Senior Manager, Cost and Pricing, Defense Contracts

CIRCOR Aerospace & Defence•Warren, FL

21d

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Cost and Pricing, Defense Contracts will lead all cost and pricing activities for U.S. Navy and defense opportunities. This includes RFQs, proposals, contract modifications, and other customer pricing requests. The role involves developing and executing pricing strategies that balance customer requirements, competitive positioning, cost recovery, risk, and business profitability objectives. The position oversees the development and validation of proposal cost inputs, ensures appropriate application of indirect cost structures, and guarantees compliance with relevant government regulations such as FAR, DFARS, CAS, and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements. This role also leads customer discussions and negotiations related to price, cost, and rates, and provides leadership for the team responsible for reviewing customer terms and conditions, identifying contractual risk, and negotiating acceptable terms. Collaboration with various departments including Finance, Contracts, Sales, Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain is crucial to ensure proposal accuracy and compliance. The Senior Manager will also support customer and government fact-finding activities, audits, and pricing reviews, and establish standardized pricing processes and controls. Additionally, the role involves evaluating cost drivers, incorporating assumptions into pricing strategies, and providing management with clear assessments of proposal economics. The position serves as the organization's subject matter expert for defense cost and pricing matters.

Requirements

Strong working knowledge of FAR and DFARS requirements applicable to U.S. Government and Department of Defense contracting.
Demonstrated knowledge of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and government cost accounting principles.
Experience developing and reviewing cost and pricing proposals in a U.S. Department of Defense environment, preferably supporting U.S. Navy programs.
Strong understanding of direct and indirect cost structures and the application of labor, overhead, fringe, G&A, and other burden rates within proposal pricing.
Experience with cost estimating, cost analysis, pricing models, profitability analysis, and proposal financial evaluation.
Knowledge of certified cost or pricing data requirements and supporting cost substantiation.
Demonstrated experience leading pricing discussions, fact-finding activities, and customer negotiations.
Strong understanding of government contract terms and conditions with the ability to identify contractual, financial, and business risks and coordinate appropriate mitigation or negotiation strategies.
Experience managing and developing a team responsible for cost/pricing, contracts, terms and conditions, or related functions.
Ability to translate complex cost, pricing, and contractual requirements into clear recommendations for business leadership.
Strong financial and analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to effectively collaborate and influence across Finance, Contracts, Business Development, Sales, Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Supply Chain.
Ability to manage multiple complex proposals and negotiations while meeting internal and customer deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with customers and senior leadership.
High degree of integrity and commitment to regulatory compliance and established business processes.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and working proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and related business systems.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in cost estimating, pricing, government contracting, finance, or related defense-industry functions, with demonstrated experience supporting U.S. Government or Department of Defense contracts.
US Citizen

Nice To Haves

Prior supervisory or functional leadership experience strongly preferred.
Experience supporting U.S. Navy contracts, shipbuilding programs, or defense manufacturing is strongly preferred.
Significant directly relevant defense cost and pricing experience may be considered in lieu of specific educational requirements on a case-by-case basis.

Responsibilities

Leads all cost and pricing activities for U.S. Navy and defense opportunities, including RFQs, proposals, contract modifications, and other customer pricing requests.
Develops and executes pricing strategies that balance customer requirements, competitive positioning, cost recovery, risk, and business profitability objectives.
Oversees development and validation of proposal cost inputs, including direct labor, material, outside processing, engineering, supply chain, and other direct costs.
Ensures appropriate application of indirect cost structures, including fringe, manufacturing overhead, engineering overhead, G&A, and other applicable burden and allocation methodologies.
Ensures pricing practices and proposal submissions comply with applicable FAR, DFARS, CAS, and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements, as appropriate to the contract or solicitation.
Leads all customer discussions and negotiations related to price, cost, rates, and other commercial or financial elements of proposals and contracts.
Provides leadership and oversight to the team responsible for reviewing customer terms and conditions, identifying contractual risk, coordinating internal reviews, developing exceptions, and negotiating acceptable terms with customers.
Partners with Finance, Contracts, Sales, Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure proposal assumptions and pricing accurately reflect program requirements, execution risks, and anticipated costs.
Reviews and approves cost and pricing packages to ensure accuracy, consistency, traceability, appropriate supporting documentation, and compliance with company and government requirements.
Supports customer and government fact-finding activities, audits, pricing reviews, and requests for supporting cost or pricing information.
Establishes and maintains standardized pricing processes, controls, models, and approval workflows to improve proposal accuracy, consistency, responsiveness, and compliance.
Evaluates changes in labor, material, supplier, inflation, overhead, and other cost drivers and incorporates appropriate assumptions into pricing strategies and longer-term proposals.
Provides management with clear assessment of proposal economics, including anticipated revenue, margin, cost risk, pricing assumptions, and key contractual considerations to support informed business decisions.
Serves as the organization’s subject matter expert for defense cost and pricing matters and provides guidance to cross-functional stakeholders regarding government pricing requirements and practices.
Performs additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned by management.