Mercedes-Benz: Building Exceptional Vehicles… and Careers!
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. is hiring a Strategic Sourcing Analyst in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The position supports the development of a competitive, resilient, and future-ready North American supply base through supplier development, market intelligence, cost analysis, and OEM benchmarking.
Purpose of the Position
Develop and strengthen a competitive, resilient, and future-ready North American supply base by combining supplier development, supplier market intelligence, cost competitiveness analyses, and OEM benchmarking. The position supports strategic sourcing, localization, and supply chain decisions by providing market insights, identifying opportunities and risks, and driving long-term supplier performance and competitiveness.
The role monitors an average annual purchasing portfolio of approximately USD 500M across 20 suppliers, ensuring supply continuity, commercial performance, and long-term strategic alignment.
Key Objectives
- Build and maintain a strong, diversified, and sustainable North American supplier network.
- Support localization and sourcing strategies aligned with business and USMCA objectives.
- Generate actionable supplier market intelligence to support management and purchasing decisions.
- Identify cost optimization opportunities through market analysis, benchmarking, and should-cost assessments.
- Monitor supplier, industry, and geopolitical developments to proactively mitigate supply chain risks.
- Benchmark suppliers and sourcing approaches across major automotive OEMs.
- Enhance supply chain resilience, competitiveness, and long-term business success through data-driven recommendations.
Essential Functions
Supply Base Development (40%)
- Identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers in the North American region.
- Further develop existing suppliers regarding capacity, performance, and strategic direction.
- Support localization and resourcing projects in line with USMCA strategy.
- Work closely with operational purchasing, engineering, and quality on supplier assessments.
- Develop concepts to diversify the supply base and reduce single-source risks.
- Perform systematic benchmark analyses.
Cost Work (30%)
- Support cost breakdowns, should-cost analyses, and benchmarks for selected commodities.
- Identify savings potentials.
- Assess raw material, energy, and labor cost developments in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
- Coordinate closely with central purchasing functions in Germany.
Supplier Market Intelligence – North America (30%)
- Continuously monitor, analyze, and assess the North American supplier market.
- Build and maintain a structured market intelligence framework covering capacities, technologies, financial stability, ownership, footprints, mergers and acquisitions, and investments.
- Develop early-warning indicators for market shifts, consolidations, insolvency risks, and geopolitical influences.
- Produce market studies, commodity reports, and management summaries.
Perform safe work practices and participate in trainings and safety programs. Report unsafe acts, unsafe conditions, and injuries to management or the Safety Department. Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain/Operations, Business Administration Management, or a related area, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience: Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in procurement, supplier quality, supplier management, or related functions.
Necessary Skills:
- Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes and cost structures.
- High proficiency in negotiation, cost analysis, and cross-functional stakeholder management.
- Advanced skills in Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
- Strong analytical skills, continuous improvement mindset, and proactive problem-solving ability.
Preferred Skills: German and/or Spanish language skills.
Benefits
- Health benefits
- Company retirement plan
- Annual profit share
- Possible mobility offers
- Coaching
- Flextime
- Employee events and discounts
- Possible mobile phone and parking
- Canteen and café
- Near-site childcare
Contact
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.
1 Mercedes-Drive
Vance, AL 35490
MBUSI Recruiter: recruiting@mercedes-benz.com