Senior Cost Estimator

Location: Charlotte, NC, 28273

SATO America is seeking a Senior Cost Estimator responsible for developing accurate, timely, and competitive cost estimates and customer quotations for custom label, tag, and related converting products. This role supports sales growth and margin performance by analyzing production methods, material usage, labor, tooling, and outside services to determine optimal pricing for new and repeat business.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in label and tag manufacturing, including pressure-sensitive labels, tags, RFID-related products, and multi-process converting environments. This person works closely with Sales, Customer Service, Purchasing, Prepress, Production, and Management to ensure quotes are aligned with plant capabilities, market conditions, and profitability targets.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed cost estimates and pricing for customer quotes, bids, and proposals.
• Analyze specifications, materials, labor, and production requirements to determine accurate costs.
• Collaborate with Sales, Operations, and Procurement to gather necessary inputs and validate assumptions.
• Review and validate estimates for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with company pricing guidelines.
• Maintain quote records, costing standards, pricing logic, and estimating databases within ERP/MIS systems.
• Support re-quotes, contract pricing, annual price reviews, and margin improvement initiatives.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and recommend pricing strategies to improve competitiveness.
• Maintain documentation of estimates, assumptions, and methodologies.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives for estimating tools and processes.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior estimators.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Associate’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5-10 years of progressive experience in estimating, pricing, or cost analysis. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and cost drivers within the label and tag industries.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP/MRP, or estimating systems (EPS Radius, Label Traxx).
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Experience improving or building recruiting processes, programs, or systems.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution capability.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• High level of accountability, follow-through, and ownership.
• Strong functional knowledge with EPS/Radius MRP software.
• Experience in labeling, printing, or media production industries with label and tag manufacturing knowledge.
• Functional knowledge of cost accounting principles and pricing strategy concepts.
• Cost analysis and pricing judgment.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to build trust and credibility at all levels, cross-functional collaboration.
• Proactive, data-driven, and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment, sense of urgency.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is frequently required to speak and communicate with others, sit and work on a computer for long periods at a time, and would require a normal range of mobility necessary to move about and interface in a variety of areas.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.