
• Drive excellence and consistency in naming outputs.
• Author naming briefs for products and features requiring names.
• Ideate names when agency resources are unavailable or for quick turnaround deadlines.
• Create frameworks to define which trademarks to retain in collaboration with the legal team.
• Evolve and maintain a comprehensive nomenclature system aligned with brand identity and business objectives.
• Consult on naming for Ford products, services, and projects, from idea generation to recommendations.
• Oversee approaches to test names and gather customer insights for naming briefs.
• Analyze market research, customer feedback, and sales data to inform naming decisions.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in brand strategy and nomenclature, either on the brand side or agency.
• 3+ years of experience leading nomenclature projects on the brand side or agency.
• Relevant experience leading nomenclature strategy in a large matrixed organization.

Nice-to-haves

• At least 2 years in a direct stakeholder-facing role on the brand side.
• Experience writing brand strategy/naming briefs.
• Experience in naming across hardware, software, products, services, and experiences.
• Concrete examples of products named by the candidate.
• Experience managing stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Ability to commission research and analyze data.
• Experience managing complexity and volume in projects.
• Experience implementing intake systems.

Benefits

• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days
• Paid parental leave
• New parent ramp-up programs
• Subsidized back-up childcare
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• Generous schedule of paid holidays
• Paid time off with the option to purchase additional vacation time