Senior Buyer & Program Manager III

Inside the Role

Daimler Truck’s Powertrain Procurement and Supplier Management team in Detroit is seeking a highly motivated Strategic Sourcing Analyst. Join our team as a Strategic Sourcing Analyst and become an integral part of our visionary mission to revolutionize the commercial vehicle industry. The Strategic Sourcing Analyst will focus on sourcing the highest quality parts and services from around the globe while ensuring optimal cost, quality, and on-time delivery. You will be responsible for identifying innovative suppliers for captive powertrain components and collaborating with cross-functional business partners to optimize the total cost of ownership for Daimler Truck customers. If you have the passion to develop strong, mutually beneficial supplier relationships that will result in optimized costs, improved quality and enhanced sustainability, we want you to join us!

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

What You Drive at DTNA

• Collaborate with engineering in early product development stages to understand technical requirements.
• Identify excellent suppliers capable of meeting design, manufacturing, and material specifications.
• Work together with Engineering to develop and validate strong, capable, and innovative supplier partners.
• Analyze and apply appropriate tools, i.e. cost models, benchmarking, competitive global sourcing, value chain analysis, supplier negotiations, engineering change cost containment, technical cost reduction, etc.
• Develop business cases and sourcing recommendations considering multi-dimensional and complex tradeoffs such as optimization of total cost of ownership; local regulatory requirements vs. global platform synergies; best sourcing country vs. local-for-local production scenarios; multi-source vs. single source supplier strategies; in-house vs. external supplier supplied components.
• Create contractual framework and implement contracts with supplier partners and derive contract language with oversight and support from internal legal counsel.
• Negotiate contracts including pricing, pricing adjustments, Terms and Conditions, Long Term Agreement, Supplier Quality Agreement, Warranty Agreement, and Aftermarket Agreement with supplier partners.
• Lead cost optimization initiatives including, but not limited to, VAVE, de-contenting, and alternative materials.
• Collaborate with cross-functional business partners on a broad range of supplier related topics such as: project deliverables, capacity planning, manufacturing efficiencies, cash flow optimization, import customs and duties compliance, logistic route optimization, and warehousing.
• Drive data transparency to support fact-based negotiations to deliver cost target risk assessment and mitigation activities
• Perform bottom-up planning for commodity and supplier-related material costs including, raw material, foreign exchange rate, and other costs such as energy and labor.
• Derive, negotiate, and implement risk mitigation initiatives with supplier partners.

Knowledge You Should Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or other relevant field with at least 5 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to utilize analytical tools for supplier evaluation and selection.
• Strategic orientation, willingness to learn, adapt & be agile, comfort in challenging norms, dealing with ambiguity
• Problem solver with a solution-focused mindset.
•  Experience in analyzing economic and market issues that affect material costs.
• General technical understanding of powertrain technologies and relevant component features, materials, production processes, and cost structures.
• Ability to travel domestically & internationally; 10-20% travel should be expected

Exceptional Candidates Might Have

• Master’s degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, Supply Chain Management
• Familiarity with Engine or Axle components
• Experience working with global suppliers and managing a supply base across different regions and cultures.
• Experience creating and negotiating contractual framework and supporting legal case preparation and argumentation.
• Prior Purchasing, Cost Engineering, or Finance experience.
• Business level proficiency with a foreign language- specifically German or Spanish

Where We Work

This position is open to applicants who can work in (or relocate to) the following location(s)-

Detroit, MI US. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

Schedule Type:

Hybrid (4 days per week in-office / 1 day remote). This schedule builds our #OneTeamBestTeam culture, provides an unparalleled customer experience, and creates innovative solutions through in-person collaboration.

At Daimler Truck North America, we recognize our world is changing faster than ever before. By listening to the needs of today, we’re building to solve with cutting-edge solutions in sustainability and future driving technology across electric, hydrogen and autonomous. These solutions, backed by years of innovative success and achievement, continue DTNA’s legacy as the undisputed industry leader. Our evolving brand portfolio is second to none, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star, Demand Detroit, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis, and Financial Services. Together, we work as one team towards our envisioned future – building a cleaner, safer and more efficient tomorrow for all.

That is what we are working toward - for all who keep the world moving.

Additional Information

• This position is not open for Visa sponsorship or to existing Visa holders
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application
• Final candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check
• Final candidate may be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen
• Contractors, professional services, or other contingent workers should confirm with their local agency if they are eligible to apply for FTE positions
• EEO - Disabled/Veterans

Daimler Truck North America is committed to workforce inclusion and providing an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, age, marital status, family relationship, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (including transgender and transitioning status), genetic information, or veteran status.

For an accommodation or special assistance with applying for a posted position, please contact our Human Resources department at 503-745-8982 or toll free 800-206-3369. For TTY/TDD enabled call 503-745-2137 or toll free 866-355-6935.