Senior Material Cost Optimization Program Lead

Daimler Trucks North America LLC; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 104,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

401k with company match

Paid vacation

Parental leave

Healthcare plans

Wellness programs

Tuition assistance

Disability plans

Job summary

Daimler Truck North America LLC in Detroit, MI, is seeking a Project Manager to lead the DDC MatCo program, coordinating procurement, engineering, and finance to deliver material cost reductions while maintaining quality and supply.

The role requires cross-functional leadership, program governance, and strong communication; hybrid work schedule and global collaboration across Powertrain. Travel domestically and internationally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, supply chain, business, finance, or related field, with 5 years' related experience.
• 3+ years of project or program management leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience in automotive, commercial vehicle, powertrain, manufacturing, procurement, supplier management, or product development environments.
• Understanding tariffs, 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 environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including executive-ready updates for stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and drive actions to closure.
• Working knowledge of business cases, cost drivers, financial impact, risk management, and performance reporting.
• Customer-focused mindset and ability to respond to stakeholder needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and enterprise reporting/project-management systems.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead central DDC Procurement project for Material Cost Optimization across global functions.
• Set up governance, meeting cadence, decision paths, and duties for Procurement teams.
• Prepare and drive management reviews; document decisions, risks, actions, closures.
• Coordinate with global Powertrain; transfer standards, tools, and best practices to the DDC model.
• Escalate and support decisions when measures risk funding, engineering capacity, validation timing, or dependencies.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Cost analysis

Supply chain

Communication

Stakeholder management

Conflict resolution

Executive updates

Influence without authority

Financial impact

Office tools

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Enterprise reporting systems

Project management software

Job description

Daimler Truck North America LLC in Detroit, MI, is seeking a Project Manager to lead the DDC MatCo program, coordinating procurement, engineering, and finance to deliver material cost reductions while maintaining quality and supply.

The role requires cross-functional leadership, program governance, and strong communication; hybrid work schedule and global collaboration across Powertrain. Travel domestically and internationally.