Senior Cost & Pricing Specialist at University Research Co., LLC in Chevy Chase, Maryland

Hours:                         Regular, Full-Time, Exempt

Location:                     Chevy Chase, MD

Salary:                         Commensurate with required experience and qualifications

Reports to:                   Cost and Pricing Team Leader

University Research Co., LLC (URC)

URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 20 countries, including the United States.

Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.

URC’s mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).

Division & Project Overview:

University Research Co., LLC (URC-CHS) is currently seeking a Senior Cost and Pricing Specialist to join URC Cost and Pricing Unit which is part of the Contracts and Grants Administration Office in Chevy Chase, MD.

The Contracts and Grants Administration office is responsible for ensuring URC-CHS’s compliance with all aspects of the procurement processes, awarded Contracts, Cooperative Agreements and Grants’ administration of all applicable regulations and requirements as set forth by the US Government, International Donors, cooperating countries, partners, and grantors. The Cost and Pricing Unit is part of the Contracts and Grants Administration office responsible for the preparation of the cost proposals and applications for various donors and funders such as US Agency for International Development (USAID), Center for Disease Control (CDC), Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC),  and others.  The unit may also be involved in the activity for ensuring projections and budget alignment or prepare proposals/applications for existing awards requesting additional funding. The Cost and Pricing unit is formed of two cost and pricing specialists and lead by a Cost and Pricing Team Leader who reports directly to the Vice President for Contracts, Grants Administration and Cost and Pricing.  In line with this, the office is seeking a Senior Cost & Pricing Specialist to join this unit and achieve its objectives.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Cost and Pricing Team Leader, the Senior Cost and Pricing Specialist will be responsible for, but is not limited to, the following:

• Provide inputs to the strategic business development of URC.


• Participates in the analysis of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Applications (RFAs) from federal, state, international agencies and donors for the purpose of identifying risks, trends and deviations from the norm.


• Develop a strategic, fully-compliant business proposal, and maintaining a knowledge base of strategic pricing data and methodologies.


• Provide inputs towards URC’s competitive position and work with other URC’s officers to develop the proposal outlines and the budget structure.


• Prepare complex cost proposals and submissions to donor agencies in response to Request for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Applications (RFAs) and other funding opportunities in coordination with program staff at URC headquarters and field offices.


• Submit list of questions on the solicitation document to the Donors and clients.


• Review the cost and business requirements of RFPs and RFAs and clients’ requests for various types of Awards taking into consideration anticipated modifications.


• Provide input in the effort to develop a pricing strategy/approach(s) responding to various type of competition.


• Develop appropriate pricing templates utilizing Microsoft Excel that conform to solicitation


• In compliance with the RFPs and RFAs’ requirements and URC pricing standards, provide effective pricing direction and support to the proposal team.


• Ensure required cost proposal schedules are prepared timely and accurately.


• Review all pricing data submitted by proposal team and partners and subcontractors for accuracy and completeness of their cost proposals in line with the requirements of the clients.


• Work with the appropriate Contracts & Grants Officer(s) in preparing and coordinating business volume requirements.


• Review and maintain cost proposal-related records and databases.


• Bring any deviations from the norm and communicate notable findings with recommendations to the attention to the Cost and Pricing Team Leader with the intent of enhancing the cost and pricing methodologies.


• Other related and relevant duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

Required Experience & Qualifications 

• At a minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration is required or equivalent experience


• Five to seven years of experience in preparing cost proposals for USAID and other donors’ solicitations.


• Knowledge of government acquisition & assistance and USAID rules and regulations. Knowledge of DfID, WHO, MCC, Global Fund, Gates Foundation and other donors’ regulation and funding requirements is desired. Strong knowledge of the federal Acquisition Regulations and Cost Accounting Standards is required.


• Strong knowledge of various contract types including firm fixed price, cost reimbursement, time & material, grants and cooperative agreements is required.


• Excellent skills in analyzing government contracts for compliance, and have expertise in dealing with non-routine and complex projects.


• High level of Excel proficiency is required.


• Strong writing skills and computer proficiency in MS Excel and MS Word, and a track record of being a team player with flexibility to adapt to changing work requirements are essential. 

Desired Experience & Qualifications 

• Must have excellent communication, analytical, and problem solving skills


• Knowledge of Deltek System One, GCS Premier and/or Costpoint is desirable.


• Ability to work well with multiple deadlines and under pressure

Please note: Only candidates who are eligible to work in the United States for an indefinite period without a need for sponsorship will be considered for this position.

To Apply:        

For immediate consideration, please visit URC’s Career Opportunities page at www.urc-chs.com/careers.

You must upload your CV/Résumé and your Cover Letter where indicated. Also, please complete your application form and attach a completed USAID Form 1420 Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet as well. 

Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted. No phone calls please. However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise. Thank you very much for your interest.

URC is an E-Verify Employer

URC is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

We value and seek diversity in our workforce.

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