Director, Project Management, Industrialization

Director, Project Management, Industrialization

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world 25 million children twice a day making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions.

The Director, Project Management, Industrialization will lead the project management workstreams required to prepare manufacturing, facilities, equipment, process capability, quality systems, workforce readiness, and production ramp for the next generation F53/F59 chassis platform. This role will ensure the business can launch production on time and on budget while supporting product continuity, quality, delivery performance, retained critical personnel, and a sustainable manufacturing operating model.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage the industrialization project plan, including facilities readiness, equipment installation, process validation, manufacturing engineering milestones, workforce planning, quality readiness, materials management, chassis shipping and production launch dependencies.
• Coordinate with operations, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, quality, supply chain, EHS, HR, finance, Ford, Detroit Chassis stakeholders, and external partners to execute launch readiness activities.
• Track capital project milestones, budget commitments, tooling and equipment readiness, line layout, production process documentation, labor planning, and ramp-up assumptions.
• Work alongside functional personnel to develop and manage materials flow throughout the plan to ensure it is on time ready for production launch.
• Manage risks related to production readiness, capacity, quality, delivery, safety, staffing, training, supplier interfaces, and transition from Detroit Chassis operations.
• Support plans to retain critical personnel where economically viable and ensure knowledge transfer supports product and people continuity.
• Provide regular updates to the Sr Director on industrialization status, launch readiness, operating risks, budget impacts, and decisions required.
• Manufacturing and industrialization readiness achieved in support of Q1 2028 production.
• Production launch delivered with disciplined control of budget, schedule, quality, delivery, and safety risks.
• Critical knowledge transfer, staffing plans, and operating processes support continuity and sustainable business performance.
• Prepare Manufacturing system to support competitive price, delivery, quality, and future scalability.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities For Success:

• Experience with capital projects, equipment installation, process validation, quality readiness, workforce readiness, and production ramp planning required.
• Strong operational discipline, risk management, cross-functional leadership, and ability to drive accountability across complex launch workstreams.

Basic Education And Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, or a related field required.
• 8+ years of project management, manufacturing launch, industrialization, operations, plant engineering, or production readiness experience.
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.

We Value:

• Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
• Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
• Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects a plus.
• Ability to influence stakeholders
• Effective communication and ability to communicate complex details in a clear manner.
• Flexible workspaces and work hours to help you unleash the best you.
• Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives.

Includes:

• Continued Professional Development
• Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 14 paid holidays, vacation time and 401k matching

Work Conditions:

• Office environment and production environment
• Must work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to heat, cold and noise
• Fast-paced production area with moving objects and sheet metal
• Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods of time
• You must wear appropriate PPE when and where required
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours
• Frequent communication with people throughout the day

Blue Bird is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We strive to have the best available talent in every job based on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities each person brings. Blue Bird is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Company operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination in all forms.

All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.