Project and Program Management Generalist III, Vehicle Level Engineering

Daimler Truck•Portland, OR

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Project and Program Management Generalist III is the operating engine of Vehicle Level Engineering (VLE), serving as both a department enabler and a strategic partner to the Head of VLE. VLE is the integrative engineering organization responsible for defining and delivering vehicle solutions that meet customer expectations, business objectives, and technical requirements. The mission of VLE is to be Partners in Progress through Clarity, Consistency, and Collaboration. VLE integrates five disciplines to align stakeholders, drive innovation, and facilitate informed decisions throughout the product development lifecycle, delivering high-quality products with disciplined, transparent processes and a vehicle-centric approach. The department comprises approximately 200 employees across two locations in the U.S. and Mexico. The Project and Program Management Generalist III works alongside the Head of VLE and supports all five departments within VLE, multiplying the effectiveness of the leadership team. This role is split evenly between department enablement and serving as a strategic partner to the Head of VLE. It is a leadership development position designed for individuals interested in understanding the inner workings of a global engineering organization, not an administrative assistant role.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
5+ years of related experience preferred
Exceptional written and verbal communication across digital tools and platforms
Proficiency in executive presentations (mostly PowerPoint) that are clear, visual, and audience-specific
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong, data-driven analytical skills
Willingness to adopt AI tools, including Claude Code, in daily work
Project management experience and the ability to work independently
Fast, self-driven learning across new and varied topics
Ability to resolve issues quickly across organizational boundaries and to work with people at all levels
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality
Some travel, and schedule flexibility for early and late calls with Germany
Applicants must be legally authorized to work permanently in the country the position is located in at the time of application

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with AI assistants or automation (Claude Code, scripting, low-code tools)
Experience with Power BI or Tableau
Experience with project management tools (CPlace, MS Project, Smartsheet)
Familiarity with engineering processes, systems engineering, or product development
Experience as a group leader, supervisor, or project lead
Experience with Lean, Agile Scrum, or Design Thinking methods
Working knowledge of Spanish

Responsibilities

Give the five VLE departments the shared data, rhythm, and tools to run well.
Build and maintain the VLE dashboard covering key metrics, KPIs, deliverable status, and open actions, using Claude Code to automate data gathering and refresh.
Own the department resource and capacity plan, including headcount, allocation to programs, and gaps, with automated updates where possible.
Coordinate operational planning, including Plan 1 reviews and leadership staff meeting agendas and facilitation.
Track action items across the VLE leadership team and drive them to closure.
Own the VLE Wiki as the single source of truth for processes, decisions, and department knowledge.
Lead one or more department-wide initiatives from plan and targets through execution and tracking.
Lead the Culture Team, champion employee survey reviews, and hold the organization accountable for follow-up actions.
Organize and facilitate strategy workshops, town halls, and department events across U.S. and Mexico sites.
Keep the Head of VLE prepared, focused, and ahead of what matters most.
Maintain a live view of the Head of VLE's top priorities and flag risks, conflicts, and slipping commitments early.
Prepare briefings, pre-reads, and talking points for critical meetings with executives, partners, and global stakeholders.
Draft and refine executive presentations, memos, and white papers that are clear, visual, and tailored to the audience.
Support the Head of VLE's global systems engineering and global chief engineer responsibilities, including coordination with Daimler Truck teams in Germany and other regions.
Research topics, synthesize inputs from across DTNA and Daimler Truck, and turn them into decision-ready summaries.
Offer candid, independent perspective on decisions, communications, and organizational questions.
Represent the department in committees and initiatives, and lead projects independently on behalf of the Head of VLE.
Build and broaden cooperation with other areas across DTNA and Daimler Truck.
Use Claude Code daily to automate routine operations and free time for higher-value work.
Automate data pulls, metric calculations, and dashboard refreshes.
Search, summarize, and synthesize content from internal sources and meeting records.
Draft, update, and organize wiki pages so department knowledge stays current and easy to find.
Spot repetitive tasks across the five departments and turn them into repeatable, automated workflows.