Head of Projects

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.

• 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

• 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

• 5+ years in construction, specialty building products or facility projects, including 3+ years leading others across in‑person and remote/field‑based settings
• Prove…