Cost Estimating Manager
IAC Group, Southfield, MI, United States
A Cost Estimating Manager at a Tier 1 automotive supplier oversees the financial forecasting, should-cost modeling, and quoting processes for new and existing programs. This role bridges purchasing, engineering, and sales to ensure competitive, profitable bids on products while leading cost-targeting and benchmarking activities.
Key Responsibilities
Cost Estimation & Should-Cost Modeling:
Lead the development of detailed should-cost models to provide a baseline for supplier negotiations and customer negotiations, including materials, labor, tooling, packaging, and freight.
RFQ Management:
Manage the end-to-end RFQ (Request for Quotation) process, ensuring accurate, timely submissions for new business opportunities and engineering changes (ECI).
Strategic Sourcing & Benchmarking:
Collaborate with Purchasing to target cost reduction opportunities, benchmarking current costs against industry standards to achieve the lowest product costs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Partner with Engineering, Sales, Purchasing, and Finance to analyze blueprints, manufacturing processes, and technical data to ensure estimates are realistic and technically sound.
Team Leadership & Management:
Manage, mentor, and develop a team of cost estimators/engineers, setting departmental KPIs and ensuring high-performance standards.
Supplier Negotiations:
Provide data-driven support to purchasing teams to challenge supplier quotation prices and drive cost reductions.
Profitability Analysis:
Evaluate the financial impact of design changes, volume fluctuations, and macroeconomic factors (e.g., raw material fluctuations) on product profitability.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Business, or a related field; a technical degree is preferred.
Experience:
5+ years of experience in cost estimating, manufacturing, or finance, ideally within a Tier 1 automotive environment.
Technical Knowledge:
Deep understanding of manufacturing processes (e.g., die-casting, injection molding, stamping), tooling requirements, and raw material markets.
Software Proficiency:
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (complex modeling) and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Hyperion).
Analytical Skills:
Strong numerical aptitude to research, assemble, manage, and manipulate large data sets.
Communication & Negotiation:
Excellent interpersonal skills to negotiate with suppliers and present findings to senior management.
People Management:
Ability to manage a group of people and develop them at the same time as being task oriented.
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Key Responsibilities
Cost Estimation & Should-Cost Modeling:
Lead the development of detailed should-cost models to provide a baseline for supplier negotiations and customer negotiations, including materials, labor, tooling, packaging, and freight.
RFQ Management:
Manage the end-to-end RFQ (Request for Quotation) process, ensuring accurate, timely submissions for new business opportunities and engineering changes (ECI).
Strategic Sourcing & Benchmarking:
Collaborate with Purchasing to target cost reduction opportunities, benchmarking current costs against industry standards to achieve the lowest product costs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Partner with Engineering, Sales, Purchasing, and Finance to analyze blueprints, manufacturing processes, and technical data to ensure estimates are realistic and technically sound.
Team Leadership & Management:
Manage, mentor, and develop a team of cost estimators/engineers, setting departmental KPIs and ensuring high-performance standards.
Supplier Negotiations:
Provide data-driven support to purchasing teams to challenge supplier quotation prices and drive cost reductions.
Profitability Analysis:
Evaluate the financial impact of design changes, volume fluctuations, and macroeconomic factors (e.g., raw material fluctuations) on product profitability.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Business, or a related field; a technical degree is preferred.
Experience:
5+ years of experience in cost estimating, manufacturing, or finance, ideally within a Tier 1 automotive environment.
Technical Knowledge:
Deep understanding of manufacturing processes (e.g., die-casting, injection molding, stamping), tooling requirements, and raw material markets.
Software Proficiency:
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel (complex modeling) and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Hyperion).
Analytical Skills:
Strong numerical aptitude to research, assemble, manage, and manipulate large data sets.
Communication & Negotiation:
Excellent interpersonal skills to negotiate with suppliers and present findings to senior management.
People Management:
Ability to manage a group of people and develop them at the same time as being task oriented.
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