Lead Pricing Specialist

Kapsch TrafficCom AG; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited paid time off

11 paid holidays

401(k)

Medical insurance

Job summary

Kapsch TrafficCom AG is seeking a Lead Pricing Specialist to drive pricing strategy and cost modeling for complex North American state government contracts. You will partner with Business Development, Engineering, and Finance to craft compliant cost proposals and competitive pricing, from RFP review through BAFO negotiations.

The role requires expertise in government procurement, strong Excel-based models, and the ability to lead cross-functional pricing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field and 10+ years in pricing, proposals, or commercial management.
• Experience supporting state and local government contracts and government RFPs.
• Ability to develop compliant cost proposals and pricing narratives.

Responsibilities

• Lead pricing strategy for state and local government pursuits and pricing governance.
• Develop detailed cost proposals, respond to RFPs/RFIs, and ensure compliance with formats and evaluation criteria.
• Create pricing analyses, scenarios, and win strategies balancing competitiveness and profitability.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Projects, and SMEs to build cost models for complex contracts.
• Prepare executive pricing summaries and support negotiations through BAFOs.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Financial modeling

Pricing strategy

Cross-functional leadership

Government procurement experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Economics, or related

Tools

ERP systems

Salesforce

Job description

Kapsch is one of Austria's most successful global technology companies. With its comprehensive ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) portfolio, Kapsch is actively addressing the challenges of the present and the future with intelligent mobility solutions in a wide range of application areas. As a family-owned company founded in 1892 and headquartered in Vienna, Kapsch can look back on 130 years of experience with the future. To learn more about our solutions and innovations, visit our website here.Role PurposeThe Lead Pricing Specialist is responsible for leading pricing strategy, cost model development, commercial analysis, and pricing governance for complex public-sector pursuits across North America, with a particular focus on state government contracts. This role requires significant experience navigating state-level procurement processes, interpreting government Requests for Proposals (RFPs), developing compliant cost proposals, and aligning pricing strategies with public-sector contracting requirements.Partnering closely with Business Development, Engineering, Project Management, Finance, Contracts, Solution Centers, and Executive Leadership, the Lead Pricing Specialist develops competitive, compliant, and financially sound pricing strategies for complex government opportunities. This individual plays a key role throughout the government procurement lifecycle, from solicitation review and proposal development through bid submission, customer negotiations, contract award, and transition to project delivery teams.How You'll Make an ImpactLead pricing strategy for complex state and local government pursuits, including target pricing, margin recommendations, cost assumptions, and pricing scenarios aligned with government procurement requirements and overall win strategies.Lead the development of detailed cost proposals in response to state government RFPs, RFIs, and other public-sector solicitations, ensuring compliance with pricing instructions, required formats, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements.Interpret government solicitation documents, pricing schedules, cost proposal requirements, contract terms, and evaluation methodologies to identify pricing obligations, risks, and opportunities.Partner with Engineering, Project Management, Solution Centers, and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to develop comprehensive cost models for complex technology, infrastructure, and service-based government contracts.Review, validate, and consolidate cost information from SMEs and proposal contributors, ensuring pricing accuracy, consistency, traceability, and alignment with solicitation requirements.Develop competitive pricing analyses, price-to-win strategies, and scenario models that balance competitiveness, profitability, and the specific commercial requirements of government customers.Ensure pricing proposals address applicable public-sector contracting considerations, including contract pricing structures, payment milestones, deliverables, acceptance criteria, escalation provisions, options, renewals, and contract extensions.Prepare executive pricing summaries, management reports, cost justifications, and commercial analyses to support bid/no-bid decisions, pricing approvals, and executive reviews.Own pricing assumptions, basis-of-estimate documentation, cost narratives, exclusions, clarifications, and risk assessments for each pursuit.Lead post-submission pricing activities, including clarifications, Best and Final Offers (BAFOs), revised cost proposals, contract negotiations, and final pricing alignment.Develop, maintain, and enhance government proposal pricing templates, cost models, historical benchmarks, and standard pricing methodologies.Mentor and support junior pricing and proposal team members while promoting strong pricing governance, compliance, and continuous improvement.What Makes You a Great FitBachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Economics, or a related discipline.10+ years of experience in pricing, proposal development, cost analysis, financial modeling, or commercial management, with substantial experience supporting state and local government contracts.Demonstrated experience leading pricing efforts for state government RFPs, including developing compliant cost proposals, pricing schedules, cost narratives, and supporting documentation.Strong understanding of state government procurement processes, public-sector contracting requirements, solicitation structures, and government proposal evaluation methodologies.Proven ability to interpret complex government RFP requirements and translate them into detailed, compliant cost and pricing structures.Experience developing pricing strategies for large-scale, multi-year government contracts, including fixed-price, time-and-materials, cost-based, and other public-sector contract structures.Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including development and maintenance of complex pricing models, formulas, cost breakdowns, and comparative analyses.Strong analytical and financial modeling capabilities, including scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis, and reconciliation of inputs from multiple functions and systems.Proven ability to lead cross-functional pricing discussions and present pricing recommendations, financial analyses, and risk assessments to executive leadership.Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work directly with government customers, procurement representatives, and internal stakeholders.Preferred QualificationsExperience leading pricing efforts for large, complex state government contracts involving multiple stakeholders, subcontractors, technology solutions, infrastructure, and ongoing service requirements.Experience supporting state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), transportation authorities, tolling agencies, or other state-level government entities.Experience within Electronic Tolling, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), transportation technology, infrastructure, or related industries.Experience with government contract pricing methodologies, including lifecycle cost modeling, escalation assumptions, and long-term operational and maintenance cost structures.Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and Salesforce.Experience mentoring junior pricing professionals and improving pricing processes, templates, governance, and review practices.What We OfferThe opportunity to solve complex problems that improve the daily lives of people around the world.Career growth, stability, and the opportunity to develop within a global organization.Competitive salary of $125,000 - $170,000 with a full benefits package, including unlimited paid time off, 11 paid holidays, 401(k), a zero premium medical insurance option for employees and eligible dependents, and an FSA option. Salary is based off experience, qualifications and location.Take the next step in your career with KapschWe believe hiring is a human decision. AI supports some of the operational side of our process (things like interview scheduling and coordination), but every step that matters is handled by a person. Your application will be read, your interviews will be conducted, and your offer will be made by humans who are genuinely invested in getting it right.Applicants must have working rights in the US and pass a background check.Kapsch is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact our TA team. Kapsch TrafficCom is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law. Kapsch TrafficCom is a drug-free workplace.