Sales Manager- Contracts
Safran
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Job summary
Safran Group in Irvine, CA seeks a Contract Sales Manager to bridge Sales and Program teams, crafting and negotiating comprehensive commercial offers to meet customer needs.
You will lead bid/no-bid analyses, ensure policy compliance, manage contract execution, and collaborate across departments to drive order intake, revenue, and strategic wins.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, business administration, marketing, or related field.
- 10+ years of experience as a Sales Manager in aero/defense industries.
- Knowledge of contracting in commercial and military aerospace.
Responsibilities
- Lead development and delivery of commercial offers, in response to RFPs or unsolicited, ensuring competitiveness.
- Conduct strategic Bid-No Bid evaluations to assess viability and alignment with strategy.
- Ensure profitability and policy compliance by following established commercial policies.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
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.
2025-158287
Programs / Customer Relations
Customer services and support - Customer support & services management (CSSM)
Sales Manager- Contracts
Permanent
Professional, Engineer & Manager
Full-time
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
$110 -$180k
North America, United States, California, Irvine
Irvine
Bachelor's Degree
More than 8 years
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