STEM Development Office Senior Program Analyst

ARA • Arlington, VA

5d • $100,000 - $120,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Mission Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Senior Program Analyst to support the development, management, evaluation, and analysis of Department of War (DoW) STEM education, outreach, and workforce initiatives. The analyst will assess program effectiveness, support strategic planning and policy development, and recommend ways to strengthen Department-wide STEM efforts. This is a hybrid role at the Mark Center.

The position supports program and budget analysis, policy review, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, reporting, data management, and coordination of STEM activities and working groups. The posting lists a bachelor’s degree, Secret clearance, and relevant experience as qualifications. The opening description mentions ten years of relevant experience, while required qualifications specify 8+ years and desired qualifications specify a minimum of 10 years.

ARA is an employee-owned international research and engineering company with more than 2,000 professionals. It offers an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and describes its culture as focused on innovation, experimentation, and employee ownership. Compensation is listed as $100,000–$120,000 per year, based on experience, degree, and skills. The posting refers applicants to ARA’s benefits page but does not enumerate specific benefits.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 8+ years of recent and relevant experience; the opening description also states ten years, and desired qualifications specify a minimum of 10 years.
• Secret security clearance.
• Demonstrated program management experience, including leading or supporting STEM education, outreach, or workforce development programs, or other science and technology program management activities.
• Knowledge of STEM education and workforce development programs from local and national perspectives, including their development, execution, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated experience in program and budget analysis.
• Experience in strategic communications, including development of written materials, presentations, and engagement products.
• Ability to evaluate STEM policies, statutes, strategic guidance, and DoD Instructions and recommend improvements.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
• Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
• Experience synchronizing Science and Technology efforts across the DoW, Joint Staff, and Services.
• Experience supporting STEM education, outreach, or workforce development initiatives across DoW Components, labs, centers, academia, industry, or federal partners.
• Experience developing strategic communications products, including briefs, reports, newsletters, and outreach materials.
• Experience conducting trend analysis, literature reviews, or assessments to identify best practices in education, outreach, or workforce development.
• Experience supporting interagency STEM coordination, including participation in Federal Coordination in STEM groups or communities of practice.
• Experience with programmatic reporting, data collection, metrics development, and maintaining repositories or dashboards.
• Knowledge of DoW policies, DoW Instructions, and statutory requirements related to STEM programs and reporting.
• Minimum of 10 years of recent and relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Support development, management, evaluation, monitoring, and analysis of DoW STEM education, outreach, and workforce development activities.
• Analyze STEM policies, statutes, DoW Instructions, and strategic guidance, and recommend improvements to effectiveness and efficiency.
• Conduct periodic STEM trends analysis and literature research.
• Conduct program and budget analysis to assess performance, alignment, and resource needs for STEM initiatives.
• Support development and coordination of the DoD STEM Strategic Plan and Implementation Plan, including alignment with Federal STEM strategies and national defense priorities.
• Engage internal and external stakeholders to strengthen Department-wide STEM efforts.
• Develop and coordinate program documentation, briefs, reports, strategic communications materials, and other products needed for leadership and congressional obligations.
• Maintain data repositories, track common metrics, and prepare annual program reports.
• Assist with coordination, planning, and execution of STEM activities and working groups; prepare monthly activity reports.

Benefits

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP); employees are eligible for contributions.
• ARA states that it offers competitive benefits and directs applicants to its benefits page for details.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior