Senior Manager, Cost and Pricing, Defense Contracts

Ultipro; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Ultipro in Tampa, FL is seeking a Senior Manager of Cost and Pricing for Defense Contracts to lead all pricing activities for U.S. Navy opportunities and ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS and CAS.

You will partner with cross-functional teams to develop cost estimates and pricing strategies, while negotiating with customers and guiding risk assessment. The role requires strong analytics, 7+ years in defense pricing, and a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or related field.
• 7+ years in cost estimating, pricing, government contracting, or related defense functions, with DoD experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead all cost and pricing activities for Navy/defense opportunities (RFQs, proposals, modifications).
• Develop pricing strategies balancing customer needs, competition, cost recovery, risk, profitability.
• Oversee cost inputs: direct labor, materials, overheads, and other costs.
• Ensure indirect cost structures are applied correctly (fringe, overhead, G&A).
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, CAS, and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements.
• Lead pricing negotiations with customers and coordinate internal reviews and risks.
• Collaborate with Finance, Contracts, Sales, BD, PM, Eng, Ops, and Supply Chain on pricing assumptions.
• Review and approve cost/pricing packages with proper documentation.
• Support audits, fact-finding, pricing reviews, and requests for supporting data.
• Establish standardized pricing processes, controls, models, and workflows.

Skills

FAR/DFARS knowledge

CAS compliance

Cost/pricing expertise

Proposal pricing

Negotiation skills

Financial analysis

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s in Finance/Accounting/Business

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Senior Manager, Cost and Pricing, Defense Contracts

• Leads all cost and pricing activities for U.S. Navy and defense opportunities, including RFQs, proposals, contract modifications, and other customer pricing requests.
• Develops and executes pricing strategies that balance customer requirements, competitive positioning, cost recovery, risk, and business profitability objectives.
• Oversees development and validation of proposal cost inputs, including direct labor, material, outside processing, engineering, supply chain, and other direct costs.
• Ensures appropriate application of indirect cost structures, including fringe, manufacturing overhead, engineering overhead, G&A, and other applicable burden and allocation methodologies.
• Ensures pricing practices and proposal submissions comply with applicable FAR, DFARS, CAS, and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements, as appropriate to the contract or solicitation.
• Leads all customer discussions and negotiations related to price, cost, rates, and other commercial or financial elements of proposals and contracts.
• Provides leadership and oversight to the team responsible for reviewing customer terms and conditions, identifying contractual risk, coordinating internal reviews, developing exceptions, and negotiating acceptable terms with customers.
• Partners with Finance, Contracts, Sales, Business Development, Program Management, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure proposal assumptions and pricing accurately reflect program requirements, execution risks, and anticipated costs.
• Reviews and approves cost and pricing packages to ensure accuracy, consistency, traceability, appropriate supporting documentation, and compliance with company and government requirements.
• Supports customer and government fact‑finding activities, audits, pricing reviews, and requests for supporting cost or pricing information.
• Establishes and maintains standardized pricing processes, controls, models, and approval workflows to improve proposal accuracy, consistency, responsiveness, and compliance.
• Evaluates changes in labor, material, supplier, inflation, overhead, and other cost drivers and incorporates appropriate assumptions into pricing strategies and longer‑term proposals.
• Provides management with clear assessment of proposal economics, including anticipated revenue, margin, cost risk, pricing assumptions, and key contractual considerations to support informed business decisions.
• Serves as the organization’s subject matter expert for defense cost and pricing matters and provides guidance to cross‑functional stakeholders regarding government pricing requirements and practices.
• Performs additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned by management.

Candidate Requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong working knowledge of FAR and DFARS requirements applicable to U.S. Government and Department of Defense contracting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and government cost accounting principles.
• Experience developing and reviewing cost and pricing proposals in a U.S. Department of Defense environment, preferably supporting U.S. Navy programs.
• Strong understanding of direct and indirect cost structures and the application of labor, overhead, fringe, G&A, and other burden rates within proposal pricing.
• Experience with cost estimating, cost analysis, pricing models, profitability analysis, and proposal financial evaluation.
• Knowledge of certified cost or pricing data requirements and supporting cost substantiation.
• Demonstrated experience leading pricing discussions, fact‑finding activities, and customer negotiations.
• Strong understanding of government contract terms and conditions with the ability to identify contractual, financial, and business risks and coordinate appropriate mitigation or negotiation strategies.
• Experience managing and developing a team responsible for cost/pricing, contracts, terms and conditions, or related functions.
• Ability to translate complex cost, pricing, and contractual requirements into clear recommendations for business leadership.
• Strong financial and analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to effectively collaborate and influence across Finance, Contracts, Business Development, Sales, Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Supply Chain.
• Ability to manage multiple complex proposals and negotiations while meeting internal and customer deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with customers and senior leadership.
• High degree of integrity and commitment to regulatory compliance and established business processes.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and working proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and related business systems.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in cost estimating, pricing, government contracting, finance, or related defense‑industry functions, with demonstrated experience supporting U.S. Government or Department of Defense contracts.
• Prior supervisory or functional leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting U.S. Navy contracts, shipbuilding programs, or defense manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Significant directly relevant defense cost and pricing experience may be considered in lieu of specific educational requirements on a case‑by‑case basis.

Other

CIRCOR is an EEO Employer of Females / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

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