Supplier Excellence & Readiness Assessment Specialist, Manufacturing

New Flyer; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Paid holidays and vacation

401K with generous company match

Job summary

New Flyer, a leading US-based bus manufacturer, seeks a Supplier Excellence & Readiness Assessment Specialist, Manufacturing. You will evaluate supplier operations, production systems, and readiness to support current and future production, focusing on how shops actually execute and how capacity is managed.

We require 10+ years in manufacturing or operations leadership, Lean expertise, strong analytical/reporting skills, and effective communication.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations leadership, industrial engineering, production planning, or operational excellence.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing systems, scheduling, capacity planning, and factory operations.
• Experience evaluating high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments and driving lean improvements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct on-site supplier assessments focused on manufacturing execution and operational performance.
• Evaluate production planning, scheduling, level loading, and capacity utilization processes.
• Identify bottlenecks, risks, and opportunities to improve throughput and stability.
• Review KPIs, visual management, and daily management practices for continuous improvement.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations and support corrective action activities.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Lean manufacturing

Analytical problem-solving

Communication & report writing

Travel readiness

Job description

SUPPLIER EXCELLENCE & READINESS ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST, MANUFACTURING
USA
Full-Time, Remote

NFI is a leading global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI® (motor coaches), Alexander Dennis (single and double-deck buses), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI currently offers the widest range of sustainable drive systems available, including zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, fuel cell), natural gas, electric hybrid, and clean diesel. In total, NFI supports its installed base in our buses and coaches around the world. Further information is available at www.nfigroup.com.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Supplier Excellence & Readiness Assessment Specialist, Manufacturing is responsible for evaluating supplier manufacturing operations to determine whether they are stable, scalable, and capable of reliably supporting current and future production requirements. This is a unique opportunity to help establish and shape NFI's Supplier Excellence & Readiness Assessment program through the evaluation of supplier manufacturing operations, production systems, and execution readiness across NFI's global supply base. This role focuses on how suppliers actually execute on the shop floor, assessing production systems, scheduling practices, operational controls, capacity management, and overall manufacturing effectiveness. You will help identify operational risks and improvement opportunities before they impact supplier performance, delivery commitments, or future growth.

WHY JOIN US:

• Be part of a team leading the world’s electrification of mass mobility
• Competitive Wages and comprehensive benefit package with Immediate benefit eligibility
• Paid holidays and vacation
• 401K with generous company match
• Passionate about creating a better product, a better workplace, and a better world
• Inclusive workplace culture that values and empowers team members.
• On-the-job training in a continuous learning environment (we invested $15.9 million in 2024)
• Advancement opportunities within our family of companies
• We are proudly named one of Manitoba’s Top 25 employers.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Conduct on-site supplier assessments focused on manufacturing execution and operational performance
• Evaluate production planning, scheduling, level loading, and capacity utilization processes
• Assess plant layouts, workflow efficiency, material movement, and work-in-process controls
• Identify bottlenecks, production constraints, throughput limitations, and operational risks
• Review operational KPIs, visual management systems, and daily management practices
• Evaluate manufacturing process discipline, standard work adherence, and workforce training effectiveness
• Assess scalability of supplier operations during growth, demand fluctuations, and new product introduction
• Evaluate equipment readiness, maintenance practices, tooling availability, and reliance on overtime
• Identify systemic risks impacting quality, delivery, cost, and production stability
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to improve manufacturing performance and operational readiness.
• Support corrective action development and validation activities
• Contribute to overall supplier readiness evaluations and risk assessments

WHAT YOU NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations leadership, industrial engineering, production planning, or operational excellence
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing systems, production scheduling, capacity planning, and factory operations
• Experience evaluating high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments
• Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement expertise
• Understanding of material flow, work-in-process (WIP) management, operational KPIs, and constraint management
• Experience supporting operational turnarounds, supplier recovery efforts, or manufacturing transformations is preferred
• Strong observation, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to quickly identify operational risks within complex manufacturing environments
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills
• Ability to travel up to 50%

Salary Range: $140,000-$170,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications

Standard Hours: 5 Days, 8 hours, Mon–Fri, 7:30 AM– 4:00PM

OUR WHY:

We exist to move people. Our mission is to design, deliver, and support market-leading bus and motorcoach solutions that are safe, accessible, efficient, and reliable. Our values—safety, quality, integrity, accountability, teamwork, and sustainability—are at the core of everything we do. NFI Group | We Move People - YouTube

Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI offers a wide range of propulsion-agnostic bus and coach platforms, including market leading electric models. Through its low- and zero-emission buses and coaches, infrastructure, and technology, NFI meets today’s urban demands for scalable smart mobility solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities through connected, clean, and sustainable transportation. News and information is available at www.nfigroup.com,www.newflyer.com,www.mcicoach.com,nfi.parts,www.alexander-dennis.com,arbocsv.com,andcarfaircomposites.com.