Senior Proposal/Sales Order Specialist

As a member of the Safran Seats business, you play a major role in teamwork that provides over one million seats to major airlines worldwide. Our commitment to superior quality, comfort and innovation ensure that you can take pride in doing meaningful work that supports the needs of passengers and crews alike.

1. Essential Functions (Duties and Responsibilities)

Proposal Specialist Duties:

A) Develop quotes based on information obtained from various functional areas within the organization. Duties involved in preparing quotes include, but may not be limited to:
i. Review all documents provided in the customers' RFQ/RFP submittal along with results of the internal bid/no-bid review to ensure that the statement of work is aligned internally.
ii. Work with engineering, tooling, certification and technical publication departments to develop estimates of non-recurring expenses.
iii. Prepare terms and conditions package including price, delivery, escalation formula, and BFE exhibits.
iv. Work with engineering and production to develop initial delivery commitment and if available, the complete delivery schedule.
v. Ensure timely delivery of quote to the Sales Director.
vi. Work with Sales to respond to follow-up questions/inquiries from the customer.
vii. Review quotes prepared by others in the group.

B) Prepare cost estimation and propose price recommendation by:
i. Analyze historical material and labor data using MAPICS standards, average actual data, purchasing quotes and estimates based on similarity, drawings or engineering sketches. Work with Cost Management Team to obtain latest cost information or review cost estimates for all HOV proposals.
ii. Incorporate bid rate data prepared by Accounting as well as estimates of future inflation/deflation.
iii. Use margin guidelines provided by VP Sales & Marketing to develop recommended pricing, both recurring and non-recurring.
iv. Be prepared to explain the customer request and recommended offering to proposal approvers.
v. Review estimates prepared by others in the group.

C) Assist the Proposal Manager in the financial analysis and modeling for the Capdev requests and sales forecasts.

D) Calculate annual price escalation, based on published labor indices and material commodity indices and communicate this information to Sales/Directors/Program Managers for updating customer orders.

E) Preparation of termination claims on canceled orders for submittal to customer. Duties include:
i. Gather actual cost data on material, labor, supplier cancellation charges, non-recurring and recurring costs incurred prior to order cancellation, estimated storage costs and estimated shipping costs.
ii. Prepare the claim, in an easy-to-understand format.
iii. Review the claim with management, customer service, marketing, and accounts receivable.
iv. Support customer audits.

F) Serve as the main focal point for research, analysis and reporting of proposal metrics and history.

G) Manage product options by:
i. Tracking variations of product offerings across seat models.
ii. Propose option consolidation and re-use.
iii. Auditing cost in the estimation template relative to actual cost.

H) Maintain estimating files, history, and cross-reference data.

I) Performs other duties as assigned.

Saler Order Specialist Duties:

J) Maintenance of Backlog and Program Records:
i. External customer sales order entry and maintenance from purchase orders, customer forecasts, and new awards. Ensure Purchase Order receipt and request updates if necessary, from external customers while working in conjunction with Sales and Marketing Managers and Program Managers
ii. Review Purchase Orders per the Sales Contract for accuracy and process Purchase Order Acknowledgement.
iii. Assist with management of existing programs by communicating directly with the external customer. (i.e., Purchase Order Requests, communicate required pricing adjustments, respond to customer inquiries, etc.)

K) Record Retention:
i. Retention of electronic records for Purchase Order and electronic Customer Order retention for external customers.
ii. Create and maintain a backlog spreadsheet for each program.
iii. Set up and maintain file system for retention of original Purchase Orders per Sales Order Specialist Guideline.
iv. Records retention per guidelines in Safran Seats USA Quality Assurance Policy.

L) Reports:
i. Maintain Individual Backlog report in MRP System.
ii. Maintain Customer Order Cleanup files as required.
iii. Review and maintain daily, weekly and monthly reports.
iv. Prepare and post team key performance indicators as required

M) Demand Change Authorization:
i. Support and lead, as necessary, a weekly Demand Change Authorization (DCA) review with Sales, Program Management and Master Scheduling to accept or reject OEM/Customer requests for on dock date changes.

N) Documentation:
i. Document/update the Sales Order team processes/procedures as requested.

O) Assist in research of customers past due invoices as requested by Accounts Receivable.

P) Process Credit Memo Request (CMRs) as required.

Q) To be the focal point for the payment terms negotiated for any credit following analysis made by customer accounting.


3. Qualification Requirements:

A. Education & Qualification-
• A Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, finance or engineering or equivalent (6 years) training and experience is required.

B. Work Experience - Technical knowledge -
• Must have a minimum of five (5) years in a related customer support, sales support, pricing, or proposal role.

C. Professional Skills-
• Strong math, analytical and problem solving skills.
• Ability to present complex financial concepts and strategies in an understandable and compelling manner.
• Proficient in the use of mainframe systems and Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of cost accounting practices, including direct costing and the collection of actual costs via work orders (both recurring and non-recurring cost data).
• Ability to read drawings, technical specifications, and service bulletins.
• Ability to read and review written communication.
• Speech and hearing abilities that allow individual to communicate clearly and distinctly in English.

D. Behavioral Skills-
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to solve problems.
• Must have ability to efficiently perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Must be able to interface with all departments within the company, as necessary.
• Sets high standards of performance for self: assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.
• Must be able to work extended hours as needed.

E. Desirable Aspects-
• Intermediate/Advanced Excel skills.
• Knowledge and Understanding of an ERP system.
• MAPICs/PowerLink experience.

Safran Seats USA is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Safran es un grupo internacional de alta tecnología que opera en los campos de la aeronáutica (propulsión, equipamiento e interiores), espacio y defensa. Su misión: contribuir de forma duradera a un mundo más seguro, donde el transporte aéreo sea cada vez más respetuoso con el medio ambiente, más cómodo y más accesible. Establecido en todos los continentes, el Grupo emplea a 100.000 personas para una facturación de 27.3 mil millones de euros en 2024, y ocupa, solo o en asociación, posiciones de liderazgo mundial o europeo en sus mercados.
Safran es la segunda empresa del sector aeronáutico y de la defensa que figura en la lista de «World's Best Companies» de 2024 de la revista TIME.

Safran Seats es uno de los principales fabricantes de asientos de aeronaves, tanto para la tripulación como para pasajeros, a nivel mundial. Actualmente, 1 millón de asientos de aeronaves, fabricados por Safran Seats, se encuentran en servicio en diversas flotas aéreas de todo el mundo.