Senior Director, Project Management

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. 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 Sr Director, Project Management will lead the end-to-end program management office for the Blue Bird Chassis Business Unit as Blue Bird assumes design, manufacturing, sales, and service responsibility for the next generation medium-duty F53/F59 stripped chassis. This leader will translate the strategic opportunity into an integrated operating plan that delivers a successful launch with backlog, on time, on budget, with product and people continuity, competitive price, delivery, and quality, acceptable customer and dealer experience, retained critical talent where economically viable, acceptable returns, and a sustainable business model.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the integrated program management structure for the chassis business unit across design, procurement, industrialization, manufacturing transition, sales, marketing, service, dealer readiness, IT infrastructure, customer continuity, and business launch readiness.
• Own the overall master project plan, governance cadence, milestone discipline, risk register, escalation process, KPI dashboard, and cross-functional decision-making forum.
• Ensure seamless collaboration with Ford, Detroit Chassis Products, Body Builders internal business leaders, engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, legal, HR, sales, IT, service, and dealer network stakeholders.
• Drive launch readiness for Q1 2028 production, including backlog readiness, product continuity, quality expectations, chassis-related certification, customer transition plans, and scalable long-term operating processes.
• Establish and monitor with finance a mechanism to manage product costs throughout the development to ensure acceptable returns.
• Coordinate all project workstreams to protect budget commitments, capital investment plans, resource allocation, commercial commitments, customer experience, and sustainable profitability.
• Lead the three director-level project management roles, ensuring clear accountabilities, issue resolution, aligned priorities, and executive-level visibility.
• Provide concise executive updates to the business unit leader and senior leadership team on progress, risks, decisions required, and critical path dependencies.

Key outcomes:

• Integrated launch plan delivered on time and on budget.
• Clear governance model with disciplined milestone tracking, executive visibility, and rapid escalation of risks.
• Continuity for customers, dealers, builders, fleets, products, people, and service support.
• Business positioned for expanded total addressable market growth, technology leverage, platform scalability, and sustainable returns.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, operations, supply chain, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive program management, product launch, operations, engineering, or business transformation experience, preferably in commercial vehicles, automotive, manufacturing, or industrial products.
• Demonstrated experience leading large, cross-functional programs with executive-level visibility, external partner coordination, capital investment oversight, and complex launch timelines.
• Strong financial acumen, communication skills, stakeholder management capability, and discipline in risk management and project governance.
• All candidates must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and authorized to work in the United States.

Skills

• 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.
• Collaborative teamwork balancing individual stakeholder needs with corporate objectives.

Benefits

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

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.