Principal Cost & Pricing Specialist

Didlake, Inc.•Manassas, VA

About The Position

The Principal Cost & Pricing Specialist plays a critical role in organizational growth by ensuring proposals are competitively positioned, financially responsible, and compliant with customer requirements. Through pricing expertise, financial modeling, and cross-functional collaboration, this position directly supports revenue growth, contract success, and long-term organizational sustainability.

Requirements

Strong experience in proposal pricing, cost estimating, financial modeling, and Cost Volume and BOE development, with knowledge of federal contracting requirements and competitive pricing strategies.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, technical writing, and cross-functional collaboration skills are essential for success in this role.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field.
Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in federal proposal pricing, cost estimating, financial analysis, or government contracting.
Demonstrated experience developing Cost Volumes and Basis of Estimate documentation.
Experience supporting complex competitive proposals and capture efforts.
Federal proposal pricing, Cost Volume development, BOE preparation, cost estimating, and cost realism analysis.
Price-to-Win concepts, competitive pricing analysis, labor rate development, and indirect cost application.
Financial modeling and forecasting.
Federal contracting regulations, including FAR and DFARS.
Proposal development lifecycle; Shipley experience preferred.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex formulas, PivotTables, Power Query, scenario analysis, dashboards, and financial modeling.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, quantitative, technical writing, and documentation skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and proposal deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Experience with government contracting pricing methodologies preferred.
Shipley experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead development of pricing strategies for competitive proposals across federal, state, local, commercial, and nonprofit markets.
Analyze solicitation requirements, evaluation criteria, and customer priorities to determine pricing methodology and cost structure.
Develop complete proposal pricing packages, including labor, staffing models, indirect rates, escalation assumptions, materials, subcontractors, travel, other direct costs, and profit strategies.
Ensure pricing aligns with capture strategy, win themes, competitive positioning, and organizational financial objectives.
Support pricing reviews, executive decision meetings, negotiations, discussions, and Best and Final Offers (BAFOs).
Serve as the primary owner and author of proposal Cost Volumes. Develop detailed cost narratives, pricing assumptions, supporting schedules, and cost documentation.
Prepare comprehensive Basis of Estimate (BOE) documentation, including labor assumptions, indirect costs, subcontract pricing, materials, escalation, travel, equipment, and other direct costs.
Ensure estimates are accurate, traceable, defensible, and compliant with solicitation requirements.
Maintain consistency between technical solutions, staffing plans, operational approaches, and pricing submissions.
Design, develop, and maintain pricing models, calculators, and financial analysis tools.
Create standardized pricing templates to improve proposal efficiency, consistency, and accuracy.
Conduct pricing sensitivity analysis, profitability modeling, cost assessments, and pricing scenario evaluations.
Analyze cost drivers, pricing risks, competitive factors, and opportunities.
Maintain pricing databases, historical proposal data, labor rate libraries, and cost assumptions.
Improve pricing processes through automation, analytics, and continuous improvement.
Coordinate pricing activities with subcontractors and teaming partners.
Review subcontractor proposals for completeness, reasonableness, compliance, and cost realism.
Incorporate subcontractor pricing into overall proposal models and cost volumes.
Develop independent cost estimates for labor, materials, travel, equipment, and other direct costs.
Validate estimates using historical data, market research, salary information, vendor quotes, and technical inputs.
Ensure pricing complies with applicable requirements, including Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), DFARS (when applicable), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), when applicable, Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements, when applicable, Agency solicitation requirements, Organizational pricing policies and procedures.
Maintain documentation supporting pricing decisions and audit readiness.
Support Business Development with competitive pricing strategies, Price-to-Win analysis, and pricing risk assessments.
Participate in Bid/No-Bid decisions, Gate Reviews, and proposal strategy sessions.
Partner with Business Development, Finance, Contracts, HR, Operations, Program Management, and executive leadership.
Coordinate pricing inputs, approvals, and deliverables to meet proposal milestones.
Develop and maintain pricing tools, templates, processes, and best practices.
Recommend improvements that increase pricing accuracy, reduce proposal cycle time, and enhance organizational competitiveness.