Research Analyst

CNA•Arlington, VA

20h

About The Position

CNA is hiring a Research Analyst for its Data Science for Defense Production Systems Program. The role is assigned to a team focused on technical warfighting and industrial base analysis that works closely with Navy sponsors to inform consequential force-design decisions. Staff at this level lead smaller or less complex activities or make important contributions as team members on projects. The Research Analyst develops sound analytic frameworks and methodologies for structured and unstructured problems, executes well-defined project work, and contributes to complex studies with direction and supervision. The role also involves developing institutional knowledge of clients and sponsors; collaborating respectfully across teams; supporting business development and client relationships; contributing to research publications and analytic products; and communicating findings clearly to colleagues, sponsors, and other audiences. The analyst may lead tasks or small projects under appropriate supervision and performs other duties as assigned. CNA describes its work environment as flexible and engaging, supporting open inquiry, respectful debate, and collaboration. Employees use scientific, data-driven approaches to help clients manage their programs. Applicants for positions requiring access to classified information must be U.S. citizens and are subject to background investigations; continued employment eligibility depends on obtaining and maintaining an active security clearance.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience; typical experience requirement is at least two years in research and analysis for Master’s-level applicants, or zero or more years for Ph.D. applicants.
Experience with R, Python, or a similar programming language.
Ability to make significant contributions to projects and analyses.
Strong analytic curiosity and creativity.
Ability to operate independently in executing assignments.
Ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment.
Strong critical-thinking skills.
Knowledge of research techniques.
Strong planning and organizational skills.
Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
Ability to interact positively and somewhat independently with clients.
Ability to obtain and maintain an active Secret Security Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. degree.
Academic or professional background in operations research, industrial engineering, management science, systems engineering, data science, statistics, or quantitative/computational social sciences.
Experience with interactive visualizations, graphical user interfaces, and modeling and simulation.

Responsibilities

Develop analytic frameworks and methodologies for structured and unstructured problems, meeting CNA quality standards.
Define, structure, and execute assigned portions of complex studies with direction and supervision.
Develop and maintain broad institutional knowledge of primary clients and sponsors, including their culture, organization, and issues.
Contribute respectfully and productively to team efforts, keep colleagues informed, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Support business development and marketing through strong client relationships, high-quality work, increased visibility of work, and proposal preparation.
Interact with sponsors and clients under the supervision of an experienced colleague, and work independently with study points of contact.
Make significant contributions to research publications and analytic products.
Communicate and document results clearly and accurately, including presentations to colleagues, sponsors, and small audiences familiar with the subject matter.
Manage own activities on focused project work and potentially lead small projects or project tasks under supervision.
Provide clear guidance to colleagues on tasks and take responsibility for own actions and outcomes.
Perform other duties as assigned.