Project and Program Management Generalist III - Material Cost Optimization

dtna; United States; On-site; USD 104,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with company match up to 6%

4 weeks paid vacation

13+ calendar holidays

8 weeks paid parental leave

Comprehensive healthcare plans

Onsite fitness (at some locations)

Tuition assistance

Volunteer paid time off

Disability plans

Job summary

DTNA is seeking a Project Manager to lead the DDC Material Cost Optimization (MatCo) program, coordinating across purchasing, engineering, controlling, cost engineering, quality, logistics, and global powertrain stakeholders. The role establishes governance, tracks progress, and drives cross-functional teams from idea generation to implementation and financial realization.

The position demands experience in multi-functional leadership within automotive contexts, strong communication skills, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in engineering, supply chain, business, finance, project management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of related experience in program or project management.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives in automotive or powertrain environments.
• Strong verbal and written communication; ability to influence without direct authority.
• Understanding of tariffs, trade compliance and total landed cost considerations.

Responsibilities

• Act as the central DDC Procurement project lead and primary coordination interface across local and global functions.
• Establish and maintain program structure, governance, meeting cadence, decision pathways, and workstreams.
• Lead working-team, steering, and management review prep; document decisions, risks, actions; drive closure.
• Coordinate Procurement activities with the global Powertrain organization and transfer standards, tools, work packages, and best practices into the DDC operating model.
• Provide escalation and decision support when measures are at risk due to funding, engineering capacity, validation timing, supplier readiness, or cross-functional dependencies.
• Support focused idea-generation and measure-maturation activities, including module-team deep dives, supplier workshops, benchmarking, value analysis/value engineering events, specification reviews, resourcing reviews, and cross-functional focus weeks.
• Prepare and support regular program status reports and management presentations covering target achievement, pipeline maturity, financial impact, funding needs, implementation status, risks, and required decisions.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Cost reduction

Supply chain

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Influencing without authority

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, supply chain, business, finance, project management, or a related field

Job description

Inside the Role

Lead and manage the DDC Material Cost Optimization (MatCo) Program, coordinating purchasing, engineering, controlling, cost engineering, quality, logistics, and global powertrain stakeholders to identify, mature, approve, implement, and track sustainable material cost reduction measures. The Project Manager will establish disciplined program governance, maintain transparent reporting, and drive cross-functional teams from idea generation through implementation and financial realization.

Posting Information

We provide a scheduled posting end date to assist our candidates with their application planning. While this date reflects our latest plans, it is subject to change, and postings may be extended or removed earlier than expected.

We Take Care of Our Team

Position offers a starting salary range of $104,000 - $133,000 USD

Pay offered dependent on knowledge, skills, and experience.

Benefits

Benefits include annual bonus program; 401k company contribution with company match up to 6% as well as non-elective company contribution of 3 - 7% depending on age; starting at 4 weeks paid vacation; 13+ calendar holidays; 8 weeks paid parental leave; employee assistance program; comprehensive healthcare plans and wellness programs; onsite fitness (at some locations); tuition assistance and volunteer paid time off; short-term and long-term disability plans.

What You Drive at DTNA

DDC MatCo Program Leadership and Governance

• Act as the central DDC Procurement project lead and primary coordination interface for the Material Cost Optimization Program across local and global functions.
• Establish and maintain the program structure, governance model, meeting cadence, decision pathways, workstreams, and stakeholder responsibilities for the Procurement teams.
• Lead recurring working-team, steering, and management review preparation; document decisions, risks, dependencies, and actions and drive timely closure.
• Coordinate Procurement activities with the global Powertrain organization and transfer relevant standards, tools, work packages, and best practices into the DDC operating model.
• Provide clear escalation and decision support when measures are at risk due to funding, engineering capacity, validation timing, supplier readiness, or cross-functional dependencies.

Measure Pipeline, Maturity, and Implementation

• Support focused idea-generation and measure-maturation activities, including module-team deep dives, supplier workshops, benchmarking, value analysis/value engineering events, specification reviews, resourcing reviews, and cross-functional focus weeks.
• Ensure measures progress through established maturity levels with clear ownership, quotations, technical concepts, implementation timing, business cases, validation requirements, and approvals.
• Challenge teams to convert ideas into executable measures while maintaining product quality, supply continuity, regulatory compliance, and total-cost competitiveness.
• Prepare and support regular program status reports and management presentations covering target achievement, pipeline maturity, financial impact, funding needs, implementation status, risks, and required decisions.

Cross-Functional and Supplier Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships across Global Module Teams, Product Engineering, Cost Engineering, and Controlling.
• Facilitate alignment among functional leaders and measure owners, balancing local DDC requirements with DTNA and global Daimler Truck objectives.
• Support Purchasing teams to structure supplier engagement, commercial workshops, competitive RFQs, and negotiation preparation that support program objectives.
• Communicate complex technical and financial topics in a concise, decision-oriented manner for working teams and senior management.
• Create accountability through clear deliverables, action tracking, follow-up, and escalation while fostering constructive, solution-focused collaboration.

Knowledge You Should Bring

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, supply chain, business, finance, project management, or a related field and 5 years of related experience.
• 3+ years of demonstrated project or program management experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from definition through implementation.
• Experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, powertrain, manufacturing, procurement, supplier management, or product development environments.
• Understanding of tariffs, trade compliance, USMCA/regional value content, localization, and total landed cost considerations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and prioritization skills with a solution-focused mindset.
• Ability to create structure in an ambiguous, fast-paced, changing, and sometimes conflict-based environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare executive-ready updates and present complex topics to stakeholders and management.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority, build alignment, manage co