Director, Project Management, Design and Procurement

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is a technology leader and innovator in school bus manufacturing, dedicated to safety, reliability, and durability since 1927. The company is a proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses, with over 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming student transportation through cleaner energy solutions.

About the role

The Director, Project Management, Design and Procurement will lead project management workstreams to ensure product design readiness, technical transfer, supplier onboarding, supplier readiness, body builder product integration, sourcing decisions, and procurement execution for the next-generation F53/F59 chassis platform. This role coordinates across engineering, product management, supply chain, purchasing, supplier quality, finance, Ford, and Detroit Chassis stakeholders to maintain product quality and enable future scalability.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the integrated design and procurement project plan, including technical milestones, sourcing deliverables, supplier readiness, material availability, and critical path dependencies.
• Coordinate technical platform transfer activities and ensure design requirements, product specifications, certifications, test validation, quality expectations, and feature continuity are clearly defined and tracked.
• Partner with procurement and supply chain leaders to support supplier selection, commercial readiness, tooling needs, long-lead material planning, cost targets, and supply continuity.
• Partner with Supplier Quality Engineering (SQE) to ensure supplier compliance is completed in a timely manner appropriate to key project milestones.
• Manage risks related to design changes, engineering release timing, supplier capacity, component availability, cost, quality, and schedule adherence.
• Support collaboration with Ford and Detroit Chassis stakeholders to ensure knowledge transfer, documentation availability, technical issue resolution, and alignment to Powered by Ford requirements.
• Engage with body builders to develop detailed plans to ensure the chassis is body mount ready.
• Ensure prototyping or pilot builds meet timing expectations of the overall launch dates of the program.
• Manage timing updates with outside engineering teams.
• Provide regular updates to the Sr Director on design readiness, sourcing progress, cost risks, open decisions, and mitigation plans.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, business, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in program management, engineering project management, procurement, sourcing, or product launch within a manufacturing, automotive, commercial vehicle, or industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of design release processes, supplier readiness, procurement planning, change control, and launch risk management.
• Ability to influence technical and commercial stakeholders without direct authority and communicate complex risks clearly.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required; candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and customer relationship skills to handle difficult and sensitive matters.
• Strong project management skills with exposure to complex projects.
• Effective communication and ability to convey complex details clearly.
• Ability to balance individual stakeholder needs while delivering corporate objectives.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 14 paid holidays.
• Vacation time.
• 401k matching.
• Continued professional development.

Schedule

• Fast-paced production environment with occasional exposure to heat, cold, and noise.
• Frequent weeks working 40+ hours.
• Occasional periods of standing or sitting for extended periods.
• Must wear appropriate PPE when and where required.