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.

About the role

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.

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.
• Ensure manufacturing and industrialization readiness in support of Q1 2028 production.
• Deliver production launch with disciplined control of budget, schedule, quality, delivery, and safety risks.
• Prepare manufacturing system to support competitive price, delivery, quality, and future scalability.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, or a related field.
• 8+ years of project management, manufacturing launch, industrialization, operations, plant engineering, or production readiness experience.
• Experience with capital projects, equipment installation, process validation, quality readiness, workforce readiness, and production ramp planning.
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and authorized to work in the United States.

Skills

• Strong operational discipline, risk management, cross-functional leadership, and ability to drive accountability across complex launch workstreams.
• 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 with exposure to difficult or complex projects.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and communicate complex details clearly.
• Flexibility in workspaces and hours to balance individual and corporate objectives.

Benefits

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

Work Conditions

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