Manager, 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. 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 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. 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.

We have an exciting career opportunity for a Manager of Project Management as part of our strategic expansion initiatives at Bluebird (BLBD). The ideal candidate should have significant experience managing strategic and engineering development projects in a fast-paced environment, be highly organized, detail-oriented, and a great communicator. This is a creative role, focusing on identifying opportunities and driving effective project management initiatives.

THIS IS A HYBRID POSITION REQUIRING ON-SITE ATTENDANCE 2-3 DAYS A WEEK

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Executive Director, Corporate Strategy, this role is responsible for developing, driving, and implementing project management best practices and strategies across the organization. You will also be responsible for providing guidance to project teams, managing resources, and ensuring that projects are delivered on time and within budget. The ideal candidate is an experienced project manager who is highly organized and has the ability to lead and motivate a team. You must be a strategic thinker and have a proven ability to identify and manage project risks. You should possess excellent communication, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establish a Blue Bird PMO (Project Management Office); to include hiring, developing, and leading a team of project managers responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and successful delivery of projects across Blue Bird
• Drive the process for which Change Management requirements will be deployed across Blue Bird to ensure the successful implementation of strategic and tactical objectives
• Define and execute the strategic vision for the PMO in alignment with the organization's goals, including the development of key capabilities such as capacity planning and resource management
• Manage and develop processes, and apply practices for projects of medium to large size in complexity from beginning to finish using PM software tools and processes
• Responsible for leading all relating projects within the company, helping to ensure that the multi-disciplinary teams on a project work together smoothly, and ensure project timelines are met and executed on time
• Leading, coordinating and reporting on the activities of project teams to produce deliverables agreed upon with executive and/or functional leaders
• Manages project performance (e.g., on time, on budget, within scope and with quality) and provides input and justification for costs and budget impact
• Understanding, complying, and enforcing policies and procedures as outlined in the project management Stage Gate Process
• Ensure the establishment and utilization of PM standards - based upon the identification and establishment of best practices and industry-leading methodologies
• Influence senior and cross-functional teams to establish a methodology to identify, prioritize, and implement PMO strategies that deliver maximum value for Blue Bird.
• Working with, building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, influencing to ensure alignment and effective communication
• Establish KPIs to measure project impact and overall effectiveness of the PMO and report on project performance to executive leadership
• Develop capabilities to ensure an appropriate review process of all projects and key initiatives to track progress against key strategic priorities, prioritization of resources, and key risks
• All other duties as required

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• The ideal candidate for this dynamic and fast paced environment would be a self-starter with a positive attitude, a problem solver, someone who is proactive and is customer service oriented
• Advance proficiency in: MS Project, Jira and/or other project management related tools
• Proficiency in: Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Access, Outlook
• Solid technical understanding and ability to assist defining and refining requirements through a project lifecycle
• Strong problem-solving skills, and ability to operate independently with minimal direction in a fast-paced environment, working on multiple projects
• Demonstrated orientation to understanding the business and business strategy, and the ability to apply processes and tools to support strategic business objectives
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong leadership & interpersonal skills

EDUCATION AND EXPEREINCE:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering or related field
• Master's in Project Management, MBA or Master's degree a plus
• Relevant Certifications required: (PMP, PMI, APM, Agile, etc.,)
• 8 years minimum of overall project experience
• 3-7 years of leading projects
• Minimum of 3 years leading a PMO
• Internal applicants should be in their current job for at least 12 months
• Familiarity with automotive manufacturing (particularly school bus) or general manufacturing environment a plus

WE VALUE

• Ability to anticipate and understand customer needs and provide guidance
• Strong project management skills. Exposure to difficult or complex projects is a plus.
• Effective communication and ability to communicate complex situations
• Flexible workspaces and work hours that help you unleash the best you.
• Working in a collaborative team and balancing the needs of individual stakeholders while delivering corporate objectives
• Fast learner with a passion for processes and multi-tasking

*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's winning culture is fueled by our ability to respect, encourage, celebrate and embrace the unique perspectives of all of our employees. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer who is committed to providing all of our employees with a work environment free of discrimination or harassment. We base our employment decisions on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, national, social or ethnic origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, past or present military service, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

Candidates for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States and will be required to provide proof of employment eligibility at the time of hire.