Supply Chain Manager, Seat Trim

What to Expect

We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated Supply Chain Manager to support our development teams and manufacturing partners in the sourcing of Seating Trim (as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 component). This supply chain team supports all vehicle programs (including Model 3, Model Y, Cybertruck, Semi, Cybercab and other NPI programs). Collaborating closely with Design Engineering, Trim Engineering, Directed Materials teams, Design Quality, and Manufacturing teams, this role ensures the successful launch and support of production vehicles while maintaining service continuity.

What You’ll Do

• Own RFQs, RFIs, and related commercial processes, ensuring all terms are agreed and documented. Negotiate and position NDAs, Statements of Work, General Terms & Conditions, Piece Price Agreements, and other contracts appropriately before business is initiated
• Drive piece-price, tooling, and material negotiations to ensure Tesla’s seat trim commodity pricing is best-in-class, while meeting supplier industrialization standards for quality, in addition to driving continual cost reduction and avoidance through periodic and ad-hoc negotiations. Negotiate and manage service agreements while providing ongoing support for Tesla’s out-of-production vehicles to ensure parts availability and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction. Negotiate longer-term strategic contracts that deliver significant cost reduction and improved service levels
• Monitor global industry trends, technology roadmaps, and market conditions for seats and seating trim; actively partner with Design Engineering, Trim Engineering, and other teams to identify and mitigate supply/demand challenges and opportunities
• Manage supplier relationships and performance, including dispute resolution, supplier scorecards, periodic business reviews, and development of key performance measures. Requires travel to supplier sites for launch support, relationship management, and on-site coordination during critical events
• Contribute to commodity management activities, including development of strategic commodity plans, global market and pricing analysis, spend analysis, supply-base consolidation, identification of high-potential new suppliers, analysis of current spend and purchasing trends, evaluation of existing suppliers, and development of sourcing alternatives to create leverage or risk mitigation
• Lead cross-functional teams to manage project timelines using program-management tools to ensure on-time delivery of supplier parts against program timing. Build and maintain relationships with cross-functional teams and influence timely decisions
• Communicate key supply, cost, and/or quality issues to management teams and develop corrective action plans to mitigate identified risks. Comfortable communicating with technical stakeholders both internally and externally

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Textiles, Operations Management, Engineering, Chemistry, or equivalent experience with evidence of exceptional ability
• 2+ years of experience in supply chain management, commodity management, or purchasing associated with rolled goods, interiors and seating preferred
• Technical and commercial understanding of manufacturing processes associated with seating and materials. Ability to generate bottom-up should-costs based on materials, construction, and process knowledge
• Understanding of the automotive interiors industry, including knowledge of seat trim materials, manufacturing processes, and relevant industry standards. Technical and commercial understanding of technical drawings, specifications, tooling, and manufacturing processes
• Proficient knowledge of technical requirements and product design; able to influence cross-functional partners with detailed analysis supporting optimized pricing and sourcing decisions
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work in an extremely fast-paced environment. Excellent negotiation and presentation skills
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time (international travel required)