Manager, Program & Contracts Management

Core Transformers; Seneca (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

CORE Transformers is seeking an experienced Manager, Program and Contracts Management to lead complex bids, negotiate terms, and drive coordination across sales, engineering, operations, and finance. This role serves as the commercial interface with customers and internal teams for large-scale proposals.

The ideal candidate will combine strong commercial judgment, contract knowledge, and project management skills to support opportunities from bid development through negotiation, award, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field is preferred.
• Extensive experience in commercial management, strategic proposals, contract management, or project management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the coordination and development of complex customer bids, RFPs, RFQs, and strategic commercial proposals.
• Coordinate pricing, technical inputs, delivery schedules, and contract terms into proposals.
• Support negotiations and align commercial terms with internal stakeholders.
• Ensure proposals reflect approved pricing, scope, exclusions, and delivery commitments.
• Maintain bid documentation and proposal timelines across opportunities.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Sales, Finance and Operations to ensure alignment.

Skills

Contract management

Bid coordination

Cross-functional leadership

Negotiation

Project management

Pricing

Customer engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Job description

CORE Transformers is a leader in electrical power transformers serving commercial & industrial markets. Decades of industry knowledge and a world-class team have enabled us to provide top-tier products & services to our customers. As we expand our operations, we are committed to assembling an amazing commercial team to support our ambitious goals.

CORE Transformers is seeking an experienced Manager, Program and Contracts Management to support the development, negotiation, and execution of complex commercial opportunities and strategic customer proposals.

This role serves as a key commercial interface between customers, sales, engineering, operations, finance, and other internal stakeholders. The position is responsible for coordinating large-scale bids, managing commercial and contractual requirements, consolidating technical and pricing inputs, and ensuring alignment across all aspects of the proposal process.

The ideal candidate combines strong commercial judgment, technical aptitude, contract knowledge, and exceptional project management skills with the ability to engage confidently with customers and internal leadership.

This individual will play a critical role in supporting strategic opportunities from initial bid development through commercial negotiations, contract award, and transition to project execution.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Bids & Commercial Proposals

• Lead the coordination and development of complex customer bids, RFPs, RFQs, and strategic commercial proposals.
• Manage bid requirements, documentation, submission schedules, and internal deliverables to ensure accurate and timely responses.
• Consolidate technical specifications, pricing, commercial terms, delivery schedules, and contractual requirements into comprehensive customer proposals.
• Work closely with Sales leadership to develop competitive proposal strategies, commercial structures, and customer-specific solutions.
• Identify proposal gaps, risks, and opportunities while proactively coordinating resolutions with appropriate stakeholders.

Customer Engagement & Commercial Coordination

• Serve as a customer-facing commercial resource throughout the bid, proposal, and contract development process.
• Participate in customer discussions involving scope clarification, pricing structures, technical requirements, contractual terms, and delivery commitments.
• Support Sales and Account Management in developing commercially viable solutions for complex customer requirements.
• Coordinate customer clarifications, proposal revisions, and commercial negotiations to support timely decision-making.

• Build credibility with customers through responsiveness, technical understanding, commercial professionalism, and attention to detail.

Contract & Commercial Management

• Review and coordinate customer contractual requirements, including terms and conditions, payment structures, delivery obligations, warranties, and other commercial provisions.
• Identify contractual risks, exceptions, and areas requiring internal review or negotiation.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, Sales, and Operations to establish commercially acceptable contract positions.
• Support negotiations and alignment of commercial terms with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure final proposals and agreements accurately reflect approved pricing, scope, qualifications, exclusions, and delivery commitments.
• Manage commercial changes, contract amendments, and change orders in coordination with Project Management, ensuring changes to scope, pricing, and delivery commitments are documented and approved

• Verify that customer purchase orders and final agreements align with the approved proposal, including specifications, pricing, scope, exclusions, payment terms, and delivery schedules; resolve discrepancies before order acceptance.
• Track proposal turnaround time, on-time submissions, win/loss trends, and recurring contractual exceptions; use findings to improve proposal quality and commercial processes.

Technical & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with Engineering to review equipment specifications, technical requirements, compliance matrices, and proposed deviations.
• Coordinate pricing, manufacturing capacity, lead times, logistics, and delivery schedules with appropriate internal teams.
• Facilitate cross-functional reviews to ensure alignment between technical capabilities, operational commitments, and commercial obligations.
• Identify and resolve discrepancies between customer requirements, technical proposals, and commercial commitments.
• Maintain clear communication and accountability across stakeholders throughout the proposal lifecycle.

Commercial Process & Execution

• Establish and maintain organized bid documentation, commercial assumptions, contractual exceptions, and proposal revisions.
• Support internal commercial approval and deal review processes.
• Develop and improve proposal templates, bid management tools, and commercial coordination practices.
• Track key milestones, outstanding requirements, and customer commitments across multiple strategic opportunities.
• Facilitate a structured transition of awarded opportunities to Project Management and Operations, ensuring continuity of scope, contractual obligations, and customer expectations.
• Verify that customer purchase orders and final agreements align with the approved proposal, including specifications, pricing, scope, exclusions, payment terms, and delivery schedules; resolve discrepancies before order acceptance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or a related field preferred.
• 7–10+ years of relevant experience in commercial management, strategic proposals, contract management, technical sales, estimating, or project management.
• Experience supporting large-scale, technically complex equipment or infrastructure transactions.
• Strong commercial acumen with an understanding of pricing, margins, payment terms, contractual obligations, and commercial risk.
• Proven ability to hold cross-functional contributors accountable without direct reporting authority.
• Demonstrated ability to review and interpret commercial contracts, technical specifications, and customer bid requirements.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and managing complex proposals under demanding timelines.
• Strong communication, negotiation, detail-orientation, and customer engagement skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and related business systems.
• Experience in electrical equipment, power distribution, energy infrastructure, industrial manufacturing, or EPC environments strongly preferred.

CORE Transformers is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.