Head of Projects

Keller Executive Search; Madison Heights (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus 10–20%

Job summary

Keller Executive Search is partnering with a global manufacturer to appoint a hands‑on Head of Projects in Madison Heights, MI. You will own the full project lifecycle from PO through handover, building a distributed team, standardizing execution, and reporting at portfolio level.

The role emphasizes site leadership, on‑site problem solving, and aligning schedules with fabrication and site readiness. You will oversee safety compliance, liaise with hospitals and general contractors, and travel to

Qualifications

• 5+ years in construction or specialty building products, with 3+ years leading teams on-site/field.
• Proven delivery of multiple geographically dispersed projects with technical, spec-driven products.
• Able to rollout standardized PM methodology, documentation and stage gates.
• Strong PM processes knowledge: submittals, shop drawings, RFIs and change orders.
• Reads architectural specs and door/hardware schedules independently.
• Excellent stakeholder management with general contractors, architects and facility owners.

Responsibilities

• Own the regional project portfolio from PO to handover and acceptance.
• Lead and coach a distributed team of project managers and coordinators across office, remote and field.
• Implement a standardized PM framework with stage gates and reporting.
• Elevate risks and provide leadership visibility of KPI adherence.
• Ensure compliance with behavioral health safety standards and life-safety codes.
• Manage submittals, RFIs, approvals and commissioning processes.
• Coordinate with architects, GCs and facility owners on quality and specs.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

PM methodology

Submittals & RFIs

IT & data reporting

English proficiency

Education

PM qualification: PMP/PRINCE2/CAPM

Tools

Procore

Smartsheet

Salesforce PMT

Microsoft 365

Job description

Keller Executive Search is partnering with a global manufacturer of specialty, specification-driven building products for behavioral health and life-safety-regulated facilities to appoint a hands‑on Head of Projects. Our client designs and manufactures the products it installs, and its fastest-growing region is now scaling toward becoming the largest in the group. This is a rare opportunity to stand up and personally run a disciplined project delivery function in a highly technical, mission‑led business where getting delivery right protects patient safety, not just a project timeline.

Reporting to the Global Managing Director, you will own every project from purchase order through detailing and customer acceptance, production, delivery, installation, commissioning and handover. You will build and coach a distributed team of project managers and coordinators, implement a standardized project‑execution methodology with clear stage gates and portfolio‑level reporting, and act as the credible, escalation‑level face of the company to hospitals, architects and general contractors. This is a builder's mandate: the structure, tooling and standards are yours to create, not inherit.

This role suits an operator who thrives on‑site and in the field rather than behind a governance dashboard. You will sequence in‑house manufacturing schedules against jobsite readiness, hold the line on specification and compliance before product is fabricated, and keep concurrent, geographically dispersed projects moving. If you want to shape a function, lead a growing team, and see your delivery discipline translate directly into customer trust and commercial momentum, this is a defining opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the regional project portfolio from purchase order through customer acceptance sign‑off, production, delivery, installation, commissioning and handover
• Build, lead and coach a distributed team of project managers and coordinators across office, remote and field settings
• Implement a standardized PM methodology, stage gates, documentation and tooling adopted consistently across the team
• Follow and enforce the project‑execution framework, elevating risks and giving leadership full visibility of KPI adherence
• Ensure projects meet behavioral health safety standards, including ligature‑resistant specification, life‑safety codes and state requirements
• Manage submittal, RFI, approval, inspection and commissioning processes specific to regulated construction
• Coordinate architects, general contractors and facility owners on quality and specification compliance
• Align manufacturing lead times and custom fabrication with on‑site installation timelines and site readiness
• Own portfolio‑level financial and data‑driven reporting on schedule, margin, change orders and capacity
• Drive continuous improvement in installation quality, change‑order management and post‑project review
• Act as the senior escalation point for at‑risk or safety‑sensitive projects
• Partner with sales, manufacturing and operations leadership to align delivery with growth targets and client commitments
• Own administration of project management platforms and reporting tooling
• Travel to project sites at least twice per month to verify progress, compliance and site readiness

Additional Information

• Location: Madison Heights, MI
• Workplace: On‑site, unless travelling to project sites
• Site travel required at least twice per month
• Scope covers projects across the United States and Canada
• Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States; visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not available

Essential

• 5+ years in construction, specialty building products or facility projects, including 3+ years leading others across in‑person and remote/field‑based settings
• Proven delivery of multiple, geographically dispersed projects involving technical, specification‑driven products
• Able to build and roll out standardized PM methodology, documentation and stage gates across a team
• Strong grasp of construction PM processes: submittals, shop drawings, RFIs and change orders
• Reads architectural specifications and door/hardware schedules independently
• Excellent stakeholder management with general contractors, architects and facility owners as the face of the company
• IT and systems competence (including Microsoft programs), with ownership of data‑driven reporting, documentation and portfolio‑level financial tracking
• Eligible to work in the US with professional‑level English
• Within commuting distance of Madison Heights, MI (or willing to relocate) and able to travel to sites at least twice monthly

Preferred

• Division 8 doors, frames and hardware expertise, or equivalent depth in another custom, submittal‑heavy building product
• Behavioral health, healthcare or other life‑safety‑regulated facility project experience
• Supplier-, OEM- or manufacturer‑side experience bridging factory schedules with on‑site installation
• Experience with Procore, Smartsheet, Salesforce PMT or comparable construction PM platforms
• Formal PM qualification (PMP, PRINCE2, CAPM or construction PM certification)
• Canada or cross‑border project delivery exposure

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are a hands‑on, self‑directed project leader who has personally carried a multi‑project, multi‑state portfolio in construction or specialty building products. You read specifications and schedules yourself, catch errors before they reach the factory floor, and stay calm and credible when a delivery slip has real consequences. You have imposed structure on an immature or at‑risk function before, coach remote and field teams to a standard, and would rather be on‑site solving the real problem than designing governance from a desk.

• Base salary of $140,000 to $160,000 (up to $170,000 for an exceptional candidate), plus annual bonus of 10 to 20 percent
• 401(k) retirement plan and healthcare coverage
• Public holidays plus 10 days of paid leave
• High‑impact leadership role building a function within a fast‑growing team with significant potential
• International collaboration and travel to head office to share project management best practice with global peers

Keller is a recruitment agency that provides services to clients ranging from startups and non profits to multinational corporations. Keller emphasizes ethical search processes, attentive candidate care, and leadership placements that support long‑term client outcomes.

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