Research Associate Jobs in Simpsonville, SC (NOW HIRING)

The Integrated Products Division (IPD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. is looking for a Project Analyst to join our team in Greenville, SC.  The IPD team strives to develop and deliver solutions to challenging problems involving highly technical areas such as robotic systems, autonomous vehicles, advanced sensors, geotechnical applications, weapon systems, energy solutions and other emerging technologies – for both commercial and DOD/Government customers. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing Program & Project Management team with coordination and support to the Accounting Team. 

As the Project Analyst, you will work closely with ARA’s project managers and accounting team to manage KPIs, perform budget analysis, estimate costs/labor hours, support configuration management, and manage project reporting for both New Product Introduction (NPI) and New Technology Introduction (NTI) projects.

• Essential Functions

• Perform advanced analysis of project datasets to solve complex operational challenges, delivering impactful results that enhance efficiency and drive productivity

• Aggregate project data across all divisional projects, resulting in a portfolio view.

• Maintain dashboards to track progress and ensure transparency of key metrics
• Perform budget analysis, cost projections, and estimates
• Compile, analyze and track data that can influence cost, such as materials, labor, and special equipment requirements
• Proactively anticipate and resolve issues that may occur involving accuracy of resource and financial monitoring and reports for the project deck.
• Work with Project Managers to generate and manage project plans within Smartsheet, ensuring projects are properly linked to reports 
• Maintain resource (people and materials) planning spreadsheets, ensuring all required resources are captured and allocated accurately
• Proactively identify potential resource constraints, communicating effectively with project managers
• Support the generation of work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures for project and change management
• Support the project management and systems engineering teams in executing the change management process
• Support configuration reviews with the Change Management Review board, ensuring the process is completed and required approvals are received
• Track/monitor subcontractor spending, work completion, and deliverables when required
• Support during project reviews, documenting and communicating identified action items
• Facilitate lessons learned activities/reviews for completed projects
• Support the project management team and proposal managers in compiling estimates and getting quotes for project proposals
• Provide other support to project managers as required
• Possible opportunity to lead internal process improvements
• Updating cost trackers with actuals from Job Status Report (JSRs); working with PM to realign hours, material & travel costs
• Maintenance of project cost tracker templates--adding new employees to existing cost trackers, formatting/modifications, troubleshooting errors or problems with formulas
• Adding employee allocations into Adaptive Planning (AP); maintaining AP with changes/updates on projects (direct labor, travel and material costs)
• Assisting accounting team with reconciling project revenue in AP to E-office and cost tracking worksheets

• Required Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, or similar
• 2-4 Years’ experience

• Experience with data integration including combining and cleaning data

• Strong skills in Excel tools such as Power Query, VLOOKUP, and macros, plus basic database or automation knowledge

• Proficient in MS Word, PowerPoint, Smartsheet
• Highly proficient with MS Excel
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Effective communicator
• Must be a U.S. Citizen

• Preferences

• Familiarity with Power BI and Deltek Cost Point
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management practices
• Experience with project/task scheduling
• Knowledge of change management or configuration management processes and procedures

Expected compensation for this position will range from $32 - $38/hour depending on education and experience.

• Company & Division Information

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2,200 employee-owners and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees contributions not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please apply at careers.ara.com.