Manager, Pricing & Cost Estimating

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Proposal Pricing and Cost Modeling

• Lead the development of detailed cost estimates and pricing models for competitive and sole-source government proposals.
• Prepare bottom-up estimates based on labor, material, subcontract, travel, and other direct cost inputs.
• Develop and maintain pricing models for firm fixed price, cost plus, time and materials, and other contract types.
• Conduct price to win, sensitivity, affordability, and competitive analyses to support capture strategy.
• Evaluate cost, schedule, technical, and execution risks and incorporate appropriate pricing assumptions.

Basis of Estimate (BOE)Development

• Collaborate with Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Subject Matter Experts to develop and validate Basis of Estimate documentation
• Review labor hour estimates, technical assumptions, material requirements, and program execution plans for completeness and realism.
• Ensure traceability between technical, management, and cost proposal volumes.

Cost Volume Management

• Lead preparation of cost and pricing volumes in response to Requests for Proposal (RFPs), Requests for Quote (RFQs), and other government solicitations.
• Ensure proposal compliance with solicitation instructions, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements.
• Coordinate cost volume content, pricing narratives, and supporting documentation across multiple functions.

Subcontract and Supplier Pricing Analysis

• Review supplier and subcontractor cost proposals and price quotations
• Perform cost and price analyses to determine price reasonableness and adequacy
• Support subcontract proposal evaluations and negotiations
• Ensure compliance with FAR subcontract cost analysis requirements

Financial Analysis and Indirect Rate Application

• Apply approved indirect rate structures, including fringe, overhead, material handling, and General & Administrative (G&A) rates.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting teams to assess forward pricing rates and long-range financial impacts.
• Analyze profit objectives, investment requirements, and business case considerations

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure proposal compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), Cost Accounting Standards, (CAS), and Truthful Cost or pricing Data requirements.
• Maintain audit ready proposal documentation supporting all pricing assumptions and methodologies.
• Interpret regulatory changes and implement compliant estimating practices.

Audit and Government Review Support

• Support Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) and Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) audits, fact finding sessions, and proposal reviews.
• Respond to government questions regarding labor, material, indirect rates, and estimating methodologies.
• Prepare supporting analyses and documentation for internal and external audits.

Leadership and Proposal Governance

• Lead pricing reviews during capture and proposal development phases.
• Present pricing recommendations and risk assessments during management reviews including Pink Team, Red Team, and Executive Review sessions.
• Advise senior leadership on pricing strategy, win probability, and financial performance considerations.
• Mentor pricing analysts and estimators and support continuous process improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in government contract pricing, cost estimating, program finance, or proposal management.
• Extensive experience supporting U.S Government and Department of Defense proposal efforts.
• Strong knowledge of FAR, DFARS, CAS, and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements. 
• Experience developing cost volumes for competitive and sole source acquisitions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced proposal environment with aggressive deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, master's degree, or professional certification in Finance, Accounting, or Program Management.
• Experience supporting DCAA and DCMA audits
• Experience with Earned Valus Management Systems (EVMS).
• Knowledge of Forward Pricing Rate Agreements (FPRAs) and Forward Pricing Rate Recommendations (FPRRs)
• Prior experience within a major aerospace, defense, or government services contractor.
• Experience leading complex capture efforts exceeding $100M in contract value

Key Competencies

• Defense Proposal Pricing
• Cost Estimating
• Proposal Management
• Financial Modeling
• Price to Win Analysis
• Government Contracting
• FAR/DFARS Compliance
• Cost Volume Development
• Indirect Rate Analysis
• DCAA/DCMA Audit Support
• Risk Assessment
• Executive Presentation Skills
• Strategic Pricing
• Cross Functional Leadership