Program Analyst – Allies and Partners Program

Overview:

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) operates three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers supporting federal decision making – two serving the Department of Defense (DoD) and one serving the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President of the United States. IDA assists the United States Government in addressing important national security issues, particularly those requiring scientific and technical expertise.

IDA’s Joint Advanced Warfighting Division (JAWD) is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Program Manager position. This position is responsible for the administrative program management in the Allies and Partners (A&PA&P) program area in support of the A&P Program Leader. Responsibilities cover a wide range of activities in support of the program area’s objectives, including the preparation and reporting of budget information, monitoring project expenditures and projecting future expenditures against available budgets; coordination and liaison with officials from sponsoring agencies, acquisition of required services in support of deployed research team, representing the Program leadership at designated activities or on committees and working groups, and providing assistance to Division management team regarding the program.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage the budget/contracts of the A&P Program – 60 different projects/subprojects with over $15M of annual funding under the direction of the Program Leader and in close coordination with the Division Management team.
• Provide administrative management support to research teams of five to seven researchers deployed for a week or more to eight to ten different countries in any given month.
• Assist JAWD Business Manager in the A&P Program project description development and project funding process. Collects, organizes and reports current status information on each active and prospective project monthly with supplementary reports as required. Functions include:
  • Administration of the A&P Program project development process, including the preparation, review and processing of IDA project descriptions in coordination with the Division Business Manager. This includes, but is not limited to, the preparation of Program statements of work, task fact sheets and the cost budget summary.
  • Monitor project development status through final signature, counsels staff members and sponsors as needed concerning funding mechanisms (MIPRs, 419s, etc.) and monitors the funding document until receipt by appropriate agencies.
  • For active projects, monitor and report near real-time spending and burn rates. Formulate options for task management, if needed, to cover funding gaps.
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships. This includes, in addition to JAWD, other IDA resources.
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with Program sponsors as required.
  • Contribute to and actively support Division and IDA-wide initiatives, including Data Management and Business Modernization.
  • Provide JAWD Division Business Manager with independent insight into Program/Project/Sub-Project financial performance, issues and concerns.
  • Manage successful performance of the A&P Program business functions in cost management, schedule planning, forecasting, analysis, cost estimation, pricing, and the acquisition of overseas goods and services that support project activities
  • Prepare and manage monthly, quarterly, and annual A&P Program Plan updates and related financial information for Program and Division leadership review.
  • Collaborate with project leaders (project country leaders) in the preparation of project budgets; estimating staff utilization; tracking classified and unclassified project schedules, cost and performance data; and the management of project status reports.
  • Coordinate with the Division Business Manager and Division Administration Manager the A&P consulting agreements, so that the project consultants are able to provide subject matter expertise when and where needed in a timely manner.
  • In coordination with the Division Administration Manager, oversees project wide compliance with IDA’s travel practices, including careful monitoring of extraordinary travel requests. Provide the Program point of contact for IDA’s travel agency and IDA finance in processing over 500 travel requests annually. Oversees Program travel reimbursement submissions.
  • Assists the Program leader in the implementation and monitoring of travel team safety practices. Because travel is worldwide in various time zones this is a 24 hour, 7 days a week function that requires monitoring of email and phone throughout all periods of team travel, often with three to five teams deployed simultaneously.
  • Supports Program hiring actions, that bring world class talent into the project research staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting and six or more years of progressively responsible work experience in a comparable environment, preferably government contracting, or equivalent combination of relevant experience and college coursework.
• Project management (including financial, IT and budget) and Department of Defense experience in managing program (including deployed) activities preferred.
• Must be familiar with general accounting concepts and the FAR.
• Possess excellent interpersonal abilities and communication skills both oral and written
• Supervisory/management experience preferred.
• Experience with microcomputers and associated software.
• Successful completion of a criminal background check is required.

Why Work at IDA?

IDA, as a non-profit, is uniquely positioned to answer the most challenging U.S. security and science questions with objective and rigorous analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise. This position is located in Alexandria, VA, just outside Washington, D.C.

IDA offers the following benefits and resources to their employees:

• Comprehensive benefits including diverse health insurance options, generous 10% contribution to retirement, maternity/paternity leave, 20 days paid time off, and relocation reimbursement.
• Mission-oriented work at a non-profit that supports and protects our warfighters
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL) due to IDA’s non-profit status.
• Professional development including tuition reimbursement, internal and external trainings, and funding for researcher-pitched projects and publications.
• A strong employee and corporate work-life balance, including options for flex time.
• A brand-new facility located in Alexandria’s high-tech corridor in Potomac Yard; and close proximity to local dining and shopping.
• Easy access to Potomac Yard Metro stop and Potomac Yard DASH bus stop. Employer contributes $315/month (IRS max) to commuter benefits.

Compensation

We support transparency, equity, and fairness in our compensation program and provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range based on data-driven market analysis for each position. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range, a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this role is $91,415 – $146,264. Individual salary within this range will be commensurate with the incumbent’s experience, unique skills and qualifications, and other relevant factors.