Cost Analyst/Estimator, Senior

Diaconia LLC•Bath Township, OH

1d•$65,000 - $75,000

About The Position

This position is posted for future opportunities and is not an active opening at this time. The Senior Cost Analyst/Estimator will prepare and adhere to estimating schedules in coordination with the responsible Government PM, conforming to the requirements of the acquisition timeline for each estimate. This role involves developing Program Office Estimates (POEs) from an estimating procedure that specifies the expected dollar cost to perform a stipulated task or acquire an item. The analyst will interface with Integrated Product Team (IPT) members developing the program's technical baseline, perform data collection and analysis, and document results. Responsibilities include assessing all current and future program efforts, estimating their costs, continuously adjusting POEs for program changes, and producing objective, realistic life cycle cost estimates effectively and timely. The role requires documenting, briefing, and reconciling estimate results, including development, procurement, sustainment/operations, support (O&S), and disposal costs, reflecting the program Cost Analysis Requirements Description (CARD) for Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs)/Major Automated Information System (MAIS) programs or technical baseline for all other Acquisition Category (ACAT) programs. Additionally, the analyst will develop, maintain, and provide ongoing sustainment of a directorate cost data repository, and receive, review, catalog, store, and retrieve all cost reports, cost data, and completed cost estimates. Life cycle cost estimates will be developed to include Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), production, and sustainment phases of programs. The position involves performing excursions, major and minor, to existing program cost estimates, analyzing weapon system contractor proposals, and assisting in the development of Program Objective Memorandum (POM) inputs and other financial documents. Assistance will also be provided in the development of the program's initial CARD and required updates. The analyst will utilize WInsight or other Government-provided software to coordinate work scope, schedule, and cost goals, objectively measure progress, and evaluate weapon system contractor contract performance reporting data. Support will be provided for performance analysis of CPRs, CSSRs, CFSRs, and CCDRs, and participation in Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs). The Earned Value Management System (EVMS) Project Management Baseline (PMB) will be used throughout the life of a project to facilitate and maintain mutual understanding of scope, management control processes, risks, and corrective actions. Inputs will be provided to program documentation, including program management plans, baselines, Work Breakdown Structures (WBSs), risk assessments, standard program reviews, and reports such as SARs, MARs, and DAES reports. Support will be given to the Government's process to evaluate and report total program cost, schedule, and performance, as well as program unit cost and unit cost breach information, and actual program problems, warning of potential issues, and describing mitigating actions. Direct cost service support will be provided during acquisition milestone decision points for MAIS programs and MDAPs, ACAT II, ACAT III, non-ACAT programs, and Clinger-Cohen Act compliance. Participation in ORI exercises as an IPT member is required. Economic analyses will be provided to assist the Government in developing decisions among competing alternatives and systematically examining costs, benefits, and risks. Direct cost estimating and analysis assistance will be provided to the Government's formal Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) process. In recognition of the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 and other Air Force cost analysis initiatives, ancillary assistance will be provided to the acquisition program office and outside Government cost agencies such as OSD CAPE, AFCAA, and the Performance Assessment and Root Cause Analysis (PARCA) organization as required/requested. The responsibilities and duties outlined in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this role. However, they are not exhaustive and may be subject to change or modification at any time to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

Requirements

Advanced Degree (Master of Arts (MA) / Master of Science (MS)) and twelve (12) years of experience in the respective technical / professional discipline being performed, five (5) years of which must be in the DoD
OR, BA/BS degree, and fifteen (15) years of experience in the respective technical/professional discipline being performed, five (5) of which must be in the DoD
OR, twenty (20) years of directly related experience with proper certifications as described in the Functionally Aligned Job Descriptions, eight (8) of which must be in the DoD.
Must have the ability to pass Government Cost Chief review and an annual Sufficiency Review.
Subject to compliance with DoD Directive 5000.1 The Defense Acquisition System, DoD Instruction 5000.02 Operation of the Defense Acquisition System, AFI 65-501 Economic Analysis, AFI 65-502 Inflation, AFI 65-503 S. Air Force Cost and Planning Factors, AFI 65-508 Cost Analysis Guidance and Procedures, AFMAN 65-506 Economic Analysis, the AFLCMC Standard Cost Process and other DoD, Air Force and lower level policy, publications, supplements, and manuals, as well as applicable documents and regulations, systems, processes and guides, as required.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Security clearance at the required level; U.S. Citizenship required.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience with Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tools (ACEIT)
Previous experience with other estimating tools such as: PRICE "TruePlanning" parametric modeling, Constructive Cost Model (COCOMO), and Oracle Crystal Ball
Previous experience with Air Force maintained databases such as Air Force Total Ownership Cost (AFTOC) and Reliability and Maintainability Information System (REMIS).
Experience with the Government's documentation/ databases requiring financial management and cost data, including but not limited to 1537s, mandatory Cost and Software Data Repository (CSDR) requirements for all programs, Procurement Documents (PDOCs), Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Documents (RDOCs), the Capital Investment Report, Government Accounting Office (GAO) and Air Force Audit Agency (AFAA) reviews and audits, Acquisition Program Baseline (APB), award fee plans, award fee boards, MARs, and CCaRS, should cost analyses, and cost capability analyses.

Responsibilities

Prepare and adhere to estimating schedules, in coordination with the responsible Government PM, that conform to the requirements of the acquisition timeline for each estimate.
Develop Program Office Estimates (POEs) from an estimating procedure which specifies the expected dollar cost to perform a stipulated task or to acquire an item.
Interface with IPT members developing the program's technical baseline, perform data collection and analysis, and document results.
Assess all current and future program efforts and estimate their costs, continuously adjust POEs whenever there is a program change, and produce objective, realistic life cycle cost estimates in an effective and timely manner.
Document, brief, and reconcile the results of the estimates, which will include development, procurement, sustainment / operations, and support (O&S), and where applicable disposal costs, reflecting the program Cost Analysis Requirements Description (CARD) for Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs) / Major Automated Information System (MAIS) programs or technical baseline for all other Acquisition Category (ACAT) programs.
Develop, maintain, and provide on-going sustainment of a directorate cost data repository.
Receive, review, catalog, store, and retrieve all cost reports, cost data, and completed cost estimates.
Develop life cycle cost estimates to include Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), production, and sustainment phases of programs.
Perform excursions, major and minor, to an existing program cost estimate that might include a program restructure/re-baseline, the insertion of new capabilities or technology, quantity changes, significant funding reductions/additions, and others as required.
Analyze weapon system contractor proposals.
Assist in the development of Program Objective Memorandum (POM) inputs and other financial documents.
Assist in the development of the program's initial CARD and assist in updates required throughout the program's lifecycle.
Utilize WInsight or other Government-provided software to coordinate work scope, schedule, and cost goals to objectively measure progress and evaluate weapon system contractor contract performance reporting data.
Assist the program offices in performance analysis of CPRs, CSSRs, CFSRs, and CCDRs.
Assist in Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs).
Use the PMB throughout the life of a project to facilitate and maintain mutual understanding of: The scope of the PMB consistent with authorizing documents. Management control processes. Risks in the PMB associated with cost, schedules, and resources, and Corrective actions where necessary.
Provide inputs to program documentation, including inputs for the identification and development of program requirements and/or cost, schedule, technical, and program risks. These efforts shall include: program management plans; program baselines; WBSs; program risk assessments; standard program reviews; and/or reports including SARs, MARs, and DAES reports.
Support the Government's process to evaluate and report the status of total program cost, schedule, and performance, as well as program unit cost and unit cost breach information.
Support the Government process to evaluate and report actual program problems, warning of potential program problems, and describing mitigating actions taken or planned.
Provide direct cost service support during acquisition milestone decision points for MAIS programs and MDAPs, ACAT II, ACAT III, non-ACAT programs, and Clinger-Cohen Act compliance.
Participate in ORI exercises as an IPT member, working in the development of the cost estimate and associated documentation.
Provide economic analyses when called upon to assist the Government in developing decisions among competing alternatives and systematically examining and communicating costs, benefits, and risks of various alternatives IAW AFMAN 65-506.
Provide direct cost estimating and analysis assistance to the Government's formal Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) process.
Provide ancillary assistance to the acquisition program office as well as the outside Government cost agencies such as OSD CAPE, AFCAA, and the Performance Assessment and Root Cause Analysis (PARCA) organization as required / requested.