Project Director Jobs in Michigan

About Blue Bird Corporation

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. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com (https://www.blue-bird.com/).

JOB SUMMARY

The Executive Director, Project Management, Industrialization will lead manufacturing and production readiness for the next-generation F53/F59 chassis platform, integrating Plan for Every Part (PFEP), continuous improvement (CI), Lean manufacturing, and operational excellence into the industrialization plan. This role will coordinate facilities, tooling, equipment, materials flow, process capability, quality systems, workforce readiness, and production ramp to support Q1 2028 production within approved budget, schedule, safety, and quality requirements.

This is a hands-on role accountable for personally developing and maintaining detailed project plans, resolving plant-level execution issues, and influencing action across functions without direct reports. Responsibilities extend beyond launch to sustaining PFEP, improving operating performance, and developing repeatable manufacturing and supply chain practices.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Industrialization and production readiness

• Develop, document, and maintain the integrated industrialization plan, including milestones, dependencies, accountable owners, resource requirements, readiness criteria, and recovery actions.
• Drive production realization across facilities, tooling, equipment installation, line layout, manufacturing processes, quality readiness, staffing, training, materials management, and chassis shipping.
• Track capital milestones, budget commitments, capacity assumptions, process validation, and production ramp readiness; work with functional owners to close gaps and escalate decisions affecting launch.
• Work directly with plant teams to validate readiness on the production floor, resolve execution issues, and manage risks to safety, quality, cost, delivery, and business continuity.
• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of PFEP with supply chain, materials, manufacturing engineering, and production teams, establishing data ownership and change controls that remain effective after launch.
• Ensure PFEP defines part requirements, supplier and lead-time information, packaging, storage locations, inventory parameters, replenishment methods, and point-of-use delivery requirements.
• Translate PFEP into practical receiving, storage, kitting, line-side delivery, and replenishment processes. Validate material availability and flow against production demand, space, handling, safety, and capacity requirements.
• Use PFEP data to identify and reduce shortages, excess inventory, unnecessary handling, and production interruptions; coordinate corrective actions with functional owners.
• Support the development of inbound and outbound logistics plans in collaboration with plant team members and third-party vendors, including delivery schedules, transportation capacity, staging, and finished chassis shipping, aligned with production demand and ramp requirements.

Continuous improvement Lean and operational excellence

• Develop and execute a prioritized CI and operational excellence roadmap that supports launch readiness and sustained performance after launch, with documented baselines, owners, milestones, and measurable benefits.
• Lead practical Lean initiatives, including value stream mapping, standard work, 5S, visual management, line balancing, and structured problem-solving to improve safety, quality, productivity, material flow, and delivery.
• Facilitate improvement events and coach plant teams in root-cause analysis and corrective action. Establish follow-up routines and measures to confirm improvements are adopted and sustained.
• Document repeatable manufacturing and supply chain practices, lessons learned, and standard processes; support their application across other Blue Bird operations as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES FOR SUCCESS

• Strong knowledge of manufacturing launch, capital projects, equipment installation, process validation, quality readiness, workforce planning, and production ramp execution.
• Practical expertise in PFEP, material flow design, inventory management, replenishment systems, and integration of materials processes with production requirements.
• Ability to apply Lean and CI methods to solve operational problems and sustain measurable results.
• Ability to lead through influence, secure cross-functional commitments, resolve competing priorities, and escalate issues with clear recommendations.
• Strong planning, documentation, analytical, and project management skills, with the ability to personally build and maintain detailed schedules, trackers, and performance reports.
• Ability to move between leadership discussions and detailed work on the production floor, adapting to changing requirements while maintaining accountability for results.

BASIC EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, or a related field required.
• 10+ years of project management, manufacturing launch, industrialization, operations, plant engineering, or production readiness experience.
• 8+ years demonstrated experience implementing PFEP or comparable part-level materials planning systems and leading Lean, CI, or operational excellence initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• 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

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 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

• The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

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.

#LI-Onsite

Experience

• 8 year(s): Demonstrated experience implementing PFEP or comparable part-level materials planning systems and leading Lean, CI, or operational excellence initiatives in a manufacturing environment
• 10 year(s): Project management, manufacturing launch, industrialization, operations, plant engineering, or production readiness experience.

Education

• Bachelors or better in Business Administration or related field

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.