Sales Manager- Contracts

Safran Group

Irvine (CA)

On-site

USD 110,000 - 180,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Job summary

Safran Group in Irvine, CA, is seeking a Sales Manager- Contracts. The role links Sales and Program Teams to deliver commercial offers and negotiate terms, aligning with policy and ensuring contract execution.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's in aerospace/engineering or related field, 10+ years in aerospace sales, strong contracting knowledge, OEM experience, and excellent negotiation and MS Office skills. This is a full-time on-site role in North America.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited course of study in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration, Marketing, or related field.
10+ years of experience as a Sales Manager in the aeronautical, space and defense industry.
Knowledge of contracting in the commercial and military aerospace field and experience with OEM environments.
Strong negotiation skills and ability to create and present sales proposals.

Responsibilities

Conduct strategic Bid-No Bid evaluations to assess potential contracts and maximize opportunities.
Oversee development and delivery of commercial offers, including responses to RFPs.
Ensure profitability and policy compliance through established commercial policies.
Highlight product strengths and negotiate terms to optimize contracts and amendments.
Oversee contract implementation and coordinate with Customer Service and Program teams.
Develop action plans for complex offers and contracts; influence commercial policy.
Identify upsell or cross-sell opportunities and adjust pricing strategies.
Act as primary commercial contact for customers and resolve concerns.

Skills

Contracting knowledge

OEM environment

Negotiation skills

Sales strategy

Proposals

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Sales Manager- Contracts

Job details

General information

Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets.

Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazine's "World's Best Companies 2025" ranking.

Safran Electronics & Defense is an international company with more than 19,000 employees who bring together expertise and team spirit to design high-technology solutions for the aerospace, defense and space sectors. By combining human and technological intelligence, the company develops products and services for both civil and military customers, operating on land, at sea, in the air and in space.

Reference number

2025-158287

Job details

Domain

Programs / Customer Relations

Job field / Job profile

Customer services and support - Customer support & services management (CSSM)

Job title

Sales Manager- Contracts

Employment type

Permanent

Professional category

Professional, Engineer & Manager

Part time / Full time

Full-time

Job description

Job Summary

The Contract-Sales Manager serves as a critical link between the Sales Department and Program Teams to ensure the seamless integration of sales functions. This role involves developing and writing comprehensive commercial offers, negotiating them to meet customer needs and choices. The manager conducts and adapts contractual negotiations aligned with the commercial strategy and policy. Additionally, the manager oversees contract execution, ensuring compliance with all terms and effectively managing developments. The position requires implementing the Avionics GBU's commercial policy, aimed at achieving both economic objectives, such as order intake and revenue and strategic goals, including win rates.

Essential Job Functions

Conduct strategic Bid-No Bid evaluations to assess the viability and strategic alignment of potential contracts, ensuring informed decision-making to maximize resource allocation and capture opportunities.
Oversee the development and delivery of commercial offers, whether unsolicited or in response to RFPs, ensuring they are competitive, comprehensive, and in line with customer expectations.
Ensure the financial success of business plan profitability and policy compliance by adhering to established commercial policies, promoting sustainable growth and alignment with corporate goals.
Highlight product strengths and benefits to enhance perceived value and skillfully negotiate contracts and amendments to optimize terms and drive business success.
Oversee contract implementation closely, using detailed feedback to refine processes, mitigate risks, and improve performance and customer satisfaction.
Collaborate across departments to prepare and validate offers.
Develop action plans for complex offers and contracts.
Influence commercial policy and support business development efforts.
Coordinate with Customer Service and Program teams to manage orders and contracts in line with budgetary objectives.
Implement strategies for organic revenue growth through strategic pricing adjustments, contract amendments, and upselling opportunities.
Identify and maximize upsell or cross-sell opportunities within existing customer relationships.
Regularly assess and adjust pricing strategies to leverage market conditions.
Act as the primary commercial contact for customers, negotiating contractual terms and addressing customer concerns.
Collaborate on developing corrective plans to resolve customer issues effectively.
Analyze essential metrics like order volume and unpaid invoices thoroughly, implementing strategic actions to enhance performance and resolve discrepancies effectively.

Other duties may be assigned.

But what else? (advantages, specificities, etc.)

Utilize sophisticated network tools for efficient management of offers and business plans, ensuring seamless storage, retrieval, and sharing of vital documents.
Apply advanced analytical techniques to predict market trends and dynamics, facilitating proactive strategy development. Rigorously evaluate potential new customers for financial stability, ethical compliance, and industrial credibility to ensure solid selection.
Focus on order intake, invoice recovery, revenue, claims reduction, bid success rates, contract negotiation closure, and strategic wins.
Other duties may be assigned.

Candidate skills & requirements

Required Competencies

Education/Experience

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited course of study in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Business Administration, Marketing, or related field.
10+ years of experience as a Sales Manager in the aeronautical, space and defense industry.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of contracting in the commercial and military aerospace field
Strong knowledge of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) environment
Cost estimating relationships, elements of cost and price and proposals
Strong negotiation skills, including contractual negotiations
Creating and implementing business plans, terms and conditions
Creating and executing sales strategies
Creating and presenting sales proposals
Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Leadership Skills / Management Skills / Personal Skills

Creative problem-solving skills
Strong attention to detail with good accuracy
Adaptability in a fast paced and complex organization
Organizational skills
Change agent
Communication skills and active listening, ability to interact effectively with all levels of management
Ability to manage and solve conflicts
Ability to analyze and synthesize
Customer oriented
Integrity
Quality Control Analysis
Time Management
Critical Thinking