Ford recruits more Aussie staff

Ford Australia has announced that for the third year in a row it has invested in Australian jobs, hiring 23 new recruits across a broad spectrum of disciplines including Product Development, Marketing, Sales Service and Finance.

And Ford will be hiring design graduates for 2017, the first time the company has done so since re-establishing the graduate program in 2015. The company announced it would end manufacturing here back in 2013, and production at both its plants will officially end next month, but Ford is expanding its R&D activities in Australia.

President and CEO of Ford Australia, Graeme Whickman, stated: "Ford is investing in local creative and technical talent to support our aggressive global product development investments that include key programs such as Ranger and Everest in Australia".

"The 2017 Ford Australia Graduate Program provides graduates with the ideal foundation to build an exceptional career, working with cutting-edge technologies, exposure to a broad portfolio of exciting product programs and first-hand experience working with Ford team members globally."

Ford's graduate program is just one of many different initiatives aimed at working with tertiary education providers in Australia to ensure a first rate commitment to professional practices across the Asia Pacific.

The company's R&D centre in Campbellfield is one of just five such facilities in the Ford world. Australian R&D staff have worked on projects as diverse as the Indian-market Figo, the Ranger/Everest and the Chinese-market Escort (pictured).