Title:  Manager, Subcontracts

Job Title: Manager, Subcontracts

Job Code: 43814  

Job Location: San Diego, CA

Job Schedule: 9/80

Job Description:

The Subcontracts Manager is responsible for leading the subcontracts and material estimating team and overseeing the cradle-to-grave management of complex subcontract and procurement activities supporting development, production, and proposal efforts. This role serves as a key business partner to Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance to ensure supplier performance, contractual compliance, cost objectives, and overall program execution requirements are achieved.

The successful candidate will lead competitive and sole-source procurements, conduct supplier negotiations, administer subcontract agreements, support proposal and production activities, and provide guidance and oversight to the subcontract and material estimating functions in a fast-paced aerospace and defense environment.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the subcontracts and material estimating team in support of development, production, and proposal activities, ensuring alignment with program objectives, schedules, and compliance requirements.
• Manage the full subcontract lifecycle, including sourcing strategy development, RFP/RFQ issuance, proposal evaluation, negotiations, subcontract and purchase order award, administration, modifications, performance management, and closeout.
• Analyze and ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, customer requirements, CPSR standards, prime contract flowdowns, and internal policies and procedures.
• Negotiate supplier pricing, delivery schedules, statements of work, terms and conditions, NDAs, and risk mitigation strategies in accordance with assigned authority.
• Perform price and cost analysis to determine fair and reasonable pricing, document procurement decisions, and maintain compliant subcontract and procurement files to support internal audits, customer reviews, CPSR, and DCMA oversight.
• Support proposal efforts by obtaining supplier quotations, evaluating responses, developing sourcing recommendations, and performing cross-functional reviews of material BOMs with Program Management, Supply Chain, and Engineering to validate assumptions and identify cost risks and savings opportunities for formal cost proposals.
• Develop and maintain estimating templates, cost models, and pricing tools to improve proposal accuracy, consistency, and turnaround time.
• Ensure traceability of supplier data, quotes, cost justifications, and procurement documentation to support audit readiness and compliance requirements.
• Partner with leadership and cross-functional teams, including Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Proposal teams, to support program schedules, resolve supplier issues, mitigate supply chain risks, and review technical SOWs to clarify work scope, eliminate ambiguity, and ensure accountability for technical requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance in cost, quality, and delivery, lead corrective actions when necessary, and support supplier relationship management, business reviews, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve productivity, reduce cost, mitigate risk, and enhance subcontracting and estimating processes.
• Analyze subcontract and supplier data to identify trends, correlations, and actionable insights, and solve problems of moderate complexity through data-driven analysis.
• Utilize Microsoft Office applications, including Excel functions such as pivot tables and VLOOKUP, along with ERP/MRP systems, to support analysis, reporting, estimating, and procurement execution.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• 4 years experience conducting supplier negotiations and administering subcontract agreements.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, CPSR requirements, and government procurement regulations
• Experience managing complex procurements from solicitation through contract closeout
• Attention to detail and strong commitment to data accuracy
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or government contracting environments
• Experience supporting both development and production programs
• Experience performing proposal evaluations, price analysis, and source selections
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as InforLN, SAP, Costpoint, or similar procurement platforms
• Experience managing supplier performance, resolving supply chain risks, and leading cross-functional supplier engagements
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and suppliers to achieve program objectives
• Requires proficient knowledge of job area
• May have practical knowledge of project management